Sean of Sean Gleeson pointed out to me that the Latin I used in the Bad Example Clan motto does NOT actually say "It only sounds dirty".

Is it all wrong on purpose? Is that part of the "Bad Example" joke?

("SANUS" is not even a verb. It's an adjective. It means 'sound,' but only in the sense of 'healthy,' like in "sound of mind and body" kind of thing.)

"ID TANTUM SONATUR IMMUNDUM" would be correct

My excuse is that I used a free online English-Latin translator and just took the first result that came back.

Unfortunately, the translator didn't make adjustments for context or grammar, translated each word separately, and I was too clueless to know which meaning of "sound" it chose to translate.

Oops.

Unfortunately, the tartan & badges would have to be re-done from scratch, plus all Clan members would have to upload new images & tweak their templates AGAIN. I don't want to put people to that much bother, since the Clan is basically an exercise in silliness anyway.

So, I'll just engage one of the Bad Example Family Values and laugh at myself for having had a Life of Brian moment.

Anyway, if anyone is too terribly embarrassed about having a bad Latin motto on their site, you might consider as your solution having your fake Harvey quote say something like:

Harvey says: "Wait... I *meant* 'ID TANTUM SONATUR IMMUNDUM'! Geez... NEVER trust your Latin grammar to a free translator web page!"

I apologize for the error.

Posted by: Harvey at 11:08 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 267 words, total size 2 kb.

1 And as punishment you shall now be flogged with a wet noodle.

Posted by: phin at February 02, 2006 11:31 AM (Xvpen)

2 That's ok, it could have been worse. You could have been translating to Chinese... Besides, those of us who remember our high school and college Latin (there's not much to do up here on the mountain...) found it entertaining anyway.

Posted by: The Random Yak at February 02, 2006 11:41 AM (kEqw3)

3 Were you eating otter chips at the time?

Posted by: caltechgirl at February 02, 2006 11:53 AM (/vgMZ)

4 badger's spleens, actually :-D

Posted by: Harvey at February 02, 2006 12:24 PM (ubhj8)

5 Mmmmm... Badger spleens!

Posted by: Homer Simpson at February 02, 2006 03:58 PM (nVA0o)

6 Actually, Harv, I found it kind of fitting... I mean, leave it to us (Bad Example Family/Clan) to use something in the wrong context right? Because we never take things out of context...

Posted by: virtue at February 02, 2006 08:08 PM (fwQd+)

7 I think they should be all redone and corrected. YOU wouldn't want a slight imperfection would you?

Posted by: Contagion at February 03, 2006 07:15 AM (Q5WxB)

8 Vidi. Veneri. Vamoosi. (I came. I caught an embarrasing disease. I ran away)

Posted by: GEBIV at February 03, 2006 08:19 AM (WiMQl)

9 Someone caught an error in Latin? I didn't realize there were that many people in Latin America that read this blog. Gosh, Harvey! You're all over the interweb.

Posted by: basil at February 03, 2006 11:28 AM (4Ek1C)

10 Contagion - You're right... an error like this could destroy my reputation! :-0

Posted by: Harvey at February 03, 2006 02:16 PM (ubhj8)

11 "No, I'M Harvey."

Posted by: Ogre at February 07, 2006 05:59 AM (/k+l4)

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