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- "What is New York?"
"What is New York?"
Translation:Quid est Novum Eboracum?
27 Comments
Just looked it up, that was the original name of York when founded by the Romans.
688
Ah. Indeed, it does not only have these two forms, it has more. This is because Latin is a declinable language. Novi Eboraci is the genitive case, and Novum Eboracum is the nominative case, the vocative case and the accusative case:
Declension of Novum Eboracum (second declension, neuter):
| Case | Noun |
|---|---|
| Nominative | Novum Eboracum |
| Genitive | Novi Eboraci |
| Dative | Novo Eboraco |
| Accusative | Novum Eboracum |
| Ablative | Novo Eboraco |
| Vocative | Novum Eboracum |
According to Wiktionary: York: from Middle English York, Ȝork, from Old Norse Jórk, Jórvík, from Old English Eoforwīċ, from Latin Eborācum, ultimately from Proto-Celtic *Eborākom.
As they said, "Novum Eboracum" wasn't invented by the course creators.
It's on the Latin motto of New York.
Good point. Just needing one correction if I may: Beneath the date is a ribbon that bears the legend SIGILLUM CIVITATIS NOVI EBORACI, which means "Seal of the City of New York". Eboracum was the Latin name for York, the titular seat of James II as Duke of York, for whom New York City is named. It is not properly the motto, but appears on the seal; the motto is actually “Excelsior", which is actually the state motto meaning ever upward.
It is also of interest to note here that 'civitatis' is translated as city here and not state as DL is instructing us; however, beyond that I am a mere beginning student and defer to DL for my part.
Why is 'estne novum eboracum' not accepted? I thought estne was a form of posing a question about the subject.
I am just beginning to learn, so I am basing my answer off the i formation I learned scanning the comments from similar questions:
The -ne ending expects a yes or no answer. Just as Num implies a negative ("surely not!") And Nonne implies a positive ("surely!) the -ne ending makes it (is?)
Additionally, the -ne is only added to verbs at the beginning of a sentence, implying there is no questiong word like, quid, quis, etc. at the beginning of the sentence.
Next time, buy yourself a question word. If I missed or jumbled anything, hopefully anither commentet will wise us both up.
Estne means "Is it", reply would be yes or no Estne Novum Eboracum? = Is it New York?
I believe you have to start with the question. It would be weird ,for example to say " New york what is?"
I have nothing to base this of, however. So I think we should both wait for another answer?
- 318
I did "Novum Eboracum quid est?" and it was not accepted. Is this not a possible word order in Latin?
