There's not a lot of vocabulary since the sayings are short, so I made a slideshow containing other paradoxical proverbs. Hopefully reviewing these proverbs will get you in the right mood for some new paradoxes!
Here's list of the sayings in the show:
Here's list of the sayings in the show:
- Lac gallinaceum.
- Hinnulus leonem.
- Calvus pectinem.
- Camelus saltat.
- Nauta aratrum poscit.
- Speculum caecus poscit.
- Aquilam testudo vincit.
- Iam testudo volat.
- Minervam sus docet.
- Catulus leonem allatrat.
- Colubra restem non parit.
- Aquila non parit columbam.
And here are today's proverbs:
1. Surdus tibicinem poscit.
(A) deaf (man) is-demanding a flute-player.
surdus ti-BI-cinem poscit.
The masucline adjective surdus, "deaf," is being used substantively here as a noun: "deaf (man)." The word can also mean "mute," and so in English the word "surd" is a linguistic term that refers to a voiceless consonant.
1. Surdus tibicinem poscit.
(A) deaf (man) is-demanding a flute-player.
surdus ti-BI-cinem poscit.
The masucline adjective surdus, "deaf," is being used substantively here as a noun: "deaf (man)." The word can also mean "mute," and so in English the word "surd" is a linguistic term that refers to a voiceless consonant.
The word tibicinem is the accusative form of the 3rd-declension noun tibicen, "flute-player." The word is a compound, tibi-cen, "flute-singer."
The idea is that someone who is deaf would not need or enjoy a flute-player. Compare these other paradoxical sayings with poscit from the slideshow: Nauta aratrum poscit and Speculum caecus poscit.
2. Cancer leporem capit.
(The) crab catches (the) rabbit.
cancer LE-porem capit.
The 3rd-declension noun cancer means "crab" in Latin, and it gives us the astrological sign "Cancer." The use of "cancer" in English to means the disease because ancient Greek medical writers noted a similarity between cancerous tumors and the shape of a crab.
2. Cancer leporem capit.
(The) crab catches (the) rabbit.
cancer LE-porem capit.
The 3rd-declension noun cancer means "crab" in Latin, and it gives us the astrological sign "Cancer." The use of "cancer" in English to means the disease because ancient Greek medical writers noted a similarity between cancerous tumors and the shape of a crab.
The word leporem is the accusative form of the 3rd-declension noun lepus, a word you know already.
The absurdity here is that a rabbit runs fast, while a crab cannot even walk straight, much less run. Compare a similar saying about fast and slow: Aquilam testudo vincit.
3. Plaustrum bovem trahit.
(The) wagon is-pulling (the) ox.
plaustrum bovem trahit.
The word plaustrum, "wagon," is a 2nd-declension neuter noun, which means it could be nominative or accusative here. Because bovem is accusative (from the 3rd-declension noun bos), that lets you know plaustrum is nominative.
3. Plaustrum bovem trahit.
(The) wagon is-pulling (the) ox.
plaustrum bovem trahit.
The word plaustrum, "wagon," is a 2nd-declension neuter noun, which means it could be nominative or accusative here. Because bovem is accusative (from the 3rd-declension noun bos), that lets you know plaustrum is nominative.
The verb trahit, "pulls, drags." You can see this Latin root in English "tractor."
Compare the English saying about the absurdity of "putting the cart before the horse."
4. Currus bovem trahit.
(The) cart is-pulling (the) ox.
currus bovem trahit.
The word currus means "cart, chariot," and it is also found with this spelling: carrus, which gives us English "car."
4. Currus bovem trahit.
(The) cart is-pulling (the) ox.
currus bovem trahit.
The word currus means "cart, chariot," and it is also found with this spelling: carrus, which gives us English "car."
This saying is a variant on the previous saying, now with a currus instead of a plaustrum, but the meaning is the same.
5. Bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.
(The) ox pulls (the) cart, (the) cart doesn't (pull the) ox.
bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.
As you can see, this saying unpacks the previous saying, making sure people understand the difference between the normal situation, bos currum trahit, and the absurd topsy-turvy situation: bovem currus.
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
5. Bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.
(The) ox pulls (the) cart, (the) cart doesn't (pull the) ox.
bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.
As you can see, this saying unpacks the previous saying, making sure people understand the difference between the normal situation, bos currum trahit, and the absurd topsy-turvy situation: bovem currus.
Here's a recap:
- Surdus tibicinem poscit.
- Cancer leporem capit.
- Plaustrum bovem trahit.
- Currus bovem trahit.
- Bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.
Plus the LOLCats!
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