Re: Latin (Re: ITP: mosix -- Cluster computing enhancements for the Linux kernel.)

[tb@becket.net (Thomas Bushnell, BSG)]

Carlos Laviola <claviola@ajato.com.br> writes:

> On 22 May 2001 06:37:55 -0700, tb@becket.net (Thomas Bushnell, BSG) wrote:
> 
> > Junichi Uekawa <dancer@netfort.gr.jp> writes:
> > 
> > > Viral <viral@debian.org> cum veritate scripsit:
> > 
> > What exactly are you trying to say by "cum veritate"?
> 
> Based on my latin (lack of) skills, I'd guess "so truthfully spoke",
> or something like that.

Sure, that's my guess too.  But that's not what "cum veritate
scripsit" means; I was trying to be nice. :)

Just "veritate scripsit" is better, I think.  The preposition "cum" in
Latin is never instrumentative.

That is, the preposition "cum" means with in sentences like:
  John went to the market with Mary.
  John ate the fish with onions.

And never in sentences like:
  John went to the market with a car.
  John ate the fish with gusto.

The latter are instrumentative, and get the plain ablative, without
preposition.  

Idiomatic Latin would probably not use "veritas" at all, and use say:

"Viral immo vere scripsit", which is "Viral truly did write", and
that's pretty good.

Thomas