A few years ago in town there was a revival of interest in the classics
(languages, we already have interests in cars). A couple of Latin profs
from the two local universities were interviewed and an article was
published in the paper. It seems that a botanist needed help in naming
a new variation on some hybrid plant. Unfortunately, the botanist
annoyed the prof so the first prof created a name mixing roots (ok, pun
intended) a couple of really good endings and came up with a very
scholarly, Latin sounding name waited a week and delivered his result..
A few months later the second prof was asked by a writer from a
gardening magazine to translate this same term back to English. Of
course it didn't translate and the second prof sought the help of the
first prof. The two had a good laugh, used the original English phrase,
waited a week and delivered the result.
The two were quite proud of pulling a fast one.
Now (standing behind asbestos heat shield) I'm not suggesting that Mr.
Petrolati was similarly taken in but....
maybe we should make bumper stickers ?
Sona si Latine loqueris.
Honk if you speak Latin.
and for James...
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam
possit materiari?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Andrew
78 Spitfire
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