Latin translation question

[Robin in Tx]

Such a simple question, I'm almost embarrassed to post... I asked this on the Henle Latin group, but would like your feedback as well.

 

Early in Henle I (exercise 25, number 6), the student translantes into latin the sentence: The slaves are in the towns and in the forest. The answer key says that forest should be translated as plural.

 

Can anyone explain why? When would forest ever be singular?

 

Thanks,

Robin

[Okie]

Good question. If you get another answer I would love to see it.

 

I translated it myself before looking at the key and did this:

servi sunt in oppidis et in silva.

[Robin in Tx]

We did the same thing, but the answer key says silvis.

 

Hmmm... anyone??

[Beth in Central TX]

The only thing that I can think of is that forest is a collective noun being used in a plural sense. The way the sentence is translated indicates that the slaves are in more than one town and more than one forest. I'm not sure though, so I'll continue to watch this thread...

[Moira in MA]

Forest is alwaya plural in Latin.

 

As with any translation there is often not a one-to-one correspondence in vocabulary. Specifically, silva, -ae; f has other meanings such as bush which would be translated in the singular.

 

HTH

~Moira

[readwithem]

This reminds me of some cultural differences even within English. The British refer to a company as plural, so they might say "Macys are having a sale" or something similar. I still find my tongue (and brain) getting tied sometimes.:lol:

[latinteach]

Such a simple question, I'm almost embarrassed to post... I asked this on the Henle Latin group, but would like your feedback as well.

 

Early in Henle I (exercise 25, number 6), the student translantes into latin the sentence: The slaves are in the towns and in the forest. The answer key says that forest should be translated as plural.

 

Can anyone explain why? When would forest ever be singular?

 

If you figured out that "in the forest" should be ablative, I think that you're doing great. Looking it up in C.T. Lewis' Elementary Latin dictionary, there seem to be examples of this word used both as a singular noun and a plural. The answer "in silvis" seems to be more dependent on knowing something about the vocabulary word than about the grammar, if that makes any sense.

[LisaNY]

My thinking is pretty much along the lines of what Beth shared. I've seen it translated both ways in Henle. It can get annoying. I usually translate it as "forest", but use the plural Latin form. I think of "woods", and then it makes more sense. If you look on p. 65 of Henle, it reads: "Silva, ae, as you know, means "a forest"; but it is generally used in the plural and with the SAME MEANING as in the singular." (like "woods")

 

Henle points out a few specific words that are to be translated into the English as singular, but are plural in Latin. For ex., castra, castrorum neuter, plural - translated in English as "camp", impedimenta, impedimentorum neuter, plural - translated in English as "baggage" or "baggage train".

[latinteach]

Henle points out a few specific words that are to be translated into the English as singular, but are plural in Latin. For ex., castra, castrorum neuter, plural - translated in English as "camp", impedimenta, impedimentorum neuter, plural - translated in English as "baggage" or "baggage train".

 

"Castra" and "impedimenta" are two well known specific words that are usually seen in the plural in Latin, translated as singular in English. If you read Caesar, you'll come across them constantly. According to Traupman's New College Latin and English Dictionary (Revised and Updated, 3rd Edition, 2007), "impedimentum" as a singular noun means "an impediment" or "difficulty." As a plural, it does mean "baggage." (Consider what a difficulty it is for soldiers carrying all that baggage!) The same dictionary gives "castrum" as "a fort or fortress." The plural is, as you point out, "a camp." So you will see the singular forms of both of these, but not as much as you'll see the plurals which have specialized meanings.