Cuique in arte suâ credendum

English translation: Each man, in his own skill/art, must be given credit (must be believed)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Latin term or phrase:Cuique in arte sua credendum
English translation:Each man, in his own skill/art, must be given credit (must be believed)
Entered by: Flavio Ferri-Benedetti

08:11 Jan 6, 2005
Latin to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Latin term or phrase: Cuique in arte suâ credendum
Just a Latin maxim. But I'd like to understand the MODALITY, pure grammatical modality: must credit, or may credit, or something else.
Vassyl Trylis
Local time: 12:03
Each man, in his own skill/art, must be given credit (must be believed)
Explanation:
Dear Vassyl,

Here is a short grammatical explanation.

This structure is formed by a predicate gerundive - a gerundive is a verbal adjective with a passive meaning. The attribute gerundive is to be linked to a noun, but this is not the case (it is a predicate, with the verb "esse" hidden between the lines).

In this case, it is, then, a periphrastic passive construction. It expresses compulsion, obligation. Remember: "Carthago delenda est" (Carthage must be destroyed).

But "credo" is an intransitive verb, which gives us another rule: a gerundive of this kind formed with an intransitive verb can only be conjugated in 3º singular neuter person (credendUM est). Also, the object of the obligation is to be expressed in DATIVE (CUI-que).

CUIque (each man, anyone, DATIVE SINGULAR pronoun)
IN ARTE SUÂ (in his own art/skill, ablative syntagm)
CREDENDUM [EST] (must be believed/must be given credit) - passive periphrastic construction, predicate gerundive

---

I hope this helps about grammatical modality ;)

Best wishes,
Flavio
Selected response from:

Flavio Ferri-Benedetti
Switzerland
Local time: 11:03
Grading comment
Flavio, I dare to consider Your explanation as superb. The Carthago quotation is very imressive. (But I'd just reject "his own".)
Thank You tremendously!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +6Each man, in his own skill/art, must be given credit (must be believed)
Flavio Ferri-Benedetti


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Cuique in arte suâ credendum
Each man, in his own skill/art, must be given credit (must be believed)


Explanation:
Dear Vassyl,

Here is a short grammatical explanation.

This structure is formed by a predicate gerundive - a gerundive is a verbal adjective with a passive meaning. The attribute gerundive is to be linked to a noun, but this is not the case (it is a predicate, with the verb "esse" hidden between the lines).

In this case, it is, then, a periphrastic passive construction. It expresses compulsion, obligation. Remember: "Carthago delenda est" (Carthage must be destroyed).

But "credo" is an intransitive verb, which gives us another rule: a gerundive of this kind formed with an intransitive verb can only be conjugated in 3º singular neuter person (credendUM est). Also, the object of the obligation is to be expressed in DATIVE (CUI-que).

CUIque (each man, anyone, DATIVE SINGULAR pronoun)
IN ARTE SUÂ (in his own art/skill, ablative syntagm)
CREDENDUM [EST] (must be believed/must be given credit) - passive periphrastic construction, predicate gerundive

---

I hope this helps about grammatical modality ;)

Best wishes,
Flavio



    Sintaxis Latina - E. Valent� Fiol
    Whitaker's "Words"
Flavio Ferri-Benedetti
Switzerland
Local time: 11:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Flavio, I dare to consider Your explanation as superb. The Carthago quotation is very imressive. (But I'd just reject "his own".)
Thank You tremendously!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  giogi
5 mins

agree  Alfa Trans (X)
2 hrs

agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
2 hrs

agree  Kirill Semenov: great explanation + maybe, "Everyone is to be trusted in his craft"
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Kirill - I love your translation!

agree  Egmont
13 hrs

agree  Maria Ferstl
1 day 5 hrs
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