sis navigo quaero obviam finiculus

English translation: [discussion of possibilities]

23:10 Jul 24, 2008
Latin to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Ships, Sailing, Maritime / naval
Latin term or phrase: sis navigo quaero obviam finiculus
saying
Rick & Ted
English translation:[discussion of possibilities]
Explanation:
I've not got an answer, but there isn't enough room in the Note to Asker boxes to say everything.

"Finiculus" apparently means "little end", but it actually seems to be a term meaning "small cord", used especially in biology, and otherwise spelt "funiculus". (Google)

"Obviam" IS a real word, an adverb meaning "to meet" or "against" (dictionary) altho they don't look like adverbs to me. It could also be the feminine accusative singular of the adjective "obvius", which meant either "in the way/opposite/against" or "at hand/accessible". But that seems unlikely here as no noun to go with.

"Quaero" is not only "enquire", but "seek, try to get, acquire, investigate" etc. But it is supposed to be transitive, where is the direct object?

"Sis", as a contraction of "si vis" (if you want) means "please" (dictionary); otherwise could "sis" be a mistake for "sit" (let it be), "sic" (thus, in this way) or "si" (if)?

My suspicion is it is "invented Latin", created by someone who didn't know the language but just leafed thru a dictionary. I find it suspicious there are two first person singular present tense verbs consecutively, as that is the first verb form that is given in dictionaries.

My best guess is: "If you want to sail look for the rope to hand".

I did think maybe sis -> sit, "Let It Be" (The Beatles), navigo = "I Am Sailing" (Rod Stewart) etc. but I think that line of thought is unprofitable. ;)


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Note added at 3 hrs (2008-07-25 02:46:36 GMT)
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Hmm Olga, what verb could "obviam" be a future 1st sing form of? It would have to be 3rd/4th conjugation, which rules out "obviare", which was a real verb. I see some references to "obvire" on Google, but so few I wonder if they're misspellings for "obviare". It seems to have a similar meaning (meet/withstand vs. resist) and source (obvius).


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Note added at 3 hrs (2008-07-25 02:54:13 GMT)
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"Please: I sail, I seek, I will resist the little cord". Well, it's yet another possibility! :-D


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Note added at 1 day22 hrs (2008-07-26 21:20:02 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Hey thanks for points, shame I couldn't come up with anything definite! :/
Selected response from:

matmcv (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:58
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3Should you wish, I sail; I ask that the hawser [be] to hand.
Joseph Brazauskas
1[discussion of possibilities]
matmcv (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Should you wish, I sail; I ask that the hawser [be] to hand.


Language variant: Sis, navigo; quaero obviam funiculus [sit].

Explanation:
Going with what we have, and making a slight emendation ('finiculus' does not exist and 'funiculus' is at least possible, if not probable), then I would suggest the rendering which I've supplied above.

'Sis' is of course a contraction of 'si vis'. The present indicative sometimes has a future force, when a sense of immediacy or necessity is intended, and this may be the case here with 'navigo' and 'quaero' instead of 'navigabo' and 'quaeram' respectively.

'Obviam' is simply an adverbial accusative, meaning originally 'in the way' but developping a wide array of nuances, I have translated the one which I deem most likely.

'Funixculus', if it really is a mistake for 'funiculus;, I would take as a synonym for'rudens', as in the title of Plautus' play of the same name, which likewise dealt, at least n part, with a maritime theme.

Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 12:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
[discussion of possibilities]


Explanation:
I've not got an answer, but there isn't enough room in the Note to Asker boxes to say everything.

"Finiculus" apparently means "little end", but it actually seems to be a term meaning "small cord", used especially in biology, and otherwise spelt "funiculus". (Google)

"Obviam" IS a real word, an adverb meaning "to meet" or "against" (dictionary) altho they don't look like adverbs to me. It could also be the feminine accusative singular of the adjective "obvius", which meant either "in the way/opposite/against" or "at hand/accessible". But that seems unlikely here as no noun to go with.

"Quaero" is not only "enquire", but "seek, try to get, acquire, investigate" etc. But it is supposed to be transitive, where is the direct object?

"Sis", as a contraction of "si vis" (if you want) means "please" (dictionary); otherwise could "sis" be a mistake for "sit" (let it be), "sic" (thus, in this way) or "si" (if)?

My suspicion is it is "invented Latin", created by someone who didn't know the language but just leafed thru a dictionary. I find it suspicious there are two first person singular present tense verbs consecutively, as that is the first verb form that is given in dictionaries.

My best guess is: "If you want to sail look for the rope to hand".

I did think maybe sis -> sit, "Let It Be" (The Beatles), navigo = "I Am Sailing" (Rod Stewart) etc. but I think that line of thought is unprofitable. ;)


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2008-07-25 02:46:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hmm Olga, what verb could "obviam" be a future 1st sing form of? It would have to be 3rd/4th conjugation, which rules out "obviare", which was a real verb. I see some references to "obvire" on Google, but so few I wonder if they're misspellings for "obviare". It seems to have a similar meaning (meet/withstand vs. resist) and source (obvius).


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2008-07-25 02:54:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Please: I sail, I seek, I will resist the little cord". Well, it's yet another possibility! :-D


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day22 hrs (2008-07-26 21:20:02 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Hey thanks for points, shame I couldn't come up with anything definite! :/

matmcv (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Please see my comments and thanks

Asker: I agree with invented latin...this cap was purchased at a truck stop p:)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Olga Cartlidge: If we dropped the final s in SIS we d get - I wonder if I am navigating towards the limit, boundary, closure ( ''finiculus'' is still dubious) CF - obviam ire periculis, Sall. : courir au-devant des dangers, s'exposer aux dangers. (Dic latin de Jeannot)
14 mins
  -> Could be, but would that add any sense to the sentence? I like the "please" sense, that's neat and seems likely in a jokey motto on a cap./See new note in explanation
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