Tattoo

[Iynx]

We seem to spend a lot of time here discussing tattoos. Yet we lack (it seems) a Latin term for the things. Picturae vel litterae atramento in cute scalptae does the job, but seems to me way too long. So let's midwife a word:

tatu, -us (n)


is my proposal. Sic? Non?

 

[Akela]

What declension does it look like? 4th?

 

[Iynx]

Yes, on the model of genu. I meant the part after the comma to indicate the genitive singular; I was taught to think of Latin nouns that way.

 

[SaepePecca]

I'd swear I saw a Latin word for tattoo while reading an excerpt from De Situ Orbis (Pomponius Mela) last year. Something about painted savages... I'll look for it.

Noticing that everyone wants tattoos, I've begun work on a website specifically for Latin tattoos. I'm sifting through the many Latin quotes on the net looking for those especially suited for a tattoo. Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll have it up.

Meaning no insult to anyone, I'm curious why people who have no other interest in Latin want to get some permanently written onto their hides?

On the subject of new Latin words, I've been told the Vatican releases an official update to the Latin language (annually?) to include words for new technologies and such. Does anyone know if this is available on the web? I did a little searching but wasn't very successful. :wondering:

 

[Iynx]

You may be thinking of the Lexicon Recentis Latinitatis (Libraria Editoria Vaticana in Urbe Vaticana). I have a print edition from MMIII. It is an Italian-Latin dictionary of recent words. But it is often disappointing. It recommends long clumsy phrases where one feels a short word is wanted-- for example "computer" is instrumentum computatorium. And some of its technical terms (in areas in which I have some expertise) are more seriously flawed.

I can recommend two websites as sources for late Latin vocabulary. "Ramminger" is a wordlist "From Petrarch to 1700"which contains a great deal of useful information. It's organization is Latin-German. It is available at http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~ramminger/words/start.htm

A relatively small number of more contemporary words are available in a website officially known as Latinitas Recens, but more generally known (after its author?) as "Florus"; it is available at http://users.adelphia.net/~florus/neo-lexicon.htm

 

[SaepePecca]

Thanks Iynx I don't know any German but I think I can blunder my way around the interface.

The second address has changed (or it was a typo), I got an error and then found it from Google at: http://users.adelphia.net/~florusc/neo-lexicon.htm

 

[Bambi]

uhhh maybe...

compungo, pungere, punxi, punctum = to tattoo

 

[Iynx]

I like it, Bambi, for the verb. But surely the third part should be pupugi or pepugi?

And we still need a noun-- punctum won't do, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Iynx]

Oops. I've had a chance to hit the books, Bambi, and I see that on the third part we're both right-- and both wrong. Pungo is indeed pupugi or pepugi, as I thought, but COMpungo is compunxi, as you wrote. One of the things I like about this forum is that I learn something here every day.

I see also that Cicero seems at least once to use compunctum (or conpunctum, in the Loeb) to mean "tattooed" (De Officiis ii: 25). The problem with this is that a few lines further on the text suggests that the tattoo in question may have been a stigma, or nota-- that is, a sign of infamy tattooed or heat-branded on a criminal, or on a runaway slave.

Cicero does speak in that text of a "tattooed barbarian" (or perhaps a "branded barbarian"). Could this be the text you were thinking of, SP?

If we are willing to accept compungo as "I tattoo" in a general, and not solely in a punitive sense, I suppose we could for the substantive use the infinitive in the nominative, and the gerund in the obliques.

So "I have a new tattoo!" might be Habeo compungendum novum, literally, "I have a new pricking". I'm not crazy about it, but it's probably better than my imported word.

Gratias tibi ago, Bambi.

 

[SaepePecca]

Cicero does speak in that text of a "tattooed barbarian" (or perhaps a "branded barbarian"). Could this be the text you were thinking of, SP?

I found the text I was thinking of, it says that natives of Britannia "incertum ob decorem an quid aliud - vitro corpora infecti."

So it wasn't really a tattoo, they were just painting themselves with woad.

Compungendum doesn't exactly roll of the tongue does it? So many nasals.

 

[Iynx]

I think I've heard of those guys: woad warriors?

Seriously: I had trouble reading that phrase of yours. At first glance I tried to make the last words "undid their bodies with glass"; I never knew before that vitrum could mean anything but "glass", and was trying to imagine some sort of scarification. Now I know.

Thank you.

 

[SaepePecca]

I think I've heard of those guys: woad warriors?

*claps and boos simultaneously*

As a side note, woad is incredibly common throughout North America, so much so that it is on the invasive species list and illegal to grow in several states. I had the bright idea that I could sell woad seeds to historical recreationists, so I was pretty amused when I looked it up and found that out.

 

[hidden_within_a_nighmare]

latin tattoo.... counds cool....

 

[Akela]

Whittaker's Words:
nota, notae N 1 1 F [XXXCX]
mark, sign, letter, word, writing, spot brand, tattoo-mark;

Collins GEM Latin Dictionary:
compungo, compungere, compunxi, compunctum, v
to prick, sting, tattoo


I do prefer tatu, -us though. Perhaps we can forget nota, notae? :shifty2: :halo:

 

[Avodah]

In response to the question about why would persons with no interest in Latin have it branded on their hides? In my case, while I am more than interested in Latin... I think that it is a sort of universal language, so many langs. derived from it, stole from it, borrowed from it... I think that many Europeans and Americans consider it the first language of 'real civilization'. (Despite the fact that the Romans stole alot from the Greeks) But more importantly it seems less regionally/language specific than getting something in Italian or German. People would expect that you or your family would have some sort of affiliation with that culture/region if you got a tattoo in that lang. Personally, I wouldnt mind getting a tattoo in Chinese, Japanese, Hindi or Arabic simply b/c the writing is so much different and artistic than our English. Also in my case I like the idea that not just any idiot can read what's branded on my hide, my way of saying that people of lesser intelligence/education annoy me. 8)

P.s. I can think of a number of provacative tattoos that would be made much more interesting if in another language, besides Eng. or Latin! :twisted:

 

[Avodah]

As far as nota vs. compungo vs. tatu... I think the first was/is more commonly used as a word for note/mark/sign... etc. The second is too much work, but probably more accurate. My vote is for tatu, us. though I think this would really only work for the noun not verb?

 

[Manus Correctrix]

Verb: compungo
Noun: nota compuncta (abbreviated to just one of the words once context is established)
Slang noun: tatu, -us

Not too hard, eh?

 

[Bitmap]

Not too hard, eh?

that's quite an old thread you dug out there
// edit: got rid of some stupid mistake

I see also that Cicero seems at least once to use compunctum (or conpunctum, in the Loeb) to mean "tattooed" (De Officiis ii: 25). The problem with this is that a few lines further on the text suggests that the tattoo in question may have been a stigma, or nota-- that is, a sign of infamy tattooed or heat-branded on a criminal, or on a runaway slave.

Cicero writes about Alexander of Pherae, who used to send a "tattoed barbarian" with sword into his bedroom before he would go there himself, out of fear that his wife might kill him. Cicero speaks about a barbarus notis Thraeciis compunctus, which made me think of a slave from a gladiator school at first ... However, the story plays in Thessaly in the 4th century BC, so notis Thraeciis probably refers to something else.

Anyway, barbarus compunctus is quite a fitting word for most translation requesters on this forum ;>

 

[cinefactus]

Anyway, barbarus compunctus is quite a fitting word for most translation requesters on this forum ;>

Could hardly agree more 8)

 

[Manus Correctrix]

that's quite an old thread you digged out there

Dug! I take back what I said about your excellent English!

Haha, only joking.

Yeah, this thread is old, but it is on the first page of threads under ‘Latin Neologisms’.

Anyway, barbarus compunctus is quite a fitting word for most translation requesters on this forum ;>

We should suggest it as an answer to their translation requests. Mwuahahaha.