ENGLISH TO LATIN TRANSLATION PROJECT

Over the course of the semester, you have often been called upon to translate from Latin
to English and less frequently English to Latin. Im sure many of you have found this
process strange in comparison with learning a modern language. This process of
translation has often asked you to think about both languages on a word-by-word basis.
This project will challenge you to think about translation and the creation of meaning as a
thought by thought process instead.
In a group of two to three people, you will translate two passages from The Hobbit. The
English of the Hobbit has been slightly adapted to make it easier. If youre unfamiliar
with the Hobbit, you may want to watch the movies, read the book, or read the Cliffnotes
version.
Each passage presents a number of difficulties for you to think about. BE SURE to see
the vocabulary and tips following each passage for help. However, I have not glossed
everything.
One of the questions that I want you all to think about is what is the basic meaning of
what is being said. Is there another way you can say the same thing in the Latin that you
know?
Ex: He always spoke to himself through never having anyone else to speak to
How could we rewrite this? Here is one example:
He always spoke to himself because there was no nobody to talk to.
This process is called circumlocution or periphrasis.
Deliverables
In terms of hardcore deliverables, please submit via email your groups final typed
project by Sunday, November 7 at midnight. Please submit your version of each
passage. Along with Passage 1, please include a list of words in good Latin for any
bad Latin you use for Gollum. This assignment is worth 7.5% of your grade.

I. Passage 1 (Adapted from the Hobbit Chapter 5: Riddles in the Dark)

Who are you? Bilbo said.
What iss he, my preciouss? said Gollum (who always spoke to himself through never
having anyone else to speak to).
I am Mr. Bilbo Baggins. I have lost the dwarves and I have lost the wizard, and I dont
know where I am; and I dont want to know, if only I can get away.
Whats he got in his handses? said Gollum.
A sword. It came out of Gondolin!
Sssss, said Gollum, Praps ye sits here and chats with us, my preciousss. It like riddles,
praps it does, does it? He was anxious to appear friendly.
Very well, said Bilbo, You ask first, he said, because he didnt have time to think of
a riddle.
So Gollum said:
What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?
Easy! said Bilbo. Mountain, I suppose.
Useful Vocabulary
Bilbo, Bilbonis=3m Bilbo.
Gollum, Golli=2n Gollum
Use thesaure mi for my precious.
nannus, nanni=2m dwarf
magus, magi=2m wizard
ensis, ensis=3m sword
Gondolinum, Gondolini=2n Gondolin
fortasse=perhaps
aenigma, aenigmatis= 3n (aenigmata in the plural)=riddle
anxius/a/um=anxious
use the infinitive meminisse followed by the accusative thing for think of
use sic for so in so Gollum said
radix, radicis=3f root
use altius arboribus for taller than trees
cresco, crescere, crevi=grow

mons, montis=3m mountain

General Tips
Gollum speaks bad English, so make him speak bad Latin. For example, Gollum says
handses for hands. Rather than using the proper Latin in manibus of fourth declension
manus, use manis and make it the wrong declension. You will also probably want to keep
Gollums abuse of the sound S in Latin.
To help you write bad Latin, use the Appendix Probi
(http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~kurisuto/germanic/appendix_probi.html). This is a list of
commonly mispronounced words in Latin from the third to fourth century A.D.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appendix_Probi). The author writes the correct Latin word
followed by the mispronounced word (e.g. numquam non nunqua). You can search it
with a control+F search of the proper Latin word to see if there is a bad Latin equivalent.
Finally, there is no need to try to translate the riddle in verse.

II. PASSAGE 2
Adapted from Chapter 17: The Clouds Burst
Then Thorin angrily said, That stone was my fathers, and is mine. Why should I
purchase my own. But how came you by it-if there is need to ask such a question of
thieves?
We are not thieves, Bard answered. Your own we will give back in return for our
own.
How came you by it? shouted Thorin
I gave it them! said Bilbo.
You! You! cried Thorin, You miserable hobbit! You undersized-burglar! I wish I had
Gandalf here! Curse him! As for you I will throw you to the rocks!
Stay! Your wish is granted! said the old man, Here is Gandalf!
Useful Vocabulary
lapis, lapidis=3m stone
emo, emere=buy, purchase
obtineo, obtinere, obtinui, obtentus=obtain, come by
hobbitus, hobitti=2m hobbit
Gadalf, Gandalfis=3m Gandalf
iacio, iacere, ieci, iactus=throw+in aliquid