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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Unfunny latin motto.
People who have a very very weak sense of humour will sometimes quote the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto translate as 'don't let the bastards grind you down'.
Just this moment I saw it as "nil illegitimum carborundum". So I put that exact phrase into Google (94 hits).
Google suggested ""nil illegitimus carborundum" (150 hits). "Non illegitimus carborundum" gives 353 hits.
Are there any other variations?
I suspect that the motto is being used today by people who have no idea what carborundum is used for. Many may actually believe that it is genuine Latin.
Alan
Work like the ponies in coalmines.
Dance like the teardrop explodes.
Love like you're Frank in Blue Velvet.
Sing as though your little throat would burst.
Just this moment I saw it as "nil illegitimum carborundum". So I put that exact phrase into Google (94 hits).
Google suggested ""nil illegitimus carborundum" (150 hits). "Non illegitimus carborundum" gives 353 hits.
Are there any other variations?
I suspect that the motto is being used today by people who have no idea what carborundum is used for. Many may actually believe that it is genuine Latin.
Alan
Work like the ponies in coalmines.
Dance like the teardrop explodes.
Love like you're Frank in Blue Velvet.
Sing as though your little throat would burst.
Top answer
[nq:1]People who have a very very weak sense of humour will sometimes quote the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto ... by people who have no idea what carborundum is used for. [/nq] "non illegitimi carborundum" gives just over 3,000 results.
- [nq:1]People who have a very very weak sense of humour will sometimes quote the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto ...
- by people who have no idea what carborundum is used for.
- [/nq] "non illegitimi carborundum" gives just over 3,000 results.
- "illegitmi" being the plural of "illegitimus" which equates to not letting the (plural) ******** grind you down, rather than merely stopping one of them from doing all the work on his own.
- Also: "pseado"?
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39 Answers
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[nq:1]People who have a very very weak sense of humour will sometimes quote the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto ... by people who have no idea what carborundum is used for. Many may actually believe that it is genuine Latin.[/nq]
"non illegitimi carborundum" gives just over 3,000 results.
"illegitmi" being the plural of "illegitimus" which equates to not letting the (plural) *
"non illegitimi carborundum" gives just over 3,000 results.
"illegitmi" being the plural of "illegitimus" which equates to not letting the (plural) *
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[nq:1]"illegitmi" being the plural of "illegitimus"[/nq]
Yeah, yeah, typo, I know, before anyone leaps on me and points out such atrocious Latin.
How is it that typos in English will go by with a tacit acceptance, but a typo in a foreign (or pseado-foreign!) language will be pounced on by ravenous masses?
johnF
Yeah, yeah, typo, I know, before anyone leaps on me and points out such atrocious Latin.
How is it that typos in English will go by with a tacit acceptance, but a typo in a foreign (or pseado-foreign!) language will be pounced on by ravenous masses?
johnF
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[nq:1]People who have a very very weak sense of humour will sometimes quote the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto ... (94 hits). Google suggested ""nil illegitimus carborundum" (150 hits). "Non illegitimus carborundum" gives 353 hits. Are there any other variations?[/nq]
I first saw "nil illegitimati carborundum"
John 'but then I went to a good school' Dean
Oxford
I first saw "nil illegitimati carborundum"
John 'but then I went to a good school' Dean
Oxford
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[nq:2]"illegitmi" being the plural of "illegitimus"[/nq]
[nq:1]Yeah, yeah, typo, I know, before anyone leaps on me and points out such atrocious Latin. How is it that ... with a tacit acceptance, but a typo in a foreign (or pseado-foreign!) language will be pounced on by ravenous masses?[/nq]
The ravenous want to dine on your errors.
[nq:1]Yeah, yeah, typo, I know, before anyone leaps on me and points out such atrocious Latin. How is it that ... with a tacit acceptance, but a typo in a foreign (or pseado-foreign!) language will be pounced on by ravenous masses?[/nq]
The ravenous want to dine on your errors.
00
[nq:1]... the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto translate as 'don't let the ******** grind you down'.[/nq]
It has to be "non" (not) rather that "nil" (nothing) - though I've seen it with "nunquam" or "numquam" (never).
******** are plural, so "illegitimi" rather than "illegitimus" - though I've seen "illegitimati" and "illegitimes"; which are plural forms but not the right ones.
It has to be "non" (not) rather that "nil" (nothing) - though I've seen it with "nunquam" or "numquam" (never).
******** are plural, so "illegitimi" rather than "illegitimus" - though I've seen "illegitimati" and "illegitimes"; which are plural forms but not the right ones.
00
[nq:1]Also: "pseado"?[/nq]
When I see spelling errors I normally have a look at my own keyboard and I allow a one-character distance (laterally, normally). This one is well beyond my personal limit and I can only say that I have no idea how it came about!
When I see spelling errors I normally have a look at my own keyboard and I allow a one-character distance (laterally, normally). This one is well beyond my personal limit and I can only say that I have no idea how it came about!
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[nq:2]... the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto translate as 'don't let the ******** grind you down'.[/nq]
[nq:1]It has to be "non" (not) rather that "nil" (nothing) - though I've seen it with "nunquam" or "numquam" (never). ... silicii" seems more nicely classical. Alternative formulae such as "nothibus non licet opprimere" just don't cut it, somehow. Cheers, Daniel.[/nq]
A nothis o
[nq:1]It has to be "non" (not) rather that "nil" (nothing) - though I've seen it with "nunquam" or "numquam" (never). ... silicii" seems more nicely classical. Alternative formulae such as "nothibus non licet opprimere" just don't cut it, somehow. Cheers, Daniel.[/nq]
A nothis o
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[nq:1]People who have a very very weak sense of humour will sometimes quote the pseado-Latin motto which is suppose dto ... (94 hits). Google suggested ""nil illegitimus carborundum" (150 hits). "Non illegitimus carborundum" gives 353 hits. Are there any other variations?[/nq]
I've encountered quite a few, but the first one I heard, "Illegitimi non carborundum," is also the highest-scoring of
I've encountered quite a few, but the first one I heard, "Illegitimi non carborundum," is also the highest-scoring of
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[nq:2]"illegitmi" being the plural of "illegitimus"[/nq]
[nq:1]Yeah, yeah, typo, I know, before anyone leaps on me and points out such atrocious Latin.[/nq]
If they do it would be without just cause: surely the standards of pseudo-Latin should be what concern us here.
At any rate "Non illegitmi carborundum" gets two Google hits (albeit accompanied by the obvious suggested correction) s
[nq:1]Yeah, yeah, typo, I know, before anyone leaps on me and points out such atrocious Latin.[/nq]
If they do it would be without just cause: surely the standards of pseudo-Latin should be what concern us here.
At any rate "Non illegitmi carborundum" gets two Google hits (albeit accompanied by the obvious suggested correction) s
00
[nq:2]People who have a very very weak sense of humour ... illegitimus carborundum" gives 353 hits. Are there any other variations?[/nq]
[nq:1]I've encountered quite a few, but the first one I heard, "Illegitimi non carborundum," is also the highest-scoring of those ... For a few obvious variations, "Illegitimus non carborundum" gets 4640 hits, "Nil illegitimi carborundum" 277, and "Non illegi
[nq:1]I've encountered quite a few, but the first one I heard, "Illegitimi non carborundum," is also the highest-scoring of those ... For a few obvious variations, "Illegitimus non carborundum" gets 4640 hits, "Nil illegitimi carborundum" 277, and "Non illegi
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