Expert: Maria - 9/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Maria,

I'm really hoping you can help me. I'm looking for the correct translation from english to latin of the following: the word "BELIEVE" and also the phrase "WAKE YOUR DREAMS"

My boyfriend is fascinated with Latin and im wanting to get one of these engraved on a bracelet for him. Unfortunately i just wouldnt know where to find the correct translation and i dont trust all these online translators.  :)

So i would really appreciate your help. Many, many thanks.

Sincerely and warmest regards,

Lana.

ANSWER: Hello,

actually your question follows almost faithfully  a question I’ve received just yesterday by another questioner who wanted me to translate exactly what you are asking me now.

So, since that translation should have  been used for a tattoo, I’ve rejected such a question simply because  I really don't like tattoos and then, as a volunteer expert of a 100% FREE site, I obviously can choose to decline translating any phrase / word for this purpose, as I wrote expressly in my ‘Instructions to Questioner’ which appear on the "Ask a question page”, where you can read:
"No homework questions please nor TATTOOS. I do know that you can cheat me by  asking me a phrase, without telling me it is  for a tattoo, but I choose to  trust your honesty”.

Therefore I don’t want to translate the word "BELIEVE" nor the phrase "WAKE YOUR DREAMS", though you say they are for a bracelet, as I suspect that you are resorting to a subterfuge to obtain the translation you are looking for.

Maybe I am in the wrong, but this is my impression and it’s up to your honesty to tell me if this is right or not.

Regards,
Maria


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Maria,

Yes, i read the instructions and no my word and phrase is not for a tattoo. It is for a bracelet as i said. I do not have nor will i ever get any tattoos as i do not like them either. But as you said this is a 100% free site and you may decline translating anything you do not wish to translate.

Obviously there is no way i can prove to you that my question is an honest one so although i am disappointed, i will have to accept your decision not to help me and continue my search for the correct translation. Thank you for your time. Take care.

Kind regards,

Lana.  

Answer
Hi,

Since you say that your question is not for a tattoo, I trust your honesty and then here are the translations you asked me:

-"Confide” or “Crede” (Believe)

-"Tua excita somnia” (Wake your dreams).

See below for grammatical analysis.

To conclude, please accept my apologies for my previous unfounded suspicions.

Best wishes to you and your boyfriend,
Maria
___________________________________________
GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS

-Believe= CONFIDE (2nd.person singular, imperative present of CONFIDO meaning “I believe “ in the sense of “I trust”)  or CREDE (2nd.person singular, imperative present of CREDO, “I believe” in the sense of “I have confidence in the truth or value of something/someone” as well as “I have firm faith”).

-Wake = EXCITA (2nd.person singular, imperative present of EXCITO, I wake)

-your = TUA (direct object, accusative plural of the possessive TUUS agreed with SOMNIA)

-dreams= SOMNIA (direct object, accusative plural of the neuter noun SOMNIUM, 2nd.declension).

Note that Latin word order can be different from English.
In Latin in fact  syntactical relationships are indicated by the inflexional endings, not by the order of the words.
Therefore it is not necessary to adhere to a strictly defined order.