Expert: Maria - 10/18/2010

Question
Hello Maria,

I have read almost all of your recently answered questions,
and while they do address a similar phrase, they do not
answer my specific translation question.

My boyfriend survived germ-cell cancer. Over the course of a
year and a half, he endured radical chemotherapy, stem cell
transplants, and open-heart surgery. He died twice.

I want to make him a plaque that says "I struggled, but I
survived" but I don't want to use the Zeeland motto. I did a
little research and came up with "Illuctor et superstes
sum." Is this accurate?

I thank you for your time and expertise.


Answer
Dear Jeannie,

First of all I would like to show my solidarity with your boyfriend and wish  him well.

As for a plaque that says "I struggled, but I survived", here’s a correct translation:

-“Pugnavi, at superfui”

Note that:

-PUGNAVI (past tense, i.e. 1st.person singular, perfect active indicative of PUGNO, I struggle, I fight) means “I struggled;

-AT means “but” in order to strengthen a contrast.

-SUPERFUI ( past tense, i.e. 1st.person singular, perfect active indicative of SUPERSUM, I survive) means “I survived”.

With regard to “Illuctor et superstes  sum”, it means “I struggle and survive” where both verbs are in the present indicative, not in the past tense like in “I struggled” / ”I survived”.  

Moreover the deponent verb “Illuctor” is rarely used and only  in sentences like e.g. “Verba illuctantia labris”  (literally, “words struggling with lips”, i.e. “Words that are difficult to pronounce")  where  “illuctantia” (struggling)  is the present participle of “Illuctor”.

All the best,
Maria
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P.S.
I have to point out that the Zeeland motto: "Luctor et Emergo" means "I struggle and survive" in the sense that the  inhabitants of Zeeland struggle  against floods and then  emerge victorious from the water.The Latin verb EMERGO in fact literally means “I emerge from the water”, not “I survive”.

Finally I have used the verb PUGNO instead of LUCTOR, first because the struggle of your boyfriend is a real fight, second because the past tense of the deponent verb LUCTOR (literally, I wrestle) is LUCTATUS SUM which sounds less appropriate than PUGNAVI.