Expert: Maria - 5/17/2010

Question
Please confirm for accuracy, the translation from ENGLISH to LATIN of "broaden your horizon(s)" into "prospectus
vestros amplificate"  -  thank you so much!

Answer
Hello,

The Latin translation “Prospectus vestros amplificate" is grammatically correct, but not so appropriate, as it would sound quite strange in classical Latin, i.e. the Latin language used by Julius Caesar or Cicero where e.g. we read “aciem mentis in omnes intendere partes” [literally, “to turn keen looks (mind's sharpness) on all sides“] just to say “to broaden own’s horizons”.

Therefore, if we follow this pattern, the phrase ”Broaden your horizon(s)" can be translated as follows:

-“Tuae aciem mentis in omnes intende partes” as well as more concisely “Tuam mentem in omnes intende partes”, if this phrase is addressed to only one person, as the English pronoun “you” is a 2nd.person singular.

Or:

-“Vestrae  aciem mentis in omnes intendite partes” as well as more concisely “Vestram  mentem in omnes intendite partes”, if this phrase is addressed to many persons, as the English pronoun “you” is a 2nd.person plural.

Best regards,
Maria
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GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS OF  “Tuae aciem mentis in omnes intende partes” and “Vestrae  aciem mentis in omnes intendite partes” ( literally,” Turn your mind‘s sharpness on all sides”, i.e. “Broaden your horizon(s)”:

-Broaden = INTENDE (2nd.person singular, imperative of INTENDO)  or INTENDITE (2nd.person plural, imperative of INTENDO) IN OMNES PARTES (literally ,’on all sides”, “everywhere”)

-Your = TUAE (genitive feminine singular of the possessive TUUS agreed with MENTIS) or VESTRAE( genitive feminine singular of the possessive VESTER agreed with MENTIS).
Note that English "your"  corresponds to TUUS (nominative) when related to a 2nd.person singular, while it corresponds to VESTER (nominative) when related to a 2nd.person plural.

-horizon(s)= ACIEM (literally, ‘sharpness’; direct object, accusative of ACIES, 5th.declension)  MENTIS (literally, ‘of mind’; genitive of the feminine noun MENS, 3rd.declension)
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GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS OF  “Tuam mentem in omnes intende partes” or “Vestram mentem in omnes intendite partes” ( literally,” Turn your mind on all sides”, i.e. “Broaden your horizon(s)”:

-Broaden = INTENDE (2nd.person singular, imperative of INTENDO)  or INTENDITE (2nd.person plural, imperative of INTENDO) IN OMNES PARTES (literally ,’on all sides”, “everywhere”)

-your = TUAM (direct object, accusative feminine singular of the possessive adjective TUUS agreed with MENTEM) or VESTRAM (direct object, accusative feminine singular of the possessive adjective VESTER agreed with MENTEM).
Note that English "your"  corresponds to TUUS(nominative)  when related to a 2nd.person singular, while it corresponds to VESTER (nominative)when related to a 2nd.person plural.