Expert: Maria - 4/22/2006

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Please can you help me. I am looking to start a family moto / crest and know what I wish in English, but am having dificulty in translateing it into Latin. I am working on the crest and would would like the moto to say "Always In It, Only The Depth Varies". Please let me know via my e-mail address. Thank you so much. Mark
Answer -
Hello,

Please explain your phrase. What do you mean by  “it”, for example?
I cannot translate' it'  properly if you do not tell me the concept which the pronoun ‘it' refers to.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
Maria
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Maria, I have tried answering this question before, and I am not sure if you have had my response. In case you did not, the word 'it' is a euphermism for 'shit' or 'trouble'. So the motto, extended, is "Always in it (shit / trouble), only the deapth (of it) varies". I hope this has helped. If not please let me know. Many thanks and I hope to hear from you soon. Best wishes. Mark

Answer
Hello Mark,

Actually I had your response on April, 19 and I've sent you my answer just on April, 19.
Did you receive it?
Anyway, here's the copy of your explanation and my answer.
I really hope you'll receive it.
Best,
Maria
_______________________________

Name:Mark Butcher
Subject: English to Latin Motto
Question -
Sorry to come this way round but when I tried to respond to your question, the system would not allow me to. The moto I would like to use -
"Always In It, Only The Depth Varies"
'It' is a euphemism for 'shit' or 'trouble', therefore (I appologise if I am moving to 'suck eggs' teritory) the moto means 'Always in shit /trouble only the depth (of it) varies'. I hope this is what you needed.
Many thanks. Mark

MY ANSWER:

Hello,

This motto I consider however quite odd  can be translated into Latin as follows:

1-"Semper in stercore versor, solum altitudo mutat"
or:
2-"Semper in merda  sum,  solum  altitudo mutat".

Bye,
Maria
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'Always in shit, only the depth  varies'

-Always = SEMPER
-in = IN
-shit =STERCORE or MERDA
-only= SOLUM
-the depth = ALTITUDO
-varies = MUTAT
Please note that in Latin we must add the equivalent of 'I am'  = VERSOR or SUM
As you can see, in Latin  word order  can be variable and often depends on writing style of an author.