Expert: Maria - 6/26/2007

Question
I currently use the title "Alacritas Victus" for my animation blog which I
understand to believe means "Animated Living" but I'm not too sure. The idea
I'm trying to express is "living a life in animation" or a more artistic way of
saying "Life as an Animator", which "Animated Living" in Latin seems to work
well in my mind. Regardless, I've grown fond of "Alacritas Victus" and will
probably keep it as long as it doesn't mean something terribly off the mark.
Regardless, I'd like to be able to answer the question in a reliable way when
someone inevitably asks what it means. Please feel free to visit my site before
answering as it might help you understand the feeling I'm trying to impart.
http://kellymcnutt.blogspot.com/ Thank you in advance for your help. I'm
glad I found this site.

Sincerely,

Kelly McNutt

Answer
See below for a Follow up
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Hello,
I’m sorry, but  I have to tell you that the title "Alacritas Victus" makes NO sense in Latin, for it could be translated as ‘liveliness  life’ / ‘eagerness way of life’ / ‘vivacity food’, which makes no sense in English too, as you can see.

Note that:

-ALACRITAS (nominative case, 3rd.declension) means “eagerness”, “vivacity”, “animation” as 'the liveliness of youth, contrasted with the gravity of age', NOT as  "living a life in animation” / "Animated Living"/ "Life as an Animator".

-VICTUS (nominative case, 4th.declension) means “ livelihood”,” food”, “way of life”, NOT “Life” / “Living”.


In short, if ‘Animator’ in "Life as an Animator" means “one, such as an artist or technician, who designs, develops, or produces an animated cartoon”, as I think (see the words “Animation and Art” following your title “Alacritas Victus” on your site),  there is NO translation into Latin since obviously NO animated cartoon could exist in Roman times.

If on the contrary “Animator” in "Life as an Animator” indicates by chance “one that provides or imparts life, interest, spirit, or vitality to other people”, or “Animated” in  “Animated Living"  denotes that someone lives an intense passionate life,  we could say in Latin as follows:
-“Vehementer vive!” or -“ Vitam vive  ardore plenam! ” (Live passionately!).

Best,
Maria
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Sorry, but I must repeat that ALACRITAS VICTUS is absolutely WRONG in Latin as it makes NO SENSE at all.

In fact ALACRITAS VICTUS are merely a succession of two words which in Latin sound absolutely strange and devoid of common sense in this context.

Therefore I do think that you should choose another title for your site, if you want to have a correct Latin phrase.

Good luck!
Maria