When Your Latin is Wrong

Latin is pervasive in English, and the most common aspect of society that still uses Latin for so long is the law and justice system.

Sad to say that we have been pronouncing Latin words wrong.

Okay... Let's do Latin. Shall we?

"Lex loci intentiones"

In Latin, the consonant "x" is actually two consonant sounds of "c-s", thus Lex is "Lecs". (We know that!)

"C" in Latin is always the hard C as in "Cat" , and never soft as in "Cite". Thus, Loci should be "Loki".

"I" can be vowel or consonant. In the word Loci, it is vowel. In Latin, "i" is not the same as the English as "ay", and always that way. "Loci" is not "losay" or "losi", but "Loki".

("J" actually is an "I" in consonant form of the sound of "Y", as in the word Jus. Older texts in Latin do not have "J" because this is "I". Jus or ius is the same. Try saying this name now - "Julius".)

"T" is always pronounced as "T", in Latin and not "sh" as the English "invention". Thus, "intentiones" should should be "in-ten-ti-ones".

Now say that again:

Lex loci intentiones
Ceasar
Julius

By the way, "V" in Latin is "U" with a "W" sound, and never the "V" sound in NEVER.

Try this:

Veni, vedi, vici

And again...

i.e., e.g., ibid, et al., etc. viz.

Ever wonder what those abbreviations stand for?

They are phrases in Latin.

i.e. - id est or "that is"; it does not present an example when stating a generalization but rather to expound it

e.g. - exampli gratia or "for example"; in contrast to i.e. - e.g. states example for a generalization

viz. - videlicet or "namely", "to wit", is used to indicate a detailed description of something stated before, and when it precedes a list of group members, it implies (near) completeness

ibid. - ibidem or "in the same place"; this is usually found in the footnote and refers to the citation, usually when a source had been mentioned already, the succeeding listing will not state the same source again but would just state "ibid."

et al. - et alia or "and others"; when referring to additional people (usually named) but would be too long to mention (in English usage, et al. refers to a list of persons)

etc. - et cetera or "and others" or "and so on"; when referring to things or examples but would be too long to mention (in English usage, etc. refers to a list of things)

AM - Ante Meridiem or "before midday"; refers to the time before noontime or midday (11:59 AM)

PM - Post Meridiem or "after midday"; refers to the time after noontime or midday (12:01 PM)

AD - Anno Domini or "in the year of the/our Lord"; refers to the year when Jesus Christ was born and the years thereafter (BC mean "Before Christ" but AD does not mean "After Death")

R.I.P. - Resquiescat in pace or "may he/she Rests in Peace" (in fits the English initials too)

Re: - in re or "in the matter of" (and not an abbreviation for "regarding")

Sic - sic erat scriptum or "thus it was written", often used when citing text, especially if the cited work has mistakes, to show that the mistake was in the original work and is not a misquote

Enough for Latin now. Watch out for Greek.

What Have I Just Said?

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1 (NIV)

Teaching could be my second nature but preaching is not. I do thank God for such an opportunity but I always am out of topic to talk about.

I do have some topic in mind - an hour before the supposed delivery of the message. I do pray for illumination on a topic, but I find it hard to focus on the relevant. It's a struggle and it leaves me embarrassed every time. Perhaps, the best thing to do is to decline, but I have to oblige. Besides, this is not for my glorification but for God (or should I think so?)

Today, with no topic in mind I embarked on a no-outline spontaneous preaching (I call it teaching because it does not call into action for something). I felt embarrassed after that because I felt that I did not connect nor gave any relevant thing into the open. I don't think the message made an impact nor even made a stir among the church members. Yet, I believe I did not missed out the orthodox doctrine related to such a topic.

As this now comes to my point that doctrine is important to every believer. By knowing and understanding our set of beliefs, we will be able to correctly deliver any topic anytime - even how boring they are or as irrelevant they are fo the present situation.

While the struggle is real, I do thanked God for the knowledge, understanding and wisdom that He bestowed on us. A little mistake and embarrassment is a reprimand and a correction of error, everytime one speak in the pulpit. The important thing is that God used you in such a way, no matter how imperfect we are.