Illegitimi non carborundum

Illegitimi non carborundum is a mock-Latin aphorism meaning "Don't let the bastards grind you down". (Carborundum, also known as silicon carbide, is an industrial abrasive material.)

Contents

History

The phrase originated during World War II. Lexicographer Eric Partridge attributes it to British army intelligence very early in the war (using the plural dative/ablative illegitimis). The phrase was adopted by US Army general "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell as his motto during the war.[1] It was later further popularized in the US by 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.[2]

Generations of Harvard students have taken the phrase into the world, as it is the first line of an unofficial school song Ten Thousand Men of Harvard, the most frequently played Fight song of the Harvard Marching Band. This is, to some extent, a parody of more solemn school songs like "Fair Harvard thy sons to your Jubilee throng" etc. The first verse goes:

Illegitimum non carborundum;
Domine salvum fac.
Illegitimum non Carborundum;
Domine salvum fac.
Gaudeamus igitur!
Veritas non sequitur?
Illegitimum non carborundum—ipso facto!

Variants

There are many variants of the phrase, such as

Only one of these is a possible Latin phrase, Illegitimis non carborundum [est]. But it is possible only under certain assumptions, such as that the verb carborundum is a Latin gerundive within a passive periphrastic construction, carrying the connotation "should" or "ought".

Illegitimi suggests illegitimate to the English speaker, but it is certainly not the usual Latin word for "bastard", nor does it carry the same negative connotation as in English: it was never used as a general insult as the English term "bastard" still is.

It also should be kept in mind that "bastards" is often used in English as a generic derogatory term, not necessarily relating to the marital status of one's parents.[3]

Henry Beard in his 1991 book Latin for Even More Occasions offered some tongue-in-cheek Latin for the sentiment, in a section called "Dopey Exhortations Are More Forceful in Latin":[4]

Never let the bastards wear you down.
Noli nothis permittere te terere. Nothis is the dative plural of nothus, which derives from the Greek word νόθος. The native Latin word for "bastard", current with this meaning during the Golden Age, is spurius; it is not illegitimus, or nothis, or bastardus. However, nothis means the father is known, spurius means the father is not known. The sole advantage of nothus for this translation is that it has a figurative derogative meaning, but only in poetical or post-classical Latin.

Use as a motto

In popular culture

The arts
Politics
Sports

See also

References

  1. ^ Why Do We Say ...?, Nigel Rees, 1987, ISBN 0-7137-1944-3
  2. ^ Illegitimi Non Carborundum page, at Santa Cruz Public Libraries ready reference, quoting William Safire, Safire's New Political Dictionary
  3. ^ See the discussion in Hugh Rawson, Wicked Words (New York: Crown, 1989), pp. 36f
  4. ^ Beard, Henry, Latin for Even More Occasions. (1991). chapter one
  5. ^ Nil Carborundum (TV 1962) - IMDb
  6. ^ "The Principia Discordia". Ology.org. 1995-10-03. http://ology.org/principia/body.html. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
  7. ^ Cory Doctorow. "Makers". Tor Books. http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=49181. Retrieved 2009-07-31. 
  8. ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 7 Jun 1993". Publications.parliament.uk. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1993-06-07/Debate-1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
  9. ^ Terry Roberts (20th February 2009). "Williams hopes Harper takes a few tips from Obama". TheWesternStar.com. http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=224324&sc=506. Retrieved 2010-04-15. 

External links