The Logic of Latin
Latin abounds with small words that help reveal the logical connection between one clause and the next. Some like autem are easily mapped onto English but many of these conjunctions and particles are often indiscriminately translated as “thus” or “therefore.” Yet if we understand these different words with the same, bland “therefore”, we ignore what the Latin author is trying to signal about the connection of the one thought to the next—and this, after all, is the essence of reading with comprehension.
ELABORATES ON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID |
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| ENIM | confirms, explains, or justifies the previous assertion: “aye!” “yes, indeed”, “precisely”. Frequently appears with the particles, vero or certe. The position of this causal conjunction or a demonstrative corroborative particle is regularly after the first word—or the first two or more closely connected words—in the sentence.
➤ “I knew I would remain thirsty. Yes indeed / Yup (ENIM), I was out of milk.” |
| NAM | introduces a confirmation or explanation of the previous thought: “you see (here’s why)….”
➤ “I went to the store. You see (NAM), I was out of milk.” |
| NAMQUE | a more forceful and confident form of NAM |
BUILDS ON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID |
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| ERGO | marks a logical conclusion: “accordingly” or “consequently”
➤ “I saw that I was out of milk. Consequently (ERGO), I went to the store.” |
| IGITUR | introduces an inference or deduction, “then, therefore, thereupon, accordingly, in these circumstances”; often in transition from one part of an argument to another; weaker than ERGO
➤ “I saw an empty milk carton on the counter. Accordingly (IGITUR), I assumed I was out of milk.” |
| ETENIM | introduces a parenthetical or corroboration for the proceeding that is self-evident and needs no further proof, “for, truly, because…that…”
➤ “I saw that I was out of milk. Truly (ETENIM), the container was empty.” |
| ITAQUE | adds an example or argument, often drawn from the nature of things rather than a logical proof: “accordingly, it naturally follows that, for that reason” or adds an example or argument: “accordingly, in like manner, in this manner”
➤ “I wanted to make ice cream but I was out of milk. Naturally (ITAQUE), I went to the store.” ➤ “One does not need to buy ice cream. (ITAQUE) I make my own.” |
EITHER ELABORATES ON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID OR BUILDS ON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID |
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| QUIDEM
EQUIDEM |
usually confirms or extends the preceding thought: “indeed, truly” or qualifies the preceding thought, esp. when followed by sed, autem, etc.,“at least, yet” [logical connection, either/or] but can also introduces an example, “for instance”
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| SIC | links word or clause to a previous fact, description, or assumption; “in the manner or matter mentioned”; or refers to a subsequent independent thought, “as follows, in the following manner”; or is a local demonstrative,“like this”; or a correlative (e.g., sic…ut…), “just as, like”
➤ “You drank my milk greedily. By doing so (SIC), you have made an enemy.” ➤ “Only when I learned you bought me more milk, I said as follows (SIC): ‘now we are friends again’.” |
