20.05.26: Level 2 (review); Carolus et Maria [27] [iv]: language focus and translation

“Antīquīs temporibus,” inquit pater, “mīlitēs circum iānuam stābant.”

“Cūr hoc fēcērunt?” rogat Carolus.

“Sīc eī rēgēs ā perīculō rapiēbant,” respondet pater. “Saepe rēgēs inimīcōs quī eōs etiam necāre audēbant habēbant. Saepe pictūrās in quibus erant pīla quae paucī ex mīlitibus portābant vīdī. Galeās et gladiōs quoque portābant. Haec erant arma splendida. Signa in quibus erant figūrae avium aut animālium portābantur. Tū exempla bona hōrum signōrum antīquōrum Rōmae vīdistī. Mīlitēs Rōmānī quoque signa in proeliīs portābant. Sīc in mediō proeliō mīlitēs loca sua nōscēbant.”Bottom of Form

Language focus: imperfect tense

audēbant

erant

habēbant

nōscēbant

portābant

portābantur

rapiēbant

stābant

Remember that the imperfect tense can convey:

[i] was / were doing something i.e. referring to a single action that was incomplete

[ii] a repeated action, often expressed in English with ‘used to (do)’ or ‘would (do)’; English may use a simple past tense in translation if the meaning is clear either from context or with the use of, for example, an adverb that indicates that the action was frequentative

[iii] a general situation at the time; background description

Note the following:

[i] Translation can vary, but be careful. The Latin imperfect can be used in situations where English makes a distinction that Latin does not, for example:

[1] John was walking down our street.

[2] John used to walk down our street.

Both of these would normally be expressed by the imperfect tense in Latin, but they do not mean the same thing in English.

The first suggests an action in progress at a particular moment, while the second suggests a habitual action over time.

When translating, you must decide which English form best fits the context, rather than assuming there is only one correct equivalent for the imperfect.

[ii] Saepe pictūrās in quibus erant pīla quae paucī ex mīlitibus portābant vīdī.

This would seem to contradict the previous information in that a repeated action is referred to, indicated by the adverb saepe (often). You would expect an imperfect tense, but Latin uses a perfect. However, compare the following two English sentences:

[1] I often used to go to my grandmother’s house.

[2] I have often bought bread from that shop.

[1] has no sense of ‘beginning or end’; it merely refers to an action that happened frequently

[2] does indicate repeated actions, but ones that were clearly completed

Saepe pictūrās … vīdī. │ I have often seen pictures.

In other words, a Roman writer distinguished between whether an action was ongoing / habitual, or as repeated but complete.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/tenses%3A%20imperfect

____________________

“In ancient times,” says the father, “soldiers used to / would stand around the gate.”

“Why did they do this?” asks Carolus.

“In this way they were protecting the kings from danger,” replies the father. “Often kings had / used to have enemies who even dared / would even dare to kill them. I have often seen pictures in which there were javelins which a few of the soldiers were carrying. They were also carrying helmets and swords. These were splendid weapons. Standards on which were figures of birds or animals were carried. You’ve seen good examples of these ancient standards in Rome. Roman soldiers also carried / would carry / used to carry standards in battles. In this way, in the middle of a battle, soldiers knew their positions.”