Latin

[Carlo Vitali]

on Sept 2th 1995
base...@aol.com (Base Camp)wrote:
>Anybody know how to say "it's hard to give a shit these days"
>in Latin.

I think I can, provided you explain the meaning of that quotation
in plain English. I suppose it means: "It's hard to care of/
to worry about/ something". Am I right?
In this case the translation would read approximately:

1) arduum est his temporibus studium ad aliquid conferre
2) " aliquid curare
3) " aliquid flocci facere

Versions 1) and 2) are polite; version 3) more informal - therefore
nearer to the original. However, it sounds lifeless in comparison.
The Romans had a definite liking for concrete, cutting expressions,
and their language was extremely concise - much more so than most
modern European idioms.

All in all, a Roman would probably write like this:

4) STERCORE MAIORIS PENDENDA
NOSTRA AETATE
HAUD FACILE INVENIES

i.e. (translated back into English word for word):

[something] to be considered more than shit
in our age
not easily will you find

Please note that stercus-stercoris = shit.

Greetings

Carlo Vitali (Bologna, Italy)
e-mail: vom...@iperbole.bologna.it

P.S.
A good newsgroup address for similar questions is also
<soc.culture.italian>
Does <Base Camp> in your address mean you are in the Army?