Eunomia » Seriously

Seriously

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Daniel Larison

“Viva Obamus“? I like phony Latin as much as anyone, but it can’t be this silly.

Filed under: politics

James Kabala, on May 9th, 2008 at 10:04 am Said:

It would make more sense for a Latinized Obama to retain his real surname in a first-declension but masculine form, like Sulla or Agrippa. “Obamus” just sounds awkward. And shouldn’t it be “Vivat?” I wonder how much Latin Noonan really knows.
DaveA, on May 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am Said:

On the other hand, if you set it to the tune of “Viva Las Vegas,” it’s kind of catchy.

“Barak Obama gonna set my soul, gonna set my soul on fire…” Yup, there’s a parody song in there somewhere!
Glenfinnan, on May 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pm Said:

Latin doesn’t seem to have had a problem with just leaving many “foreign” names as undeclinable. Obama could just stay Obama. Even in the genitive and accusative.

(And, yes, vivat.)

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