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I think that meliora means 'better' (mejor in Spanish) and I've a feeling silentio means 'silence' rather than 'silent'.

Romans they go the house?


You need a better man than I to come up with the correct phrase, but I've a feeling that loquere is the 'remain' part in aut tace aut meliora loquere silentio

A lot of other lesser mortals would be forgiven for assuming that Mockney was showing off his knowledge of the Romance languages there Zavier but we all know that he's a perfectly capable time traveller and went out of his way, or time, to unlock that particular mystery for you.


If you don't believe me ask the others about the time I booked a holiday in the Basque region of north eastern Spain and I couldn't read the neolithic guide book. I woke up the next morning and our favourite interpreter had left a gift wrapped Rosetta Stone on my doorstep along side a piece of Chorizo.

I'm a very rusty Latinist


aut tace - either remain

aut meliora loquere - or say something useful

silentio - silent


So I think you'd want 'tace silentio' but I'm really not sure. Also, you probably need it to be converted into the imperative, so perhaps something like tacere silentio. Over to someone else..

Of course of course, loqui to speak hence loquacious. My bad.


Mind you doesn't the tace in this mean quiet (hence tacit).

I think it means:

"either shutup unless what you say is better than silence".

I don't think there's anything about remaining or staying in it at all on second reading.

Having had a decidely modern comprehensive school education (and not being proper posh like Mockney ;-)) I speak german, french and a little russian, but not latin.

However, a quick google search came up with this Latin Forum where I'm sure you'll find someone who knows the answer.

thanks for that and good for you monica.


Anyway had a think and a dig around and tace is the singular imperative, tacete would be second person plural which is probably more appropriate.


I don't know whether this makes sense in Latin, but a literal translation of remain silent is:

Remanete Silens


this can actually be remain still as well as silent as it goes.


Hope that helps. Any more thoughts and indeed details about this exhibition.

mockney piers Wrote:

Of course of course, loqui to speak hence loquacious. My bad.


Its not perfect or even pluperfect but anyone who can combine a smidgeon of Latin with a smudgeon of Jafrican in one short sentence gets my vote in This months Forum Comedy Awards...

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