Latin Translation: Trusted Information
by Keri
(Virginia)
Dear Latin Teacher,
We are looking for the most correct Latin translation for our motto "Trusted Information". We work with the Intelligence community and are creating a challenge coin to represent our unit.
Also, so that we don't butcher it later, could you please tell me how to pronounce it?!? =)
Thank you so much in advance for your help!
-Keri
Dear Keri,
Many mottoes use the ablative case to express how things are accomplished. For example, Factis Non Verbis means "By Deeds Not By Words". Other mottoes use the nominative case to simply express the important idea. For example, Veritas et Spes means "Truth and Hope".
For your motto, Trusted Information, either possibility will work well. So here are my ideas:
This one is ablative and means "by the most trusted information" or "by the most certain evidence". The nominative counterpart, simply stating the idea, is Indicia Certissima.
Also ablative, it means "by the most trusted information, proof, or evidence". The nominative counterpart, simply stating the idea, is Argumenta Certissima.
A combination of the above two, this one may take too much space on your coin. However, a similar phrase occurs in Cicero's third speech against Catiline: Certissima...argumenta atque indicia, i.e. the most certain and irrefutable evidence and proof.
The three examples above imply that your organization uses only the most trusted, documented, and verified information. If you mean to suggest by your motto that you are the authors or providers of such trusted information, then there are another alternatives.
By the most certain, or most reliable, authorities. Nominative = Certissimi Auctores
By the most certain documentation, proof. Nominative = Certissimi Nuntii
Hope you find one that suits your unit, and thanks for asking a Latin teacher.
Sincerely,
John
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