Vocative

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When we call someone by name, we use a form of the name called the "vocative". Here are the basic rules for making a vocative:
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{{LanguageBar|Vocative}}{{Latin grammar articles}}
*If a name ends in "-ius", then the vocative ends in "-i". "Tullius" becomes "Tulli".
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*If a name ends in "-us", then the vocative ends in "-e". "Marcus" becomes "Marce".
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*All other names do not change at all. "Felix" stays "Felix", "Marca" stays "Marca" and so on.
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There is a complete discussion of *which* name you should use at [[Choosing_a_Roman_name#Which_Names.3F]] .  
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When we directly address or call someone in Latin, we use a form of the name (or any noun or adjective used in the address) called the "'''vocative case'''". Here are the basic rules for making a vocative:
  
It is a good idea in general to use the cognomen (the last part of the name).  
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*If a name ends in "'''-ius'''", then the vocative ends in "'''-i'''". "'''''Tullius'''''" becomes "'''''Tulli'''''".
*To say hello to Marcus Lucretius Agricola you would write "Salve Agricola!".  
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*If a word ends in "'''-us'''", then the vocative ends in "'''-e'''". "'''''Marcus'''''" becomes "'''''Marce'''''".
*To say hello to Aulus Apollonius Cordus you would write "Salve Corde!".  
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*All other words do not change at all. "'''''Cicero'''''" stays "'''''Cicero'''''", "'''''Livia'''''" stays "'''''Livia'''''" and so on.
*To say hello to Gaius Equitius Cato you would write "Salve Cato!".  
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Only if you are very close friends indeed with these people you could write:
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=== Usage in practice ===
*"Salve Marce!"
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*"Salve Aule!"
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*"Salve Gai!"
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[[Category:Lingua Latina]]
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It is a good idea in general to use the praenomen and nomen combination (the first two parts of the name):
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*To say hello to Marcus Lucretius Agricola you would write "''Salve, Marce Lucreti!''".
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*To say hello to Aulus Apollonius Cordus you would write "''Salve, Aule Apolloni!''".
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*To say hello to Gaius Equitius Cato you would write "''Salve, Gai Equiti!''".
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A more informal style is for friends to use the cognomen (the last part of the name):
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*"''Salve, Agricola!''"
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*"''Salve, Corde!''"
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*"''Salve, Cato!''"
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Only if you are family members or very, very close friends indeed with these people you could write:
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*"''Salve, Marce!"''"
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*"''Salve, Aule!''"
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*"''Salve, Gai!''"
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There is a complete discussion of *which* name you should use at [[Using Roman names]].
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===Algorithmically speaking...===
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This '''perl''' function will return the vocative form of a name.
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<pre>
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    sub makeVocative
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    {
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        my ($nomen) = @_;
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        my @elements = split(/\s+/, $nomen);
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        for (my $i=0; $i<=$#elements; $i++)
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        {
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            $elements[$i] =~ s/ius$/i/;
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            $elements[$i] =~ s/us$/e/;
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            $elements[$i] =~ s/IUS$/I/;
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            $elements[$i] =~ s/US$/E/;
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        }
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        return join(' ', @elements);
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    }
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</pre>
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[[Category:Latin grammar]][[Category:Perl]]

Latest revision as of 13:08, 29 November 2012

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When we directly address or call someone in Latin, we use a form of the name (or any noun or adjective used in the address) called the "vocative case". Here are the basic rules for making a vocative:

  • If a name ends in "-ius", then the vocative ends in "-i". "Tullius" becomes "Tulli".
  • If a word ends in "-us", then the vocative ends in "-e". "Marcus" becomes "Marce".
  • All other words do not change at all. "Cicero" stays "Cicero", "Livia" stays "Livia" and so on.

Usage in practice

It is a good idea in general to use the praenomen and nomen combination (the first two parts of the name):

  • To say hello to Marcus Lucretius Agricola you would write "Salve, Marce Lucreti!".
  • To say hello to Aulus Apollonius Cordus you would write "Salve, Aule Apolloni!".
  • To say hello to Gaius Equitius Cato you would write "Salve, Gai Equiti!".

A more informal style is for friends to use the cognomen (the last part of the name):

  • "Salve, Agricola!"
  • "Salve, Corde!"
  • "Salve, Cato!"

Only if you are family members or very, very close friends indeed with these people you could write:

  • "Salve, Marce!""
  • "Salve, Aule!"
  • "Salve, Gai!"

There is a complete discussion of *which* name you should use at Using Roman names.

Algorithmically speaking...

This perl function will return the vocative form of a name.

    sub makeVocative
    {
        my ($nomen) = @_;

        my @elements = split(/\s+/, $nomen);
   
        for (my $i=0; $i<=$#elements; $i++)
        { 
            $elements[$i] =~ s/ius$/i/;
            $elements[$i] =~ s/us$/e/;
            $elements[$i] =~ s/IUS$/I/;
            $elements[$i] =~ s/US$/E/;
        }
        return join(' ', @elements);
    }
   
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