Sunday 20 August 2017

E Pluribus Unum: Latin States of America

WORDPLAY post #73
Creative cartography involving mottos of the American states.
EDITOR:  Giorgio Coniglio, August 2017. 
WORDPLAY LINK: WordplayPost #69 deals with the proposal to designate a chemical element as a target to be included to represent each state in the United States.
SONG LINK: On our sister-blog "Giorgio's Ukable Parodies", you can find the song "No Elements". This patter-song list of Latin nouns ending in -um has been subbed into the lyrics of Tom Lehr's "The Elements", with accompanying ukulele chords. Other songs dealing with Latin include "Elements of Etymology", "Using Latin and Greek" (a limerick medley), and the jazz ballad "Latin Cat's Strut".

FINDINGS: 
With the aid of Wikipedia, it was discovered that 24 states as well as the District of Columbia have Latin mottos. Other non-English languages used in state mottos include 1 each for Greek, French, Spanish, Hawaiian and Chinook. There are only 22 states whose mottos are voiced only in English (a few states have more than one official motto!).
These findings suggest that as the sole issue in a presidential election, the English-motto-only states would lose the Electoral college tally as well as the popular vote.  




English equivalents:
CT: Who transplanted sustains
DC: Justice to all
MA: By the sword we seek peace, but only under liberty
MD: Manly deeds, womanly words
ME: I direct 
NY: Ever upward!
VA:Thus always to tyrants
VT: May the 14th star shine bright.


English equivalents:
KS: To the stars through adversity
KY: Let us give thanks to God
MI: Manly deeds, womanly words
MN: I long to see what is beyond 
MO: The welfare of the people is the highest law
WV: Mountaineers, always free.


English equivalents:
AL: We dare maintain our rights
AR: The people rule
MS: By valor and arms
NC: To be, rather than to seem
OK: Hard work conquers all things. 
SC: While I breathe, I hope.





English equivalents:
AZ: God enriches
CO:Nothing without Providence
ID: Let it be perpetual
NM: It grows as it goes
OR: She flies with her own wings






A Note About "E Pluribus Unum"  


This 13-letter phrase was considered the de facto motto of the United States, and was included in the Great Seal.  In 1956, the status of official motto was given to "In God we trust". 












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