Dog Latin

The phrase Dog Latin refers to the creation of a phrase or jargon in imitation of Latin, often by directly translating English words (or those of other European languages) into Latin without conjugation or declension.

One well-known use of dog Latin is in the temporary naming of undiscovered (or not yet officially named) chemical elements. For example, the name given to element 118 is "ununoctium", the IUPAC systematic element name, from the Latin words for "one one eight".

Other applications of Dog Latin mix correct Latin with English words for humorous effect or attempt to update Latin by providing equivalents for twentieth century items. Examples include the description of a kitchen in legal Latin recorded in the 1898 edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:

camera necessaria pro usus cookare; cum saucepannis, stewpannis, scullero, dressero, coalholo, stovis, smoak-jacko; pro roastandum, boilandum, fryandum, et plum-pudding-mixandum…

Writers and filmmakers also often employ dog Latin (or dog Greek) when in need of names for characters, places or objects. The names of spells employed by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter books are a well-publicised example, such as 'Petrificus Totalus'. Likewise, fans of Warner Brothers cartoons from the 1940's and 50's will remember the "scientific" taxonomy names given to the Coyote and Road Runner at the opening of each cartoon (eg. "Eatabilus Anythingus" and "Burnus upus Roadus" respectively).

P.D.Q. Bach's Monk’s Aria from Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice consists of four stanzas of dog Latin along the lines of

Et in terra chicken pox romana; Sic sic transit gloria mañana; Sanctus estes Kefauviridiana.

On the other hand, this rhyme contains only Latin words, but is in fact English:

Brutus ad sum jam forte/ Caesar aderat/ Brutus sic in omnibus/ Caesar sic inat. Quoted in I Saw Esau (ISBN 1564020460).

Dog Latin, despite the similar name, is not related to Pig Latin.

See also