Correcting the Latin Sentence: Why 'Romanes they go the house' is Incorrect

Often, misconceptions about Latin arise from popular culture, particularly from comedy sketches like Monty Python's The Life of Brian. A well-known phrase, 'Romanes they go the house,' is frequently cited, yet when examined closely, it contains several grammatical errors. Let’s break down why this sentence is inaccurate and how to correct it.

The Error in 'Romanes they go the house'

The phrase 'Romanes they go the house' is a amalgamation of Latin and English, but it doesn't adhere to proper Latin rules. Here are the issues:

Error 1: Mismatched Noun Form

The word 'Romanes' is not a correct Latin noun. The second declension form of 'Romanus,' the Latin term for Roman, does not end in 'es.' Instead, it is 'Romani' in the nominative plural. Since 'Romanes' appears to mix the second declension suffix with the third, it is not valid Latin.

Error 2: Incorrect Verb Use

The verb 'eunt' translates to 'they go' and is in the present active indicative. However, what is needed for a command is the plural imperative form, which would be 'ite.' This error in verb form takes away from the command structure of the sentence.

Error 3: Incorrect Case Usage

The object of the sentence, 'house,' should be in the accusative case. The nominative singular form 'domus' should be 'domum' to indicate the destination. Therefore, 'the house' is inaccurately translated as 'domus,' which is in the nominative, not the accusative.

The Corrected Sentence

Given the breakdown of the errors, the corrected version of the phrase is:

Romani ite domum!

This translates to 'Romans go home!' and adheres to Latin grammatical rules. The use of 'Romani' in the vocative or nominative plural, 'ite' for the plural imperative, and 'domum' in the accusative case all work together to create a sentence that is grammatically correct and linguistically sound.

Context in Monty Python's The Life of Brian

'Romani ite domum!' originates from the Monty Python film The Life of Brian. In one scene, Eric Idle’s character, 'Naughty Brian,' is forced to write 'Romans go home' 100 times as punishment from the mock execution for outraged religious followers. This scene is a humorous representation of the kind of grammatical errors that can occur in elementary Latin classes, where teachers might exasperatedly correct students' mistakes.

Conclusion

A sentence like 'Romanes they go the house' is a playful deformation of proper Latin grammar, perfect for a comedic scene in a film but incorrect in academic and literary contexts. Mastery of Latin requires an understanding of its grammar rules, such as noun declensions, verb conjugations, and sentence structure. Correcting such flaws not only enhances the accuracy of our language use but also deepens our appreciation for the complexities and nuances of Latin.