In An Attempt To Go All-Out Latin, Moorestown Library New Motto Means ‘We Second-Guess All’

Libraries have been the true and original source of definitive information. Anyone who wanted to confirm facts and settle disputes about authenticity or needed to conclusively end an argument like a civilized person would head over to a library. Hence it seems odd that such an institution of knowledge would bungle-up their motto.

The Latin motto engraved on the wall of a new library in southern New Jersey got lost in translation. Officials had earlier thought the phrase ‘Nos Secundus Coniecto Omnia’ meant “We Confirm All Things Twice.” This should really sound nice for library as no one would want half-baked facts and poorly verified data. However, they were in for the surprise of their lives, when residents who Googled the phrase, found out the word they thought meant “confirm” can also mean “guess,” reported CBS News.

The current erroneous motto now hangs in the Moorestown public library. Moorestown architect Rick Ragan confirmed he learned of the problem from residents who translated it online.

Who erred? Google software even came up with the ironic translation “we second-guess everything” for the inscription, but that was based on a misunderstanding of the language. In fact, the Google translate software also fluffed the translation of the words, which do not mean anything in that form because they ignore the rules of Latin grammar. But they did pick up on the fact that the word the authorities thought meant ‘check’ could also mean ‘guess’.

The Latin translation was attempted by a staff member who looked through a Latin dictionary. But Google’s version, and I’m old enough to admit that I’ve never translated anything on Google or conjugated (anything), is ‘We all second-guess’, said Ragan. Justifying the translation though, he added.

“We’ve looked at the definition of the words. It says that the verb says, ‘think, include, conclude, judge and confirm.'”

However, one ironic thing’s for sure. When a library staffer took to a Latin dictionary to translate the library’s motto about checking everything twice, he or she should probably have consulted a second source.

Latin can and generally proves to be extremely difficult to authoritatively translate and Google regularly struggles to get it right. Hence if the library had to get the phrase exactly right, it should have read.

‘Bis Verificamus Omnia.’

But, not wanting another “lost-in-translation” faux pas, the library has decided to completely do away with the original motto and use, “We encourage all” or “Quemquem Consolamur” instead, reported Fox News.

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