Phrases used in Knightmare
Posted: 10 Nov 2016, 22:58
I have a few questions and musings that all fit under this general subject line, so I'm posting them together! Feel free to discuss any others you're curious about.
Can anyone guess what Hordriss' expression "Akram vici" (or however it's spelt) is supposed to mean? It sounds like maybe Latin or Sanskrit but doesn't make much sense in either language, and even if it's just a made-up phrase with no real-world translation, I can't figure out the intended significance of it. These are all the uses I'm aware of:
-- He tells Helen he'll provide her with something to wear, then gestures toward the Eyeshield while saying "Akram vici". It's not clear whether he's doing something magical or just speaking in another language.
-- When Ben summons him using the TRICK spell, he kind of growls to himself "Akram vici! One has been tricked!" almost like it's an expression of anger/disbelief.
-- He uses it as part of an incantation ("Akram vici revelanti") to make Frightknight trophies appear for Julie & Barry's teams. When Dunstan wins, he just says "Revelanti" (presumably a "Reveal" command) to do the same thing.
What kind of phrase makes sense in all of these contexts?? He uses a similar incantation, "Akram vite", to make the sewer vehicle move in Dunstan's quest - in this case the second word is probably from the French meaning "fast", or possibly related to the Latin word for "life". Most of his magical commands have an obvious root in Latin or whatever, but I'm really stumped as to where this "Akram" comes from.
Also, what's the origin of "Caras carom" and does it have a literal translation? He uses that to express a range of emotions including frustration, horror and delight.
For a while I wondered why "Elf boots" is used to convey surprise or annoyance, until it occurred to me that Tolkien's elves don't actually wear boots, unlike the other races ("the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow"). The ones we see in Knightmare are likewise either barefoot or just wearing light shoes. So it could be that "elf boots" represent something unexpected or unbelievable, in the same vein as "horse feathers" and similar phrases. (Compare with "Elf gems" which apparently signifies something delightful, I presume in reference to those highly-prized elvenstones.)
And finally... does anyone know if the "Ooooh, naaasty" catchphrase was borrowed from Leslie Phillips in The Navy Lark (consciously or otherwise)? It may just be coincidence, but their delivery is so similar, I'm wondering if Hugo Myatt was a fan!
Can anyone guess what Hordriss' expression "Akram vici" (or however it's spelt) is supposed to mean? It sounds like maybe Latin or Sanskrit but doesn't make much sense in either language, and even if it's just a made-up phrase with no real-world translation, I can't figure out the intended significance of it. These are all the uses I'm aware of:
-- He tells Helen he'll provide her with something to wear, then gestures toward the Eyeshield while saying "Akram vici". It's not clear whether he's doing something magical or just speaking in another language.
-- When Ben summons him using the TRICK spell, he kind of growls to himself "Akram vici! One has been tricked!" almost like it's an expression of anger/disbelief.
-- He uses it as part of an incantation ("Akram vici revelanti") to make Frightknight trophies appear for Julie & Barry's teams. When Dunstan wins, he just says "Revelanti" (presumably a "Reveal" command) to do the same thing.
What kind of phrase makes sense in all of these contexts?? He uses a similar incantation, "Akram vite", to make the sewer vehicle move in Dunstan's quest - in this case the second word is probably from the French meaning "fast", or possibly related to the Latin word for "life". Most of his magical commands have an obvious root in Latin or whatever, but I'm really stumped as to where this "Akram" comes from.
Also, what's the origin of "Caras carom" and does it have a literal translation? He uses that to express a range of emotions including frustration, horror and delight.
For a while I wondered why "Elf boots" is used to convey surprise or annoyance, until it occurred to me that Tolkien's elves don't actually wear boots, unlike the other races ("the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow"). The ones we see in Knightmare are likewise either barefoot or just wearing light shoes. So it could be that "elf boots" represent something unexpected or unbelievable, in the same vein as "horse feathers" and similar phrases. (Compare with "Elf gems" which apparently signifies something delightful, I presume in reference to those highly-prized elvenstones.)
And finally... does anyone know if the "Ooooh, naaasty" catchphrase was borrowed from Leslie Phillips in The Navy Lark (consciously or otherwise)? It may just be coincidence, but their delivery is so similar, I'm wondering if Hugo Myatt was a fan!