• brianary@startrek.website
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      24
      ·
      4 months ago

      How precise is this translation?

      I’ve also heard “From many, one”, which can be taken two ways: the same celebration of the individual (presumably over other individuals), or that the many come together as one, which is a much clearer call to action.

      I prefer the Voltron version.

      • NABDad@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        10
        ·
        4 months ago

        There’s not much distinction. Either translation would be appropriate. I’m many years away from high school Latin, but I think the direct translation would be, “out of many, one”. However, that’s awkward in English, so it is often written as “one from many”.

        • otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          4 months ago

          This is also true. 🤙🏼 Though, to be ahem “pedantic”, the statement above is more accurate as “E Pluribus, Unum” ~ “One From Many”.

      • otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        4 months ago

        Literally, Latin; from e “out of” (see ex-); ablative plural of plus “more” (see plus (n.)); neuter of unus “one” (from PIE root *oi-no- “one, unique”), ergo “a result of” rather than “origin”, IIRC?