The Dirt Eaters Greek
- Someone is heard saying καλόν, καλόν / kalon, "good". A garbled exchange in Greek follows, not subtitled, which I haven't been able to make out. The σκευὴ μέλανος (below) is mentioned (2:06).
- Sam calls Joseph something subtitled "Counsellor". The word is σ?μμ?λος, where the question marks are indeterminate vowels. This is odd, though, as I'd expect a vocative in -ε here.
- The guatrau calls Sam a λοχαγός / lokhagos, "captain" or "company commander". (4:00)
- He calls Joseph something the subtitles translate "son". A garbled rendition of υἱός / huios, perhaps. (4:08)
- Joseph's father refers to tattooing equipment as a σκευὴ μέλανος / skeuē melanos, which seems to mean "tool of the black". (4:36)
- The Tauronian ruling family is called Heracleides, a Greek name meaning "sons (or descendants) of Heracles" (6:00).
- Joseph's father's neck tattoo is clearly a capital omega (6:25).
- The Adamas' suicide pill is called "kapi" (?). I'm not sure if this is supposed to be Greek or an abbreviation of "capsule". (7:18)
- Little Joseph to Little Sam:
ἀναφύσαι [anaphusai]. Grow up.
(16:47). - Daniel Graystone to Sam: ὅταν τὸ δενδρὸν τὸν καρπὸν ἀφίστηται, βελτίστη ἐστί κείρειν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἄκρου κάτω. [hotan to dendron ton karpon aphistētai, beltistē esti keirein apo tou akrou katō] (18:37)
Literally, this phrase means "When the tree drops its fruit, it is best to cut from the peak downwards." Βελτίστη should, however, be βέλτιστον, the neuter. Amusingly, Sam comments that Daniel's pronunciation needs work. Eric Stoltz' rendition of the Greek is actually rather more understandable than Sasha Roiz'. - Joseph to William: Looking for you and your θεῖος / theios? (35:35)
θεῖος means "uncle", but it sounds an awful lot like θεός (god). - Sam calls Joseph ἄδελφε / adelphe, "brother". (40:14)
David Reed | 01-16-2011 | permanent link
