OT: Help with greek language and grammar!

[Puupertti Ruma]

I've been designing a Space Marine chapter for the miniature wargame Warhammer 40K and I am basing some aspects of it to the classical hellenistic military tradition. One aspect I am using are greek names for some things in my chapter, and I need some help with grammar and with some words also. This forum being filled with highly intelligent people many of which know the greek language, I naturally decided to ask here for help. Please, if you can answer to atleast few or even one of my question I will be in a eternal gratitude. And give you balloons!

So, first the name of the chapter, "Emperor's Prodigy". The imperium of man in 40k uses a language called High Gothic, which is in essence latin by those who don't speak latin. So, if I'd translate my chapter's name to the High Gothic, it would be something like Prodigium Imperator. While that could be ok for High Gothic it must seem horrific to all you who know latin . So what would "Emperor's Prodigy" be in actual latin? Also, keeping with the hellenic theme, what would "Emperor's Prodigy" be in greek? Also, if this greek version would be used as a insignum constructed from the initial letters, what would they be? I'd guess Pi and Iotta, right?

Next the terms I want to use in the army composition and command structure. Every chapter is a 1000 man strong, divided to one elite company, four battle companies, four reserve companies all about 100 man strong and to a training/scout company. The elite company would be of course the Agema, and the training/scout company I'm thinking of calling the Ephebes. So what you suggest I use for the battle/active companies and what the reserves would be called? Also the term company isn't very "classical greek" so that would be also nice to change.

My chapter's companies are still divided to battlegroups that I call Enomotia. That is an actual classical greek battle element, translating to "the sworn". What I need, is the conjugations and what not. How would "Enomotia of Aeneis" be translated for example? Enomotia ton Aeneis? Also, if the Enomotia is divided in two at a battle, could the halves be called hemienomotia, or hemienomotion or would there be a better prefix altogether? A leader of Enomotia is Enomotiarches, what would commander of hemienomotia be called?

The space marine's are tactically divided to tactical squads, assault squads and devastator squads. I tried to translate the word "assault" with various online greek dictionaries, but I couldn't reach a conclusion. So how would you translate "assault squad"? It really doesn't have to literal translation, for example translation of "assaulters" would be good, or "jumpers" as they are equipped with jump packs. Also, the devastators are a bit tricky. They are a squad armed with heavy weaponry so simple "shooters" isn't very good. Any ideas? If I can't have both Assault Marines and Devastators translated, I think I'm using the vanilla names.

Last, how would you translate a tank? Or an APC? How about mechanized infantry? Let your imagination fly as this isn't very important but could be fun and educative even.

Million thanks to those who find the time to help. I know that's a lot of questions, but any help will be appreciated. If you need clarifications or more information, I will give it asap.

Emperor protect!

[satalexton]

I cant really answer your question but i would like to take this opportunity to say this:

Burn the Heretic! Kill the Mutant! Purge the Unclean!

=D

[machinor]

Are you sure about the name "Emperor's Prodigy"? Sounds a bit... harmless for a ferocious hellenic-oriented Space Marine chapter. I don't think there is a ancient Greek word for prodigy.
Emperor would be Basileus (ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ), meaning "king", or maybe better Autokrator (AYTOKPATΩP). The genitive would be Autokratoros iirc; so the name would be "[prodigy] Autokratoros". You could of course do a Greekish High Gothic version of it, calling them "Prodigis Autokratoris". That's the fun with WH40K's Imperial Gothic: It's absolute bollocks and to someone who knows about Latin it sounds so too but to everyone else it sounds totally "WOW". :D

"Squad" being the smallest tactical unit as I understood it, I would label "taxeis" (basically "(soldiers in battle) formation"). You could name your assault/devastator/whatnot squads after hellenistic elite heavy infantry, like Pheraspidai, Hypaspistai, Argyraspidai etc. Would be cool, I think.

Tank... very easy: Kataphraktos. :D

[Timoleon]

I will give you the translations in modern Greek, it is pretty much the same as in ancient.

Emperor's Prodigy = Το παιδί-θαύμα του Αυτοκτάτορος = To paidi-thavma tou Autokratoros (it would never be used like this in Greek!)
company = Λόχος = Lochos
reserves companies = Λόχοι Εφεδριών = Lochoi Efedrion
battle/active companies = Μάχιμοι Λόχοι = Machimoi Lochoi
Enomotia of Aeneis = Ενωμοτία Αινιαίων = Enomotia Aeniaeon
commander of hemienomotia = Ημιενωμοτάρχης = Himienomotarchis, but it is not used in modern Greek. He is a NCO, something like a major sergeant so I guess Επιλοχίας = Epilochias would do
assault squad = Ομάδα Εφόδου Or Ομάδα Κρούσης = Omada Efodou or Omada Krousis
devastators = Καταστροφείς = Katastrofeis
tank= Τεθωρακισμένο = Tethorakismeno (plural Tethorakismena)
mechanized infantry = Μηχανοκίνητο Πεζικό = Michanokinito Peziko

Most of these terms are actually used by the modern Greek army. I hope I helped!

[Vorian]

Most of these terms are actually used by the modern Greek army. I hope I helped!

Well it would be hard to find a translation for tank in Herodotus wouldn't it?

[keravnos]

Another WH40K fan here...

prodigy in greek means... "n. - θαύμα, μεγαλοφυία, φαινόμενο, (μτφ.) τέρας "

"Emperor's Prodigy" I think the first thing that comes to mind would be

"ΘΑΥΜΑΣΤΟΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ" or "Wondrous" (soldiers) " of the emperor"

Transliterated "Thaumastoi Autokratoros"

with Θ.Α. as their acronyms. I would love their Theta (Θ) Alpha (Α) initial letters as they are the two first letters of "ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ" in greek (transliterated Thanatos) which means death.

As for the ranks, the spartan ones that Timoleon mentions (EUGE man!) are what I would use as well.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Well it would be hard to find a translation for tank in Herodotus wouldn't it?

Well, actually... "kataphraktos" fits the bill just fine?

[Maion Maroneios]

Well, ''kataphraktos'' refers to an armoured person, while a tank is a thing. I think ''Kataphrakton'' would be more correct, though probably ''Tethorakismenon'' is the best.

Maion

[Tellos Athenaios]

Well yes, but it's common practice to give the m.sg. of adjectives which have (yet) to be put into (further) context. It's merely a hint; and without further knowledge of words used in conjunction you cannot make that general assumption; consider c.f. the case of ships which are usually feminine.

[Maion Maroneios]

Maybe you are right, but in the case of boats they wher given a name. A name does not refer to a thing, but a person. You don't say in Greek ''To Antigonis'' (the Antigonis, a ship name, the ''to'' being the neuter arthron), you say ''He Antigonis'' (the ''he'' being the feminine arthron). But, you say ''To Ploion'', the ''to'' again referring to a thing. Of course, you have the ''He Naus'', but that's something else.

Maion

[Tellos Athenaios]

Well, often ships (especially military vessels) are denoted by their 'class', e.g. "pentekonteros". Would you believe "pentekonteros" is feminine?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You see, it is. As it 'triere', 'pentere' etc. etc.

EDIT: And incidentally I never quite as often saw the word 'to ploion'. Come to mention it; I only saw it when the author had to conform to a metrum, or in the very, very basic introduction texts; those which aren't authentic sources but constructs to teach the language without running into all the quirks, inconsistencies etc. etc. immediately. 'He naus' is typical of such quirks; indeed it's so irregular (there existing quite a few duplicate forms for various declensions) it attests its frequent use.

[Maion Maroneios]

You have a point, though what you don't understand is that I never argued with you. I just stated my personal oppinion, saying that ''Kataphrakton'' might be more correct. Instead you try to tell me your oppinion is the correct one. I just want to say that we can make as many assumptions as we want, though we cannot possibly know how the ancient Greeks would call a tank in their language.

Maion

[Tellos Athenaios]

Hmm. I really must fail at communication today.

Maybe I should point out that my two previous posts directed towards you are, though related, not really a continuation of the same argument. These are not so much about 'my opinion' (in a sense these are, of course since otherwise I wouldn't be disagreeing with you...), but rather more about perceived flaws & omissions in your line of reasoning.

EDIT: And this is getting very OT, very quickly. Assuming the OP [also] wants an armoured vehicle with 4 wheels he would be fine with: (he) kataphraktos hamaxa...

[Maion Maroneios]

rather more about perceived flaws & omissions in your line of reasoning.

Same goes with me, but I think we have already both made our points.

Maion