Ad sum ard labor [had some hard labor]

[QuangHai]

Hello everyone. I am reading a W. Trevor's story and found this sentence which maybe not English. But please if someone tell me the meaning:

'Ad sum ard labor, a waggish inmate has carved on a sundial he made for the governor, a tag that is a talking point when visitors are led around.'

Thanks.

 

[Nunty]

It's a kind of a joke. (The "waggish" lets you know that a joke is intended.) Instead of carving an elevated thought or Latin proverb on the sundial, the "waggish inmate" carved a sentence in the accent of those drop the initial H sound:
ad sum ard labor = Had some hard labor

 

[london calling]

I agree with Nunty. I would just like to clarify that the sentence is not, of course, written in true Latin, it was merely written to sound as if it were Latin.

 

[Nunty]

Thanks, london calling. I forgot to make that clear.

 

[QuangHai]

Oh my god, I could never figure out that meaning. Many thanks!

 

[Keith Bradford]

Creating mock-Latin like this used to be a favourite schoolboy pastime. In fact, three of the four words are really Latin:

ad = at, to
sum = I am
labor = work.

Even ard looks vaguely like a part of the verb ardere (= to burn). However, they don't make a real Latin sentence.

 

[QuangHai]

Dear all,

I am not sure on the meaning of 'Had some hard labor' here. Does it mean the inmate had worked hard to make the sundial or he means all prisoners worked hard at that place. Some more explanation would be helpful here. thanks!

 

[velisarius]

"Hard labour" was a punishment that could be imposed on a criminal, in addition to his prison sentence. It might have involved walking for hours on a treadmill, as Oscar Wilde was made to do. It was abolished in England in 1948.

In the "Latin" inscription the joke is that it sounds like "I 'ad some 'ard labour". In fact, anyone reading the inscription aloud would realise the sundail had been made by a prisoner, and a prisoner who could make a clever pun. It doesn't mean that he really did "hard labour", since he can joke about it.

 

[Keith Bradford]

Background information: making an accurate sundial is quite complex, with allownces to be made for latitude, angles and so forth. The ability to carve mock Latin on it isn't given to all. This is quite some prisoner!

 

[QuangHai]

@velisarius and Keith Bradford: thank you for your additional information!

 

[Scouse Git]

In 1945 Liverpool, my father, fresh out of the British Navy, joined his brother in law in a handyman business. On the side of their truck was painted a crested shield under which was imprinted "Ad Sum Ard Labor". Their job: to add some hard labor.