Motto

Categories: Mottos | Melodic sections

A motto is a phrase or a short list of words meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. Many countries, cities, universities, and other institutions have mottos, as do families with coats of arms.

Mottos are traditionally written in Latin or Romance languages, as well as in English or German. There are many exceptions, particularly in modern heraldry: for examples, the mottos of the State of Hawai‘i and the University of Hawai‘i are in Hawaiian, and the motto of Nunavut is in Inuktitut, while in England the motto of the County of Somerset is written in Anglo-Saxon.

A canting motto is one that contains wordplay. For example, the motto of the Earl of Onslow is Festina lente, punningly interpreting on-slow.

In heraldry, a motto is often depicted in a coat of arms, typically on a scroll under the arms, or else above it as in Scots heraldry.

In musical usage, a motto is a melodic section larger than a motif and may appear at the beginning and often just before the end of a musical composition.

Motto may also refer to a short quotation, joke, or an anecdotal message printed on a piece of paper inside a Christmas cracker.

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External links

de:Motto es:Lema fa:شعار fr:Devise (phrase) gl:Lema id:Motto ia:Motto is:Kjörorð it:Motto hu:Mottó nl:Motto ja:モットー no:Motto pl:Motto pt:Lema ru:Девиз sk:Motto fi:Motto sv:Valspråk tl:Motto simple:Motto he:מוטו