Latin Valediction
Back in 1978, Lidia Mostovy was chosen to deliver the valedictory address at the 99th commencement of Frank H. Morrell High School, so she decided to give it in Latin. Her speech began: "Olim Alexander Magnus dixit: 'Meis parentibus vitam debeo, meis magistris, vitam bonam.'"
She explained that she "wanted to add dignity to the graduation exercises and... draw attention to the high school's Latin program. 'A lot of people ask why take Latin — you're not going to use it. So now I will.'"
Source: The Ukrainian Weekly - June 25, 1978 (page 11).
Since I took Latin throughout high school, and even participated in our high school's Latin play, I'm sympathetic to what she did. And I guess it probably wasn't any more or less boring than any other high school valediction, just because no one could understand it.
She explained that she "wanted to add dignity to the graduation exercises and... draw attention to the high school's Latin program. 'A lot of people ask why take Latin — you're not going to use it. So now I will.'"
Source: The Ukrainian Weekly - June 25, 1978 (page 11).
Since I took Latin throughout high school, and even participated in our high school's Latin play, I'm sympathetic to what she did. And I guess it probably wasn't any more or less boring than any other high school valediction, just because no one could understand it.
Comments
Et ne quis possit intueri? Nam si catholici hoc? :lol: :coolsmile:
That's Latin for " No one could understand ? Were there no Catholics present ?" 😛
That's Latin for " No one could understand ? Were there no Catholics present ?" 😛
Posted by Tyrusguy on 08/05/14 at 09:09 AM
The only Latin I know is "Klaatu, Barada Nikto."
Posted by KDP on 08/05/14 at 09:44 AM
In hoc signo vinces. Carried it around in my shirt pocket (or rolled into my T-shirt sleeve for decades.
Britannia insula est is about all I remember from H/S Latin.
Britannia insula est is about all I remember from H/S Latin.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/05/14 at 09:54 AM
Hey, she understood it and several people here did.
Mind you, for true authenticity she should've said it in ancient Greek. Alex didn't speak Latin.
Mind you, for true authenticity she should've said it in ancient Greek. Alex didn't speak Latin.
Posted by Richard Bos on 08/05/14 at 03:27 PM
Navis volitans mihi anguillis plena est
Posted by Phideaux on 08/05/14 at 06:24 PM
:lol: That's great Ty!!
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/05/14 at 07:03 PM
Latin was compulsory when I was going to school in the previous ice age; scary that I could still understand that quote from Alexander the Great. My German teacher taught us this English poem about Latin:
Latin is a dead language,
As dead as it could be.
First it killed the Romans,
And now it's killing me.
This is the main thing I remember about Latin.
Latin is a dead language,
As dead as it could be.
First it killed the Romans,
And now it's killing me.
This is the main thing I remember about Latin.
Posted by Harvey on 08/05/14 at 07:19 PM
Well it is so dead that the Catholic Church quit using in in services because no one understood it and made the already somewhat boring services real sleepers. Latin is important for the identification of plant and animals and a good biologist friend of mine who is a very entertaining and funny person will spot a bird and rattle off the full Latin name with out pausing.
Posted by GatorGuy on 08/05/14 at 08:56 PM
Phideaux, Are you fishing for eel recipes?
I have one that will make your nipples explode with delight! :lol: :coolsmile:
I have one that will make your nipples explode with delight! :lol: :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 08/05/14 at 09:54 PM
Gatorguy: but that's not really the Latin language, that's a couple of alchemists' Latin (and Greek, and latinified modern, and half-Chinese...) words stuck together without any regard for what a Roman would've recognised.
Tyrusguy: Belgian "paling in't groen" - eel in green sauce - is good.
Tyrusguy: Belgian "paling in't groen" - eel in green sauce - is good.
Posted by Richard Bos on 08/06/14 at 06:11 AM
I've seen that 'green stuff' and it made me eel.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/06/14 at 09:12 AM
My second comment and Phideaux's were referring to a famous MONTY PYTON SKIT. :lol: :coolsmile:
Unless his hovercraft is actually full of eels, In that case I'm confused!
Unless his hovercraft is actually full of eels, In that case I'm confused!
Posted by Tyrusguy on 08/06/14 at 09:26 AM
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Category: Education | Languages | 1970s