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The 2005 Sight Translation Competitions were held on January 17 (high school Latin papers), January 19 (Latin papers), and January 26 (Greek papers). This year I relied a great deal more on electronic media in advertising the competitions and delivering the scripts. Despite a few glitches (I clearly need help proofreading the supporting material in French), things went fairly well.

I would particularly like to thank Thomas Schmidt of Laval University for generously volunteering his assistance and providing invaluable service over the Winter in helping me to proofread material and, in more than one instance, crafting the script that was employed in the competition and in my correspondence with the winners.

As the following figures indicate, submissions were generally steady, or slightly up, compared to 2004. We made up some ground in the high school competition, but I still need to work on getting the word out more effectively.

2005 Submissions:

Examiner's comments:

Of the 72 entries this year, many seemed not to be serious. As James Lynd remarked last year, "some students could make little sense of the passage, so they made up their own funny story." I must echo his recommendation that this test be directed specifically to senior high school Latin students, preferably in their third year. Another possibility would be to have two tests, senior and junior, for the high-schoolers. No entries were perfect; parts of two sentences were almost universally misunderstood. On the other hand, many students had few errors and understood most of the passage. Finally, I would recommend that candidates be urged to leave no constructions unattempted, and no individual words unguessed!

JUNIOR GREEK

Longus, Daphnis & Chloe 3.23
72 entries
Examiner: Vernon Provencal, Acadia University

Recipients of the Margaret H. Thomson Prizes:

Examiner's comments:

The final sentence was problematic for all (as expected). Many entries were respectable attempts and the passage seemed very well suited for all; everyone at least got some portion of it; the winning entries did extremely well. The examiner would like to thank Beert Verstraete for his assistance in the judging.

JUNIOR LATIN

Pliny, Epistles 8.8
123 entries
Examiner: Riemer Faber, University of Waterloo

Recipients of the Margaret H. Thomson Prizes:

Examiner's comments:

The passage chosen for the 2005 Junior Latin Sight Competition is an excerpt from Pliny's description of the river Clitumnus (Epistulae viii.8.1-3). Most of the 123 entries translated the first, simple sentences with little difficulty, and correctly identified paenitet (8.1) as an impersonal verb and hunc subter (8.2) as anastrophe. The better submissions read the result clauses in 8.2 and 3 correctly; none, however, understood that the subject of the final, complex sentence is Clitumnus (or flumen). Besides vocabulary, the greatest challenge appeared to be the syntax of 8.3, a period intentionally convoluted to convey the nature of the river. The top three entries were of nearly equal calibre.

SENIOR GREEK
Isocrates, Ad Nicoclem 20-23
32 entries
Examiner: Ross Kilpatrick, Queen's University

• 1st Prize: Elsa Bouchard (Université de Montréal)
• 2nd Prize: Brian Marrin (University of Winnipeg)
• 3rd Prize: Giancarlo Ciccia (University of Toronto)
• 4th Prize: Tyson Sukara (University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba)
• 5th Prize: Guillaume Moreault (Université de Montréal)
• Honourable Mention: Matthew Siebert (University of Winnipeg)

(with men ... de inside men ... de). And ta men pros theous was a sticker, and also malist' an tis dunaito. Middle imperatives well handled: poíei, phaínou, dókei.

2) One should expect a few vocabulary problems, of course, where some leave blanks, others guess intelligently, and others go slightly off the rails.

These words would be good to know: progonoi (ho progonos), katedeixan (katadeiknumi), ktasthai (ktaomai), pareche (parechô), asphaleis (asphalês), turannidas (turannis), dapanôntas (dapanaô), perideeis (perideês), and praos.

It is a pleasant experience to read scripts from la crème de la crème. This was no exception.

SENIOR LATIN

Asconius, Pro Milone 30 - 32C
80 entries
Examiner: Christopher Mackay, University of Alberta

• 1st Prize: Stephanie Stringer (University of Toronto)
• 2nd Prize: Kevin Lawson (York University)
• 3rd Prize: Conor Cook (University of Toronto)
• 4th Prize: Lindsay Driediger (University of Calgary)
• 5th Prize: Kate Bilkevitch (University of British Columbia)
• Honourable Mention: Yannick Stafford (Université de Montréal)

Examiner's comments:

I picked a passage from Asconius' introduction to the Pro Milone because it was by definition trying to introduce the topic to someone unfamiliar with it, so there wasn't much need for external knowledge (which might be problematical for students who've mainly studied poetry). For the most part, the syntax is straightforward, but there were a few passages to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The grades were distributed as follows. A 2; A- 9; B+ 9; B 9; B- 3; C+ 6; C 9; C- 6; D+ 3; D 12; F 11. I noticed that the Fs tended to come in clumps, which I presume means that the competitors from certain schools were basically unprepared. The average is a C. For the most part, even the best translations were rather literal. Only one showed much flair in translating with (at times daring) idiomatic expressions in English that give the thrust of the Latin without slavishly following the original.

Of the total, only four submissions were in French, and these were of a much higher overall quality than the English submissions. Could something be done to encourage more French submissions? (I have to say that comparing French with English translations was something of an apple/orange situation, and that the greater similarities of vocabulary and structure — e.g., the presence of an imperfect vs. preterit distinction — perhaps give Francophones something of an automatic leg up.)

Particular points:

1) The locative Romae was frequently mistaken as a genitive.

2) circa horam nonam was often "around noon"! (etymologically related but nonetheless wrong)

3) in eundum annum was almost always taken as "in" rather than "for" the same year.

4) There were problems with guessing the meaning of what out to be straightforward derivates of common verbs: allocutus was often taken as "located" (!) and accurrerunt as "ran away" (presumably merely a guess).

5) The purpose expression ad flaminem prodendum was misconstrued surprisingly often. Seemingly many students are unfamiliar with the construction where by noun plus gerundive equals gerund plus direct object in English.

6) There was widespread carelessness with past tenses — pluperfects and imperfects were often rendered as if they were simple preterits.

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I would like to thank all of the examiners for the time and energy that they have put into this year's competitions, and for their excellent work.

The list of winners has been posted on the CAC WWW site (http://www.usask.ca/classics/cac/), as has a list of this year's passages (with links to pdf versions of the examination papers).

Respectfully submitted,
John Porter

University of Calgary
Department of Greek and Roman Studies
Sessional Position

This sessional position, available for nine months starting September 1 2005, involves first-year teaching. It will entail six half-courses at the first year level, in Ancient History, Myth and Literature, and Medical Terminology. These courses will be spread evenly over three semesters, the fall, the winter, and the spring terms. There will be considerable TA assistance for the History and Literature courses (involving tutorials and marking). The Medical Terminology course is taught entirely on-line and is graded electronically. Applicants for this position will need to have the PhD completed or close to completion by the time of appointment.

The Department of Greek and Roman Studies has a continuing staff size of ten, a strong graduate programme (nine doctoral and ten masters candidates), an active visiting scholar programme, and teaches approximately 2500 undergraduate students per annum. The University of Calgary has a current student population of approximately 27,000. Calgary itself has a population of nearly one million and is situated one hour by car from the Rocky Mountains.

Remuneration will be in the range of CDN $30,000-35,000. Inquiries and applications may be directed to:

The Classics Programme at Victoria University of Wellington invites applications for a PhD scholarship in Greek Drama from students with experience and interests in any aspect of Greek Drama, including Tragedy and Comedy, the relationship between theatre and Greek society, or the interface of drama with political and social history. Classics at Victoria University of Wellington has an international reputation for excellence in ancient drama and the scholarship reflects and builds upon this reputation and the experience of the academic staff at the university.

The deadline for applications from potential PhD candidates is 18 July 2005.

For further information please contact:

Announcing an exhibit:
Encounters in Roman Gaul
May 17 to October 9, 2005

Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, is presenting an exclusive exhibition featuring over 200 authentic artifacts from the days of Roman Gaul.

Encounters in Roman Gaul, presented from May 17 to October 9, will showcase archaeological treasures on loan from the museums of Roman Gaul in Lyon-Fourvière and Saint-Romain-en-Gal/Vienne and the Vienne museum, in France.

For more information, visit: http://www.pacmuseum.qc.ca/indexan.html.

Pompeii was developed by the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei together with the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Caserta, and promoted by the Regione Campania-Assessorato ai Beni Culturali, with the support of the Compagnia di San Paolo and a contribution from the Autostrade Meridionali SpA.

Advance purchase is recommended; timed ticketing is in effect. Regular admission + $5 (not applicable to children and members). Pompeii is open at the CMC from May 27 until September 12, 2005. For more information, the public can call 1 800 555-5241 or (819) 776-7000

POMPEII: Lecture series

The Canadian Museum of Civilization will present a series of lectures in conjunction with the new exhibition, Pompeii, presented until September 12, 2005. In four insightful lectures, scholars and archaeological experts discuss and tell about the wonder of Pompeii. Participants can learn a great deal about the architecture, the technology, the beliefs and aspirations of ancient Pompeians. Lecture tickets are $5 at the Box Office. Except where noted below, lectures are in English with simultaneous translation into French. No reserved seating.

June 23 - 7 p.m. (French with simultaneous English translation)
Lecture: A Lively Portrait of the People of Pompeii
Dr. Marie-Pierre Bussières of the University of Ottawa discusses love, life, death and popular culture as depicted by ancient graffiti.
Tickets: $5, (819) 776-7000. Theatre

July 7 - 7 p.m. (English with simultaneous French translation)
Lecture: Lifelines of Pompeii
Dr. A. Trevor Hodge will introduce you to the glory of Roman technology and its magnificent, but not indestructible aqueduct.
Tickets: $5, (819) 776-7000. Theatre

POMPEII a été conçue par la Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei conjointement avec la Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Caserta, et promue par la Regione Campania-Assessorato ai Beni Culturali, avec le soutien de la Compagnia di San Paolo et une contribution de Autostrade Meridionali SpA.

Veuillez noter que les billets sont horodatés; les réservations de groupe et l'achat de billets à l'avance sont fortement recommandés. Droits d'entrée réguliers + 5 $ (le supplément ne s'applique pas aux enfants et aux membres).

POMPEII est présentée au Musée canadien des civilisations du 27 mai au 12 septembre 2005. Le public peut obtenir de plus amples renseignements en composant le 1 800 555-5241 ou le 776-7000.

Renseignements (médias) :

POMPEII : Série de conférences Dans la foulée de la nouvelle exposition POMPEII, présentée jusqu'au 12 septembre 2005, le Musée canadien des civilisations propose une série de quatre conférences captivantes. Des universitaires et des spécialistes en archéologie exposeront et commenteront les merveilles de Pompéi. Les auditeurs auront la chance unique de partager les secrets de l'architecture, de la technologie, des croyances et des aspirations des Pompéiens de l'Antiquité. Les billets pour chaque conférence sont en vente à la Billetterie du Musée et ils coûtent 5 $ l'unité. À l'exception d'une qui est donnée en français, les conférences sont en anglais. Elles seront toutes accompagnées d'une traduction simultanée dans l'autre langue officielle. Aucune place n'est réservée.

Le 23 juin - 19 h (en français, avec traduction simultanée)
Conférence : Le bouillant caractère des Pompéiens
La professeure Marie-Pierre Bussières de l'Université d'Ottawa traite de quelques thèmes suggérés par les graffitis découverts à Pompéi : l'amour, la vie, la mort et la culture populaire.
Billets : 5 $, (819) 776-7000. Théâtre

Le 7 juillet - 19 h (en anglais, avec traduction simultanée)
Conférence : Les services essentiels de Pompéi
Le professeur Trevor Hodge présente la merveilleuse technologie romaine et ses aqueducs remarquables mais non indestructibles.
Billets : 5 $, (819) 776-7000. Théâtre

Trent University is pleased to congratulate Professor David Page, who has been named among Ontario's six most outstanding university teachers in a province-wide competition adjudicated by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA).

For more information, visit: