The Canadian Classical Bulletin — Le Bulletin canadien des Études anciennes
19.09        2013–05–23        ISSN 1198-9149


Editor / rédacteur: Guy Chamberland (Thorneloe University at Laurentian University)
ccb@cac-scec.ca

webpage / page web

Newsletter of the Classical Association of Canada
Bulletin de la Société canadienne des Études classiques

President / président: Patrick Baker (Université Laval)   president@cac-scec.ca
Secretary / secrétaire: Guy Chamberland (Laurentian University)   secretary@cac-scec.ca
Treasurer / trésorière: Ingrid Holmberg (University of Victoria)   treasurer@cac-scec.ca


Contents / Sommaire

[0] Obituary Notice / Notice nécrologique
  • In memoriam Bettye Bongie
[1] Association Announcements & News / Annonces et nouvelles de la Société
  • Undergraduate Essay Competition 2013 / Concours de dissertations de premier cycle, 2013
  • Winners of the 2013 Sight Translation Competition / Gagnants et gagnantes du concours de versions grecques et latines en 2013
[2] CCB Announcements / Annonces du BCÉA
  • "Sappho ... in 9 fragments"; un troisième membre institutionnel; et quelques autres annonces
[3] Positions Available / Postes à combler
  • University of Queensland: Eliadis Chair
  • Trent: three courses
[4] Calls for Papers; Conference & Lecture Announcements / Conférences; appels à communications
  • No announcements in this issue / Rien à signaler dans ce numéro-ci
[5] Scholarships & Competitions / Bourses et concours
  • Rome: Academy Vivarium Novum
[6] Summer Study, Field Schools, Online Courses / Cours d'été, écoles de terrain, cours "en ligne"
  • No announcements in this issue / Rien à signaler dans ce numéro-ci
[7] Varia (including members' new books / dont les nouveaux livres des membres)
  • Three new books / Trois nouveaux titres


[0] Obituary Notice / Notice nécrologique

IN MEMORIAM ELIZABETH AGNES EMILY ("BETTYE") BONGIE (1930–2013)

From the Editor

David Mirhady informs me of the passing away of Bettye Bongie. I am reproducing, below, the obituary posted at www.legacy.com, which originally appeared in The Province on May 22, 2013. I would like to add that Professor Bongie was Secretary of the Association in 1979-1981.

Elizabeth Agnes Emily Bongie September 28, 1930 – May 18, 2013. Elizabeth ('Bettye') passed away at the age of 82 in Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. She is survived by Larry, her husband of 54 years, her son Chris (Ishita), her brother William (Joan) and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. Born in Victoria, the daughter of William and Alice Bryson, Bettye did her undergraduate studies at Vic College and UBC, winning upon graduation in 1951 the coveted Governor General's Gold Medal. In the following years, she pursued doctoral studies at the University of Illinois and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, receiving her PhD in Classics in 1956. On her return to British Columbia, she was appointed the first woman tenure-track member of the Department of Classics at UBC where she taught until her retirement in 1992. The award of a Master Teaching prize was but one sign of the high esteem in which she was held by students and colleagues alike. In addition to her contributions to the teaching of Greek and Latin language, literature and mythology, Bettye was a pioneering contributor to both the Medieval and the Women's Studies programmes on campus. Over the course of her career, her scholarly and teaching interests ranged widely, from an early concentration on Greek paleography to an evolving focus on the spiritual lives of women in antiquity, well evidenced in her translation of the Life and Regimen of the Blessed and Holy Syncletica. Widely travelled, most notably in her retirement years, she and Larry eventually moved from Vancouver to Salt Spring, where she had spent many happy summers as a child. Gardening, reading, and embroidery filled her days and even in the midst of increasing health difficulties she held true to the words of Julian of Norwich, one of her favourite medieval woman mystics: "All Shall Be Well, And All Shall Be Well, And All Manner Of Thing Shall Be Well."

The family wishes to thank Dr. James Franklin White, the Home & Community Care nurses of Salt Spring, and the nursing staff at Lady Minto Hospital for their unstinting care and assistance. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation or to a charity of choice are welcomed. A private memorial will be scheduled at a later date.



[1] Association Announcements & News / Annonces et nouvelles de la Société

UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY COMPETITION 2013
CONCOURS DE DISSERTATIONS DE PREMIER CYCLE, 2013

From Bonnie MacLachlan

Student papers are now being solicited for the 2013 Undergraduate Essay Competition at both the Junior and Senior levels, with cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50. The deadline is August 31st. Please follow this link: http://cac-scec.ca/wordpress/activities/competitions/eng_essay-contest/.

Les étudiants de premier cycle sont invités à soumettre leurs travaux pour le Concours de dissertations de premier cycle de 2013, aux niveaux débutant et avancé. Les prix sont de $150, $100 et $50. La date limite de soumission est le 31 août. Pour en savoir plus: http://cac-scec.ca/wordpress/fr/activities/competitions/eng_essay-contest/.




CAC SIGHT TRANSLATION COMPETITION 2013
FINAL REPORT

From Alison Barclay

[Editor's notes: 1–This report was submitted to the Secretary of the CAC for presentation at the Council meeting of May 13th in Winnipeg; it was slightly modified for publication in the Bulletin. 2–At her request I am withholding the name of the adjudicator for the High School competition until the end of the school year.]

I would like to begin by offering my sincerest thanks to the competition coordinators at the participating institutions, to Guy Chamberland for his technical aid and assistance with French translations and proofreading of passages, to Patrick Letendre and Maggie Rogow for their help with the High School passages, and to the five adjudicators. Thanks also go to Kathryn Simonsen and Patrick Baker for overseeing the distribution of the letters, certificates and prizes this year which turned out to be more of a challenge to accomplish from Athens than anticipated.

The competition dates were January 17 (High School Latin), January 24 (University Latin) and January 31 (University Greek). The adjudicators were Jeremy Trevett (Junior Greek, Margaret H. Thompson Prize), Roberto Nickel (Senior Greek), Luke Roman (Junior Latin) and Aven McMaster (Senior Latin, Peter Lawson Smith Prize). The results of the competition with the adjudicators' reports are included below.

Apart from a query over a phrase in the High School passage, the only issue this year was the delay in sending out the submission to the adjudicators. This was a result of some of the coordinators not sending me their students' efforts as soon as the competition was over and/or not informing me of whether or not they had sent the submissions. I gave everyone extra time, but had to enforce the deadline for accepting submissions this year because – as I informed everyone – I was leaving Canada at the end of February. In the end, I sent out the submissions the day before I left (one university's submissions did not arrive and so they were disqualified). Also, my impression was that there were far fewer participants this year than last at all levels of the competition. The weather may have played a role in this as there were several bad storms in various parts of Canada in January. However, the total number of submissions received by the adjudicators don't seem to be too different from previous years.

Finally, I've enjoyed organizing the competition over the past five years and I thank the Council for the opportunity to get better acquainted with my Canadian colleagues and to do something positive for the Classics students. All the best to David Meban who is taking over the competition.

Respectfully submitted on May 6, 2013

Alison E. Barclay

Universities by number: 1 McGill University – 2 University of Winnipeg – 3 University of Ottawa – 4 University of Waterloo – 5 University of Windsor – 6 Dalhousie University – 7 Western University – 8 Mt Allison University – 9 University of Toronto – 10 University of British Columbia – 11 Concordia University – 12 Université de Montréal – 13 Trent University – 14 York University – 15 Wilfrid Laurier University – 16 Memorial University of Newfoundland – 17 Université Laval – 18 Queen's University – 19 University of Alberta – 20 Brock University – 21 University of New Brunswick – 22 Carleton University – 23 University of Victoria – 24 University on Manitoba – 25 McMaster University – 26 Bishop`s University

Winners and Reports from the Adjudicators

1–High School Latin Sight Translation Contest
(Passage adapted from Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Apocolocyntosis Divi Claudii 10–11)

First Prize ($100): Daniel Lovsted, University of Toronto Schools
Second Prize ($75): André Ilinca, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Third Prize ($50): Pietro Lavoni, South Burnaby High School
Honourable mentions: George Radner, University of Toronto Schools; Christopher Chu, University of Toronto Schools; Aruthy Pathmarajan, Markham District High School; Max Bedford, Saint George's School

Adjudicator's report: The majority of the entries this year were very well translated, and the level of difficulty (compared to last year) much better suited to the students' skills. The confusion with the interpretation of canis excidit did not pose a problem with either the French or the English translations. Please extend my congratulations to the winners (whose translations were all very close) and to all the participants.

Some numbers: Of the approximately 110 entries submitted this year, approximately 20 were selected for a second round reading. In the end, ten entries were selected as finalists. Compared to the relative difficulty of last year's passage, this year's passage was more manageable and brought forth good efforts from the students.

The adjudication process: A closer reading of the passages from the ten finalists was made. Entries were once again judged on three main criteria: (1) correct and precise application of grammar; (2) accuracy of vocabulary; (3) rendering of translation into French / English idiom (e.g. fluency in translation, turns of phrases, structure of sentences, etc.).

The contest passage: The general feedback has been that the level of difficulty of this passage would be –and was– well suited to the students' skill level. Overall, the majority of the students demonstrated a good understanding of the passage's context and general idea.

Thank you again for this wonderful and enriching opportunity! I have greatly enjoyed working with Dr. Barclay, M. Letendre, and Ms Rogow throughout the process.

2–Junior Greek (Margaret H. Thompson Prize)
Jeremy Trevett, York University
(Xenophon, Oeconomicus, 4.18-20)

First Prize ($150): Duncan McDonald, McGill University
Second Prize ($100): Jessica Zung, University of Toronto
Third Prize ($50): Jennyfer Desbiens, Université de Montréal

Adjudicator's report: The passage selected was Xenophon, Oeconomicus 4.18-20, in which Socrates eulogizes the Persian prince Cyrus, who had recently died in battle fighting against his brother, the Persian king. The majority of students clearly found the piece difficult, despite the help that was given with vocabulary. (It might have helped if I had given more information about the context.) Problems started with the past conditional contrary to fact in the first sentence (ei ebíwsen = "if he had survived …"), which was generally mistranslated. There was also regular confusion between the various forms of basileús and of basileía. Quite a number of students seemed to panic, and ignored basic rules of grammar. I got the impression that many students had very little if any prior experience doing sight translations. Certainly, for the future, I would encourage instructors to tell their students not to leave blanks if they do not know the meaning of a word – an intelligent guess has a chance of being right, whereas a blank will certainly be wrong. That being said, the passage served its purpose in identifying the strongest entrants. The top three stood out, and each of them clearly understood what the passage was about. The first prize winner produced an almost flawless translation.

3–Junior Latin
Luke Roman, Memorial University of Newfoundland
(Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia 9.58 (119–21))

First Prize ($150): Laura Nicola, University of Windsor
Second Prize ($100): David Sutton, University of Alberta
Third Prize ($50): Gregory Giannakis, McGill University

Adjudicator's report: Students participating in the Junior Latin Sight Competition this year were asked to translate the story of Antony, Cleopatra and the edible pearl (Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia 9.58, slightly adapted). The adjudicator, in his desire to assign this particular passage for the Junior Latin Sight Competition, may have chosen too ambitiously. Pliny's syntax is at times intricate, and the passage includes indirect discourse introduced by a present participle modifying a pronominal subject (illa corollarium id esse … confirmans), and an indirect question with periphrastic verb dependent on a present participle in an ablative absolute construction (expectante Antonio quidnam esset actura). There were no perfect or near-perfect translations, and even the best translations contained several major errors. This outcome does not necessarily reflect badly on the students' ability; one might equally conclude that they did quite well given the difficulties in the passage. A few very common errors include: failure to identify arbitrabatur as a deponent verb to be translated with an active meaning; failure to identify posuere as an alternative 3rd person plural perfect indicative active form of pono, ponere; difficulty in choosing the most appropriate meaning among several possibilities offered in the glossary (corollarium translated as "gift", mensa as "table"); failure to identify the use of a future infinitive in indirect discourse with esse omitted (absumpturam, cenaturam); some difficulty in identifying unglossed vocabulary (discere was routinely mistaken for discedere or docere, the adjective superbus for the preposition super, although I should add that it surely speaks to the positive moral qualities of Canadian Classics students that they largely do not recognize the word meretrix, just as it speaks to the dubious morality of the adjudicator that he assumed they would); failure to identify inferri as a passive infinitive; failure to identify a negative purpose clause; failure to identify alias as an adverb; difficulty in translating and understanding the syntax of present participles modifying a noun in an oblique case (Antonio … inridenti … expostulanti); difficulty in translating into idiomatic French or English perfect passive participles which, in combination with indicative verbs, indicate a chronological sequence of actions (detractum alterum mersit ac liquefactum obsorbuit). Many students also had a hard time figuring out who was the implied subject of a sentence or clause when no subject was specified. Overall, however, I felt that the students participating in the competition managed to do a fairly good job with a challenging passage, and that the winning translations fully merited their awards.

4–Senior Greek
Roberto Nickel, Brock University
(Xenophon, Cyropaedia 7.2.9–13)

First Prize ($150): Mufei Jiang, University of Toronto
Second Prize ($100): Brett Bartlett, University of Waterloo
Third Prize ($50): Tanner Rudnick, University of Waterloo
Honourable Mentions: Sonya Tors, University of Toronto; Ian Miller, University of New Brunswick

Adjudicator's report: I received 39 submissions (including the two forwarded electronically) for the senior Greek sight competition, from 13 different universities, with 33 in English and one in French. The breakdown is as follows: • Univ. 9: 8 submissions • Univ. 6: 5 submissions • Univ. 2: 4 submissions • Univ. 6: 5 submissions • Univs. 3, 18, 23: 3 submissions each • Univ. 4: 2 submissions • Univs. 1, 5, 7, 8, 16, 21: 1 submission each. The passage was reasonably well translated by a high number of entrants; nevertheless, the three winners easily stood out. What distinguished their translations was the accuracy of the more difficult syntactical constructions. For example, the passage contained a number of potential optatives, three in indirect discourse, two conditional sentences, and, of course, a variety of verb forms. All three winning entrants handled these constructions with ease, and in the case of the first place winner with near perfection. Among the three winning entrants, the first place entrant was distinguished by the her/his attention to detail and an impressive sense of the way particles can shape meaning, especially in conversation, as in the passage that was set. In addition, two other entrants deserve honourable mention for translations just below the levels of the three winners. Besides the five entrants singled out below, I would also like to note that on a first reading of all the entrants' submissions, as I sorted them into two piles (those worthy of further consideration and the rest), University #9 was clearly an outlier among all the institutions, not only because of high number of entrants, but because of the generally high quality of the submissions. Likewise, it is worth noting that, while University #4 had only 2 submissions, both of these were outstanding, as the results indicate.

5–Senior Latin (Peter Lawson Smith Prize)
Aven McMaster, Thorneloe University at Laurentian University
(Ovid Fasti 3.11-30)

First Prize ($150): Mufei Jiang, University of Toronto
Second Prize ($100): Sonya Tors, University of Toronto
Third Prize ($50): Brett Bartlett, University of Waterloo
Honourable Mention: Neal Porter, University of Toronto

Adjudicator's report: I don't know which institution was #9, but either they've done this text in class or they've got a number of good students! There were 52 submissions, 2 of which were in French. There was a wide range in quality, as is to be expected; there was a fairly large group that were fair to good, and a handful that stood out. The top three were difficult to decide between, all being almost perfect. The most common difficulty was with an authorial interjection that I expected would cause difficulties (quid enim vetat inde moveri?), but there was also a somewhat disappointing number of students confused by mane (construing it as some form of manus); a jussive subjunctive also threw off many people. As well, it seems that the students didn't generally use scansion to help them parse ambiguous words, for instance to match adjectives to nouns in the pentameter et sua divina furta fefellit ope. Otherwise, the passage seemed appropriate for the level, as there were enough somewhat tricky constructions to enable me to distinguish the stronger students from the weaker, but most students were able to make at least some sense of the passage.



[2] CCB Announcements / Annonces du BCÉA

From the Editor / Du rédacteur

I

My apologies for sending this issue so late after the usual deadline. Not only did the 15th fall during the AGM in Winnipeg, but I am also having internet connection problems.

II

I was informed that the play SAPPHO ... IN 9 FRAGMENTS will be performed in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal between June 14th and 28th. For more information, please visit the website.

III

L'Institut d'Études anciennes de l'Université Laval est le troisième programme à joindre la SCÉC en tant que membre institutionnel. Bienvenue !

To become an institutional member, please use the regular membership form (a link is provided in this Bulletin's header). Enter the name of the person who will receive the usual information: confirmation of payment, membership status, and renewal.

IV

Some of you, dear subscribers, have just completed a contract and will be moving on to new opportunities and challenges. Please remember to update your membership page and to inform me of any change of email address.

V

I have inserted at the bottom of this issue a few pictures from the latest AGM in Winnipeg. Please contact me if you'd like to have full resolution pictures!



[3] Positions Available / Postes à combler

PAUL ELIADIS CHAIR IN CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

From the Editor

Mark Golden informs me that applications for the Paul Eliadis Chair in Classics and Ancient History will be accepted until June 10th 2013. Please follow the link




TRENT UNIVERSITY
ANCIENT HISTORY & CLASSICS
THREE COURSES

From Jennifer Moore

TRENT UNIVERSITY, Peterborough — The Department of Ancient History & Classics invites applications from potential instructors for three courses for the 2013-2014 academic year. Applicants may apply for more than one course; please note that one of the due dates differs.

Fall-term (Sept.-Dec. 2013) courses:

  1. Greek & Roman Mythology (AHCL 2350H). Application due date: June 7, 2013 (4:00 p.m. EST).
  2. Alexander the Great and His Age (AHCL 3070H). Application due date: June 4, 2013 (4:00 p.m. EST).

Winter-term (Jan.-Apr. 2014) course:

  1. Either Ancient Warfare (AHCL 3101H) or The Agony, the Ecstasy, and the Ancient Athlete (AHCL 3410H). The course to be offered will be chosen from one of these two options, depending on applicant strengths and Departmental needs. Application due date: June 4, 2013 (4:00 p.m. EST).

For more details on these courses, expectations of the instructor(s), and application qualifications and procedure, please see the full ads at http://www.trentu.ca/dean/ptfaculty_ahc.php. Trent University is actively committed to creating a diverse and inclusive campus community and encourages applications from qualified candidates from the following groups: women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.



[4] Calls for Papers; Conference & Lecture Announcements / Conférences; appels à communications

No announcements in this issue / Rien à signaler dans ce numéro-ci



[5] Scholarships & Competitions / Bourses et concours

ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMPETITION
LATIN, GREEK & HUMANITIES AT THE ACADEMY VIVARIUM NOVUM IN ROME
ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014

From Academia Vivarii Novi / Academy Vivarium Novum

The Academy Vivarium Novum is offering ten full tuition scholarships for high school students of the European Union (16-18 years old) and ten full tuition scholarships for University students (18-24 years old) of any part of the world. The scholarships will cover all of the costs of room, board, teaching and didactic materials for courses to be held from October 7, 2013 until June 14, 2014 on the grounds of the Academy's campus at Rome.

Application letters must be sent to info@vivariumnovum.net by July 15th in order to receive consideration.

A good knowledge of the fundamental of Latin and Greek is required.

The courses will be as follows:

  • Latin language (fundamental and advanced)
  • Greek language (fundamental and advanced)
  • Latin composition
  • Roman History
  • Ancient Latin literature
  • History of ancient Philosophy
  • Renaissance and Neo-Latin literature
  • Latin and Greek music and poetry
  • Classics reading seminars

The goal is to achieve a perfect command of both Latin and Greek through a total immersion in the two languages in order to master without any hindrances the texts and concepts which have been handed down from the ancient times, middle ages, the Renaissance period and modern era, and to cultivate the humanities in a manner similar to the Renaissance humanists.

All the classes will be conducted in Latin, except for Greek classes which will be conducted in ancient Greek.

In the letter the prospective student should indicate the following:

    1. Full name;
    2. Date and place of birth;
    3. What school you currently attend;
    4. How long you have studied Latin and/or Greek;
    5. Which authors and works you have read;
    6. Other studies and primary interests outside of school.

In addition, please attach a recent passport/ID photograph.

For more information about the Academy, you may visit the website www.vivariumnovum.net.



[6] Summer Study, Field School, Online Courses / Cours d'été, écoles de terrain, cours "en ligne"

No announcements in this issue / Rien à signaler dans ce numéro-ci



[7] Varia (including members' new books / dont les nouveaux livres des membres)

THREE NEW BOOKS / TROIS NOUVEAUX LIVRES

From the Editor / Du rédacteur

Michele George informs me of the publication of two new titles in the series Phoenix Supplementary Volumes (UofT Press):

Emmet I. Robbins, Thalia Delighting in Song: Essays on Ancient Greek Poetry, edited by Bonnie MacLachlan, University of Toronto Press, 2013, ISBN 9781442613430.

Roman Slavery and Roman Material Culture, edited by Michele George, University of Toronto Press, 2013, ISBN 9781442644571.

I also became aware of the following new title thanks to Bulletin 2.1 of the SCAPAT:

R.W. Burgess & M. Kulikowski, Mosaics of Time, The Latin Chronicle Traditions from the First Century BC to the Sixth Century AD. Volume I, A Historical Introduction to the Chronicle Genre from its Origins to the High Middle Ages, Brepols, 2013, ISBN 978-2-503-53140-3.




Next regular issue   2013–06–15 / Prochaine livraison régulière   2013–06–15

Send submissions to ccb@cac-scec.ca
Pour nous faire parvenir vos soumissions: ccb@cac-scec.ca

Place the word SUBMISSION in the subject heading. Please send announcements in an editable format (.doc, .docx, .rtf, .html). The editor typically does not allow attachments; provide a link to posters, flyers, &c.

Écrivez le mot SOUMISSION sur la ligne "sujet". Veuillez envoyer les annonces dans un format éditable (.doc, .docx, .rtf, .html). En général le rédacteur ne permet pas les pièces jointes; insérez les liens à toutes affiches, circulaires, etc.