Itinera mundi mentisque

Jokin aika sitten käänsin latinan kurssia varten Senecan kirjettä 28, joka käsittelee matkustelun hyödyttömyyttä hoitona sielua vaivaavaan tyytymättömyyteen. Ensin säikähdin, että pitääkö minut nyt lopettaa matkustelu, mutta pidemmälle lukiessani havaitsin, että Seneca on, taas kerran, täsmälleen samaa mieltä kanssani. Kyllähän matkustelukin sopii, kunhan mieli on kunnossa.

Kirjeessä on Senecan tyylille ominaisesti – ehkäpä tavallistakin enemmän – viljalti sananlaskun tai lentävän lauseen omaisia elämänohjeita. Alkuperäinen latinankielinen teksti on kokonaisuudessaan Classics Libraryssa (sivua pitää selata alas XXVIII:aan asti). Tässä joitakin otteita suomennettuina

Hoc tibi soli putas accidisse et admiraris quasi rem novam quod peregrinatione tam longa et tot locorum varietatibus non discussisti tristitiam gravitatemque mentis? Animum debes mutare, non caelum.

Käännös:
Arveletko näin sattuneen yksin sinulle ja ihmetteletkö ikään kuin uutena asiana sitä, ettet niin pitkän matkustelun ja niin suuren paikkojen monenkirjavuuden jälkeenkään ole hälventänyt mielesi murhetta ja raskautta? Sielu sinun täytyy vaihtaa eikä ilmastoa.

Magis quis veneris quam quo interest, et ideo nulli loco addicere debemus animum. Cum hac persuasione vivendum est: ‘non sum uni angulo natus, patria mea totus hic mundus est’.

Käännös:
Enemmän on väliä sillä kenenä menet kuin minne menet, ja siksipä meidän ei pidä jättää mieltämme minkään paikan valtaan. On elettävä tämän vakaumuksen kanssa: »En ole syntynyt yhtä maankolkkaa varten, isänmaani on koko maailma.»

Nunc non peregrinaris sed erras et ageris ac locum ex loco mutas, cum illud quod quaeris, bene vivere, omni loco positum sit.

Käännös:
Nyt et matkustele, vaan harhailet ja liikuskelet sekä vaihdat paikasta paikkaan, kun taas tuo mitä kaipaat - hyvin eläminen - on mahdollista jokaisessa paikassa

Dissentio ab his qui in fluctus medios eunt et tumultuosam probantes vitam cotidie cum difficultatibus rerum magno animo conluctantur. Sapiens feret ista, non eliget, et malet in pace esse quam in pugna.

Käännös:
Olen eri mieltä niiden kanssa, jotka menevät aaltojen keskelle ja pitäen arvossa myrskyisää elämää joka päivä suurella uhmalla painiskelevat olojen vaikeuksien kanssa. Viisas sietää tuon, muttei valitse sitä ja on mieluummin rauhassa kuin riidassa.

Quid interest quot domini sint? servitus una est

Käännös:
Mitä väliä on herrain määrällä? Orjuus on yksi ja sama.

Valete!

Labels: Latin, Lingua latina, Literature, Seneca, Suomeksi, Translating

Posted by Janne at 20:54 | Permalink | Comments

I was recently studying and translating a letter by Seneca (Epistulae Morales 28) as required for a course, and it evokes some thoughts about this blog… I’ll post some pieces of my Finnish translation separately, but here are some general comments in English. The complete original Latin text is available at the Classics Library (you have to scroll down a bit until XXVIII) and an English (old-fashioned) translation by Richard M. Gummere in the stoics.com The letter begins:

Hoc tibi soli putas accidisse et admiraris quasi rem novam quod peregrinatione tam longa et tot locorum varietatibus non discussisti tristitiam gravitatemque mentis? Animum debes mutare, non caelum.

Translation:
Do you suppose that this has happened to you alone, and are you surprised, as if it were a novelty, that after such long travel and so many changes of scene you have not been able to shake off the gloom and heaviness of your mind? Your must change your soul, not the climate.

At first, I was afraid the letter contained criticism to me, but reading further just confirmed that Seneca is channelling my own thoughts, a feeling not unusual to me when reading his works:

Magis quis veneris quam quo interest, et ideo nulli loco addicere debemus animum. Cum hac persuasione vivendum est: ‘non sum uni angulo natus, patria mea totus hic mundus est’.

Translation:
More important is as who than where you go; for that reason we should not make the mind a bondsman to any one place. One has to live in this belief: ‘I am not born for any one corner; my fatherland is this whole world.’

Valete!

Labels: Blogging, English, Latin, Lingua latina, Literature, Seneca, Translating

Posted by Janne at 19:39 | Permalink | Comments

BBC NEWS | Europe | Finland makes Latin the King:

BBC News has turned its interst to Latin in Finalnd. Along from other phenomena such as Dr Ammonds Elvis in Latin recordings, the news article discusses the EU Precidency news service broadly. Here are some quotes.

The opening paragraph sets the tone:

Finland is one of the quieter members of the EU. But now its turn at the EU presidency has thrust it into the spotlight - and exposed an unusual passion.

After the precidency website editor has told the site is available in English and French:

But they have their secret language: Conspectus rerum Latinus, or "Latin News in Brief".

The British cannot help picking on the French, can they?

Lurking within the world of EU Latin, which is only marginally more difficult to comprehend than EU English, is one delightful statistic - more people subscribe to the newsletter in Latin than to the one in French.

The article then concludes:

Perhaps Finland wants to dominate the global news agenda in the same way Elvis once dominated the music scene.

Labels: English, Finland, Latin, Lingua latina, Nuntii latini

Posted by Janne at 19:12 | Permalink | Comments

The German language issue in the EU doesn't seem to be resolved; and Latin is brought into the battle again. German Member of European Parliament Ingeborg Gräßle has filed a written question (E-3647/06) to the Council regarding the Conspectus rerum Latinus. The text of the written question reads as follows:

The Finnish Presidency of the Council is publishing the latest news from the Presidency in Latin under the title 'Conspectus rerum Latinus'.

1. How many readers does this newsletter have?
2. What are the costs of translation?
3. Who is paying for the costs of translation?
4. How does the Finnish Presidency of the Council assess this measure in terms of a cost benefit analysis?

The Council's answer is expected in the September part-session.

Labels: English, Finland, Latin, Lingua latina, Nuntii latini

Posted by Janne at 22:18 | Permalink | Comments

As I warned yesterday, here comes the first part of the review of the commentaries that Finland's EU Precidency site's Latin language news report has received in international press and blogsphere. Let's see what the press reported in early July.

Guardian Special report: Finns turn jargon of Unio Europaea into poetry with weekly news bulletin - in Latin

The rather long report by Nicholas Watt on 4 July presents the news service as a dream-come-true for all hard-line classicists. Written in positive, humorous tone, the article gives examples that prove how much better the EU sounds in Latin and urges eurocrats to get their dictionaries ready. Due credit is given to the distinguished Finnish tradition of classical scholarship, and reference is also made to Nuntii Latinii weekly radio broadcast. Several people, including author Dr Reijo Pitkäranta and British a classics scholar Dr Bruce Gibson had been interviewed. The report suggests that this initiative can turn opinions more favourable towards the Union, as demonstrated through the example of British Conservative MP and ardent EU-critic Boris Johnson, also interviewed for the article, who was truly impressed and hopes everybody will read the Latin news report.

Reuters: Finland opts for Latin in EU communications

This is a short news item telling that New EU president Finland is having some fun and publishing news in Latin to remind Europeans of their roots stretching back to ancient times. The Reuters and Guardian reports spread to several publications all over the world, including Taipei Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Qatar-based Gulf Times, and Turkish Daily News.

Les Echos: Quand l'Europe renoue avec le latin

This is a fairly recent article by Karl de Meyer, published in the French business daily Les Echos on 11 August. The article 'When Europe revives Latin' presents Finland as a delight for all nostalgics of Gaffiot (French distinguished Latin scholar), Petronius fans, and opponents of the English linguistic hegemony. Flavoured with a number of Latin expressions, the news story makes reference to Nuntii Latinii, the previous conspectus in 1999 and the German language dispute. Subsequently, the continuing demands of Germans for they language are discussed in the more general setting of the EU working language policy and its complications.

Labels: English, Finland, Latin, Lingua latina, Nuntii latini

Posted by Janne at 19:56 | Permalink | Comments

As I was writing the opening post and trying to figure out what Timor-Leste would be in Latin, I got sidetracked in exploring the current state of blogging in dead languages in general. I noticed many have commented on the Latin language news report Conspectus rerum latinus on the Finnish EU Presidency site. I'm thinking of reviewing some of the comments on this subject in the press and other blogs, but first I think I should explain my interest a bit further.

The last time Finland held the EU presidency, i.e. 1999, a similar news report was also introduced and got quite a lot of attention in the international press. However, it was often erroneously associated with the dispute over the German language interpretations in the meetings (on this subject, see e.g. BBC News account 'Santer backs Finland in language war' on 2 July 1999). I then wrote a little press review to the Classics Students' quarterly magazine Rostra right after the Finnish Presidency had ended. I've just translated this old article into English, and you can find it in the previous post in this blog

To my surprise, the old language issue seems to still be alive. At least according to the AFP report 'Finnish EU presidency to snub German language' on 7 April this year. I haven't seen any connection made to the Latin news report this time, though, but many other interesting comments about the conspectus rerum has been made, and I'm going to review them here as I write it.

[Special thanks to Roz for proof-reading!]

Labels: English, Finland, Latin, Lingua latina, Nuntii latini

Posted by Janne at 21:39 | Permalink | Comments

[This post is a (slightly adapted) translation of my article 'Kun EU puhui latinaa', originally published in Finnish in Rostra issue 1/2000 (pp. 15-17 ; link points to a pdf file). I have added links to original articles that can still be found in internet. For explanation why the translation is here now, see the next post.]

When the EU Spoke Latin

Finland held the Presidency of the European Union during the latter half of 1999. On the Presidency Internet site a news report in Latin, 'Conspectus rerum latinus', edited by Dr Tuomo Pekkanen and Dr Reijo Pitkäranta, was published weekly. The news service drew quite some international attention, though many commentators mistakenly interpreted the use of Latin to be related to the dispute over the status of German language in the meetings. Reijo Pitkäranta tells that the production of the Latin news report was agreed long before the language dispute broke out. The initiative had came from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs: the father of the idea was Mr Yrjö Länsipuro, the Director General at the Department for Communication and Culture, who had requested Ms Liisa Ahtiluoto, the editor in chief of the Presidency site to contact Pitkäranta on Spring.

The press especially in Germany and Italy was eagerly reporting the issue. A German daily newspaper even published its editorial in Latin. The sympathies of the highly dramatised articles in Italian news papers were clearly on the Finnish side, though the stories did not always have too much to do with the reality. Moreover, the use of Latin in Finland was even made a domestic policy weapon in Italy.

Finns lost their minds irrevocably ­ assessments in German press

On 17 July 1999, Die Welt published its editorial 'Latinitas et ordinatrum portabile' entirely in Latin, though accompanied with a German translation. In the beginning of the article, the Latin news report is considered to some degree as an attack against Germany. In the end, the author Thomas Schmid notes, however, that the Finns have managed to demonstrate how a modern information society rests on dignified tradition.

In turn, Hamburger Morgenpost published on 17 July 1999 an article titled 'Die spinnen, die Finnen' (approximately: 'Crazy, the Finns '), according to which Finland stakes the new stage of the language dispute with the Latin language. To avoid diehard reputation, the Precidency is now offering news in classical Latin language on its internet site.

Berlin-based Der Tagesspiegel points out in an article published 20 July 1999 that this is the first time in th EU history that the Presidency regularly publishes news in Latin. The paper believes that Finland thereby responds to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's claim that it would not be doing enough for the linguistic plurality of the Union.

Finns chew Latin like chewing gum - Italy rapt

Rome-based La Repubblica tells on 9 July that the EU President Finland is sending 'messages in the language of antiquity as protest'. According to Repubblica, the internet service reveals to those understanding the language of Caesar and Virgil that Finland's six-month presidency has begun. The author Nello Ajello asks: why this, and other things too, must be told in Latin? He thinks the answer is obvious: for revenge, to strike back.

With reference to the Winter War, Ajello also notes that the Finns are by no means necessarily going to be smashed by the Germans renowned by they military tradition, in this 'new anti-imperialistic war'. The Finns are not launching their counter-attack from scratch, but 'armed to the teeth'. The author thinks that to us Finns, Latin is the second language, which we 'chew like gum' and not only study but also vigorously spread to the world.

It seems that not only the origins of the Latin language news service, but also the phonetics of the Finnish language remain obscure to the reporter; videlicet, he states along the lines 'We people of the third millennium, in our desire for comfort, easily tend to think that better Latin than Finnish - at least Latin has less consonants'.

Still in the same article, there is an anecdote from 1952 Helsinki Olympics, claiming that during the Games, Italian journalist Gianni Brera would have interviewed Paavo Nurmi in Latin, which would have been the only common language for the two.

In Italy, the position of Latin at schools has long been under dispute. The local school reformers have been complaining that the share of Latin in teaching is excessive. Milan-based Corriere della sera discussed the issue on 16 July 1999 under title 'Latino, per fortuna c'è la Finlandia' ('Latin, fortunately there is Finland'), smoothly transiting from the EU language dispute through the Finland's Presidency site's Latin news service to the Italian education policy. To conclude, reporter Luciano Canfora wonders if the Italians truly need to wait an external signal from Finland to appreciate the importance of Latin.

A week later, 21 July 1999, in Corriere Riccardo Chiaberge interviewed President Ahtisaari, the subduer of Milošević. 'Gutta cavat lapidem', Ahtisaari begun his reply. A moment later the President is thinking back the beginning of his secondary school Latin book: 'Italia est insula'. As the reporter is puzzled by the sudden change in the geography of his homeland, Ahtisaari perceives his error, it was of course 'Sikilia est insula' (orthography by Corriere). Then Latin is left a side for a while, though the reporter does know that Finland wants for annoyance of the Germans to make Latin the official language of the EU. Untill the end of the interview, where Chiaberge induces President and the Finnish people to declare: 'Cives finnici sumus. Semper ad maiora!'.

Labels: English, Finland, Latin, Lingua latina, Nuntii latini

Posted by Janne at 21:36 | Permalink | Comments

Welcome to my new blog, which is to continue and complement the flow of conciousness started in my Timor-Leste blogs earlier. Now that I am permanently in Finland, and as I intend to continue blogging, I thought it would be appropriate to write under a more wide-ranging title.

Is this blog in Latin?

Occasionally, yes, but I'm going use whatever language seems most appropriate for each post, depending on the subject, intended audience and my mood. Most posts are probably going to be in English.


Confused when this started?

The first post to this blog was made on July 31, 2006. However, I have since posted some stories about my past trips (in accordance with the blog title) backdated to where they actually occured. I may continue this practice as I get my photos organised.

Labels: Dili, East Timor, English, Finland, Helsinki, Latin, Lingua latina, Timor-Leste, Travel

Posted by Janne at 10:39 | Permalink | Comments

Ergo questio illa responsa est. Timoria orienatlis a Nuntiis Latinis Radiophoniae Finnicae Generalis appellatur, et his confido. Fragmentum subiunctum (conservatum hic) in conspectu rerum ante diem quartum Nonas Octobres anno p.Chr.n MMII emissum est.

De historiae Timoriae orientalis
Timoria orientalis, parva res publica in Asia inter meridiem et solis ortum spectante sita, membrum Nationum Unitarum centesimum nonagesimum primum cooptata est. Agitur de civitate omnium recentissima, quippe quae abhinc quattuor menses sui iuris facta sit, cum diu contra Indonesianos pro libertate pugnasset. Inter saeculum autem sextum decimum et annum millesimum nongentesimum septuagesimum quintum (1975) illa regio colonia Portugallorum fuit, donec Indonesiani eam occupaverunt.

Labels: East Timor, Latin, Lingua latina, Timor-Leste, Translating

Posted by Janne at 13:30 | Permalink | Comments

Hoc commentarium meum nomine Itinera mundi mentisque de omnibus rebus (et quibusdam aliis) in linguis quibuslibet narrat. Primum maximam partem itinera mundi referam cum ad fabulis illis scribendis vacam. Has dum expectas, fortasse tibi folium domesticum meum aut commentaria de commoratione mea in Timorine orientali libeat.

At vos lectores questiones de vocabulariis linguae latinae novae duas rogo, responsa cum in Tela Totius Terrae googleni non reppererim:

1. Blog: blogis -is aut blog -is aut blogus -i aut commentarum telanum aut telantarum (cf. web log -> blog) aut aliquod aliud?
   
2. Timor-Leste (vel East Timor): scilicet Timor orientalis, sed res publica hac novissima non est timenda! Interim hoc verbum utor sed declino: "Timor o.- Timorinis o.".
   

Labels: East Timor, Latin, Lingua latina, Timor-Leste

Posted by Janne at 23:54 | Permalink | Comments