My studies of Latin and Greek are far behind me, I fear. Yet having once decoded a diploma for a co-worker I have become the go-to guy for classical languages. Today I was given three to translate. I’ve figured out most of the text, but a couple of phrases have me stumped. Any help the Teeming Millions can provide would be much appreciated.
As the first of the three is the wordiest, I will submit that one alone. In the interests of privacy, I omit the name of the recipient, the issuing institution, given dates, and fields of study.
Universitas XXXXXX
Hoc scripto nos
Universitas XXXXXX
Vice-Cancellarius et Rector
Facultatis Scientiae Decanus et Registrarius
Testatum Volumus name
Iam anno year Examine Habito
Ad gradum Baccalaurei field of study Admissam
Nunc Amplioribus In field of specialty
Cum Honoribus Secundi Ordinis
Ob Eandum Disciplinam Consecutam Esse
“By this writing we, University X, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Deacon (?) of the Faculty of Science and Registrar, wish to bear witness [that] [NAME], an examination having been held in year [year], is admitted to the degree of Baccalaureate in [field of study].”
The rest of it has me a little confused. “And furthermore has achieved on account of this study honors of the second order in [field of specialty]”?
I think that is correct, save I would have translated “Deconus” as “Dean.”
What country is this from? “Vice-Chancellor” would suggest to me that it’s from the UK. If so, “Secundi Ordinis” would mean a “second-class degree.” In the UK the grading system is First Class, Second Class (further split into II(i) and II(ii) in some universities), Third Class, Fourth Class, and dreaded “Pass grade”. “Second class” is roughly equivalent to a grade between A- and B- at US universities.
UK degrees have your grades(well, equivelent) on them? I never knew that, or even considered it. Thank god for good ol’ AMerica where all my degrees say is that I earned the degree.
That’s far, far better than what I’ve been able to put together. In many places I have the words translated, but haven’t been able to string them together properly to make any kind of sense (the nature of the Latin beast).
Precisely.
I believe you’re correct on deconus being “dean” rather than “deacon.”
The country in question is not the U.K., though it is a former U.K. possession in Africa. So your thoughts on the “Second-class degree” portion are, I believe, exactly correct.
In Australia, honours degrees (where you have an extra years of study) come in classes. (My father got first class honours with a university medal, and one of my sons got the same about 70 years later – that makes my second class honours degree look pretty weak).