Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Feb 13, 2007 15:25
17 yrs ago
6 viewers *
Latin term
alma
Latin to English
Social Sciences
Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs
University
Whenever I have a diploma to translate, I have a doubt as to the best way to render the term "alma" when referring to a university.
For example, I am doing one now which says "Noveritis omnes *Almam* Universitatem Glasguensem alumnum suum creasse..."
Would a standard English diploma really say "that the nourishing Glasgow University..."?
How about "that his alma mater, Glasgow University, ..."?
Would someone with more experience in the field be kind enough to provide some input? A reference to an original English-language diploma using the term would be helpful. Thank you.
For example, I am doing one now which says "Noveritis omnes *Almam* Universitatem Glasguensem alumnum suum creasse..."
Would a standard English diploma really say "that the nourishing Glasgow University..."?
How about "that his alma mater, Glasgow University, ..."?
Would someone with more experience in the field be kind enough to provide some input? A reference to an original English-language diploma using the term would be helpful. Thank you.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | alma mater |
liz askew
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| 4 +1 | foster mother |
Joseph Brazauskas
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Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
alma mater
I wouldn't use "foster mother" at all. This will just get a lot of tittering.
See:
The University of Glasgow :: Newsletter :: Issue 255 - PeopleTwo years later he was offered the principalship at Glasgow and came back to what he later came to consider his Alma Mater. Facing him was the need to ...
www.gla.ac.uk:443/newsletter/details.cfm?id=2367&issue=255&... - 11k - Cached - Similar pages
University of Glasgow :: Press Release :: Adam Smith Research ...Adam Smith (1723 - 1790) entered Glasgow University at the age of fourteen. ... that he found Oxford a far inferior pedagogic institution to his alma mater. ...
www.gla.ac.uk:443/pressreleases/stories.cfm?PRID=3991 - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.gla.ac.uk ]
Welcome to the Hunterian Museum and Art GalleryA history of the University of Glasgow ... The University seen from Kelvingrove Park in 1873 (The Graphic) ... ‘May our Alma Mater rise again in glory’ ...
www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/history/university/new_building.sht... - 27k - Cached - Similar pages
See:
The University of Glasgow :: Newsletter :: Issue 255 - PeopleTwo years later he was offered the principalship at Glasgow and came back to what he later came to consider his Alma Mater. Facing him was the need to ...
www.gla.ac.uk:443/newsletter/details.cfm?id=2367&issue=255&... - 11k - Cached - Similar pages
University of Glasgow :: Press Release :: Adam Smith Research ...Adam Smith (1723 - 1790) entered Glasgow University at the age of fourteen. ... that he found Oxford a far inferior pedagogic institution to his alma mater. ...
www.gla.ac.uk:443/pressreleases/stories.cfm?PRID=3991 - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.gla.ac.uk ]
Welcome to the Hunterian Museum and Art GalleryA history of the University of Glasgow ... The University seen from Kelvingrove Park in 1873 (The Graphic) ... ‘May our Alma Mater rise again in glory’ ...
www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/history/university/new_building.sht... - 27k - Cached - Similar pages
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
yeswhere
: totally agree - don't translate unless you want to draw some laughs from the readers. 'Alma mater' can be found in UK and US English dictionaries.
29 mins
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Thanks for your support! I'd hate an English-speaking audience to be in tittering when some poor soul goes up to receive his/her Degree/Diploma.
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| agree |
Olga Cartlidge
: As far as I am aware, "Alma mater" is used without translation in English, Russian, Gerrman and Italian.
2 hrs
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Many thanks for your support.
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| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: Of course, this is the only way to do it.
32 days
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Thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
25 mins
Joseph Brazauskas
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
When You Want It Done Right
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
, Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: Latin to English, English to Latin, Greek (Ancient) to English, and 23 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
62
foster mother
This is how I often render it. But though diplomas are monotonously similar in phraseology from institution to institution, other renderings will be called for depending upon the immediate context. I have seen diplomas where 'nourishing' was a viable translation; elsewhere 'patroness' seemed better.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
27 mins
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Maximas tibi gratias ago.
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| agree |
Matthias Quaschning-Kirsch
48 mins
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Magnae tiibi a me gratiae sunt habendae, Matthia.
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| neutral |
yeswhere
: Your translations are perfectly valid, but when referring to our old school or college, we use alma mater, an accepted and understood latin term in the English language. PS. Fascinated by 'native' latin speaker . Was it your first language?
22 hrs
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| disagree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: never!
32 days
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Discussion