CONTEST DESCRIPTION
The Latin Oratory contest consists of the effective and expressive delivery of a Latin passage. Cascadia JCL uses the same passages as the NJCL convention. Passages are available for download from the NJCL website.
Participants in the Latin Oratory Contest must compete on the current level of Latin. No student may compete at the same level more than one year (except for those on the advanced level). Contestants are requested to have thoroughly memorized their passages before the convention. The head judge may prompt at his/her discretion. In this contest, costume and props are NOT to be used. An introduction in English should NOT be given. A false start (i.e. no longer than the first line) will be allowed without a point deduction.
Conventionally, the three modes of classical oratory were the Attic (stately and refined), the Asiatic (emotive and florid), and the Rhodian (a ‘mixed’ or blended style). A contestant may choose any style of delivery, with the merit of the choice to be justified by the effectiveness of the performance.
Latin Oratory is NOT a sequestered event. Anyone wishing to compete in it may do so at any point during the scheduled time.
NOTA BENE: RULES MODIFICATIONS FOR 2021 VIRTUAL CONVENTION
Standard rules apply with one exception: memorization is not required. Contestants should emphasize clear and accurate pronunciation, vocal inflection, gestures, and other aspects of performance.
To enter, record yourself on video performing your piece and email your video to dramaticinterp.oratory@gmail.com between January 31 and midnight of March 12. If you prepared a passage for the 2020 convention, you may still enter it, but you must submit it by January 30, 2021. Your video should be a single recording of a full performance of your passage; do not edit together multiple takes. You may make as many recordings as you like, but please send only your single best performance.
Please include the following information with your email.
Subject line: event name (Latin Oratory), year of passage (2020 or 2021).
Body: your full name, convention ID (if known), delegation, and Latin level.
LEVELS:
Awards are given by Latin level in the following divisions:
Latin ½
Latin 1
Latin 2
Latin 3, 4 and 5
SCORING:
Contestants are scored on the following criteria:
Category Points
Memorization (20)
Pronunciation (15)
Eye contact with audience (15)
Natural gestures and oratorical style (20)
Enunciation and voice control (15)
Phraseology and interpretation of passage (15)
Total (100)
Nos sequiminí!
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