[MR] Soundings of the Conch: VIVAT

[jbrmm266 at aol.com]

Soundings of the Conch

 

VIVAT!

 

 

Anyone who has been to any sort of court in Atlantia has almost surely heard the traditional cheer: VIVAT (or VIVANT) thrice repeated.

 

But what does it mean, and how does one use it properly?

 

It’s the third person singular or plural of the Latin verb VIVARE, “to live.”

 

Used as a cheer, VIVAT (the singular) is generally understood to mean “May s/he live long.”

 

And VIVANT (the plural) is generally understood to mean “May they live long.”

 

So if it’s an individual you’re cheering for, you should shout VIVAT; and if it’s more than one, or a group such as an order or a branch, it should be VIVANT.

 

There is no S on the end of either of them.  I never really noticed until a recent online discussion brought my attention to the fact that often one seems to hear an S sound.  It may just be the way people pronounce final Ts.  English people seem particularly inclined to make it sound like there is an S after every final T. 

 

And one calling for cheers ought not to call for “Vivats,” but simply for cheers.  The use of “VIVAT” is a custom, not a law . . . and it could change.

 

Why the Latin?

 

It’s a reflection of the fact that almost all Mediaeval Europeans would have had some exposure to Latin, because it was used in church liturgies.  And educated people would have been taught Latin as part of their education.  It was an almost universal part of most curricula in Europe, Britain, and the Americas until fairly recently; and is still taught.  Not bad for a so-called “dead” language.  Many could hold conversations in Latin.  I don’t know if William Wallace actually spoke Latin, but the scene in Braveheart where the knight tried to fool him by speaking to the Princess in Latin is the sort of thing that might have happened. 

 

And as we Scadians are all supposed to be of noble blood, we would all be expected to know a little Latin at least.  Even if it is so little that it only one or two words.

 

Atlantia uses VIVAT/ANT as a cheer because the East Kingdom did at the time Atlantia became a Principality.  Many Atlantian laws and customs come from our “mother kingdom.”  It was chosen by the East because it is a period form of cheer.  Earlier on, they used “Hip, Hip, Hurrah,” but there was a persistent belief that it was in some way disrespectful, and so was abandoned in favour of the current form.

 

VIVAT ATLANTIA!

 

Donal Mach Ruiseart, 

Conch Herald.

 

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