Alenda Lux Ubi Orta Libertas. Davidson’s motto adorns Chambers, recruiting pamphlets, our website and emails. “Let Learning Be Cherished Where Liberty Has Arisen” is the official translation. Not bad. The grammar and syntax is rendered into English well, with case usage and verb forms honored. Translating Lux as learning is backed by both the Oxford Latin Dictionary and Lewis and Short examples in original texts, and also makes sense in context. The gerundive Alenda and perfect passive participle Orta are both respected. Adding “Let” to capture a sense of obligation when translating a gerundive is inoffensive.
What is offensive, however, is the choice of “Cherished” for Alenda. This translation likely results from English semantics. The Oxford English Dictionary does show that the word “cherished” appears in English texts as nearly synonymous with nourished as recently as 1868. When the motto was written in the 1830s, “cherished” would have been an accurate translation of Alenda. It is not anymore. “Cherished” is not an option for Alenda in the most recent edition of Lewis and Short and does not appear until definition 7d in the Oxford Latin Dictionary (it appears as “Cherished” twice in the 120+ texts surveyed in this lexicon). Furthermore, Latin already has a perfectly good word for “cherished”—”Foveo”—gerundive Fovenda. Alenda is accurately translated as feed, nourish, support or sustain. These words are maybe, tenuously, if truly stretched by a flexible mind, synonyms for “cherished.” I am not a flexible mind, not when it comes to translation. Thus, the question becomes which of these are more accurate options to pick. Here, the true challenge of translation arises. What does the Latin really mean in context? What is it trying to convey? To me, this is a question attempting to answer the purpose of a liberal arts college. With that question as our foundation, the answer becomes clear. “Nourish” is the best option.
A college, and Davidson in particular, nourishes learning. The College feeds us, houses us, provides healthcare and study spaces, safety and security. Freed from these everyday worries, we are able to focus on learning through our classes, peers, extracurriculars, travel grants, events, speakers and even parties. Davidson nourishes us, and in doing so nourishes learning. Davidson creates the conditions for learning, the acquisition and furthering of knowledge, to thrive. This is a textbook (the Oxford English Dictionary to be specific) definition of “nourish.” We certainly cherish (protect and care for) this learning, but that is a poor statement of purpose for a college. Cherishing is stagnant. When education was a matter of memorizing the “classics” and parroting the ideas of our ancestors, “cherished” was accurate. It does not capture the constant motion and action that now happens here at Davidson, as
our minds are opened to new perspectives and new worlds through courses ranging from Experimental Organic Chemistry to Literary Satans. To capture that, we need nourishment. The constant work to create a place where generation after generation can strengthen and grow, not just as students but as people. “Let Learning Be Nourished Where Liberty Has Arisen.” That is the purpose of a college. Not to mention it’s a better translation.
Kaspars Golos ‘27 is a chemistry and classical languages double major from Richmond, VA and can be reached for comment at [email protected].
