OJCL Torch Spring 2017 | Page 19

A Guide to the JCL Language

Joseph Delamerced, Summit Country Day

This year, the NJCL Convention is being held at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. It’s a week-long time full of competitive Certamen, a multitude of contests, and incredibly loud cheers. Additionally, it’s a great way to meet people and forge new friendships. If you attend, you’ll notice that there’s a unique sort of language.

No, we’re not speaking Latin or Greek, but we have our own phrases that we use. Let me explain, in no particular order, some common words a JCLer might use in conversation.

Meet the Candidates: Unlike the event with the same name at the OJCL State Convention, the Nationals version invites delegates to ask candidates running for NJCL office any question that they like. Yes, they’re tired of hearing “What’s your favorite starter Pokémon?”, so try to be creative.

GA: Short for General Assembly, or the “I’m not sleeping; my eyes are just closed” event.

Ludi and Olympika: Where champions and heroes are made. Highly recommend watching Ohio take home the gold in Ludi Soccer again. #Threepeat

Relevance: A term so overused that people apply it to just about anyone.

Certamen: An event in which you constantly ask yourself, “How am I enjoying watching this? I don’t know 90% of the answers,” and yet still enjoy watching it.

ABACADABA: A guaranteed* 5th place finish on Level ½ Latin Literature.

*Not actually guaranteed

Dances: Held every night. Perhaps the only dances where the correct amount of Don’t Stop Believin’ is played (that means it’s played only one time at the last dance). You’ll only need formal clothes for the Farewell Dance on the last day.

Omnis ars naturae imitatio est: This year’s Convention theme, which translates to “All art is but an imitation of nature.” You will hear this at the beginning and end of every GA because almost every speaker will use that theme in their speech. Originality flourishes.

Agora: The bazaar of Nationals. Even if states will be selling t-shirts that have the name “Florida” or “Texas” on it, someone from Ohio will still buy that shirt.

That’s Entertainment: An amazing event full of incredible talent. But it’s still biased against magicians, so do what you want with that information.

World Series of Certamen: Features college students, teachers, and certamen coaches battling it out. Argued to be “the best Certamen matches” you’ll see in your lifetime. The Bad Larrys will be led by Larry Dean from the great state of Ohio Denial.

Spirit: The only thing you have difficulty explaining to your parents when talking about a Latin Convention.

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