MEAMS Undergraduate Translation Contest
The Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (MEAMS) is pleased to announce the 2024-25 translation contest for students studying Arabic, Ancient Greek, Latin, Persian, and Turkish.
Undergraduate students in all departments and programs across Binghamton University are invited to submit literary English translations of texts from Arabic (Classical or Modern Standard), Ancient Greek, Latin (Classical or Medieval), Persian, or Turkish (Ottoman or Modern). Student contestants must choose their text in consultation with a member of the MEAMS faculty (see faculty contacts listed by language below). This contest aims to highlight the work of students who are interested in the process of translation from one language to another as a process that is both creative and intellectually meaningful.
Contest rules
All submitted translations must be the original work product of the student contestants. Students entering the contest should declare which language they propose to translate and make a single submission in that category. Submitted translations will be evaluated by MEAMS faculty members who will not only look for accuracy and idiom but also style. Previous recipients of the award are ineligible to reenter the contest.
Prizes
Awards of $250 each for Arabic, Ancient Greek, Latin, Persian, and Turkish. Contest winners will be announced during the MEAMS end-of-year celebration in May 2025.
Texts
Applicants must choose their text in consultation with the appropriate MEAMS faculty member below.
- Arabic - Prof. Mary Youssef (myoussef@binghamton.edu) (Modern Arabic) or Prof. Omid Ghaemmaghami (omid@binghamton.edu) (Classical Arabic)
- Ancient Greek - Prof. Andrew Scholtz (ascholtz@binghamton.edu)
- Latin - Prof. Tina Chronopolous (tchronop@binghamton.edu)
- Persian - Prof. Omid Ghaemmaghami (omid@binghamton.edu)
- Turkish - Dr. Gregory Key (gkey@binghamton.edu) (Ottoman or Modern Turkish)
Deadlines
- Contestants must choose their text in consultation with a member of the MEAMS faculty by December 1, 2024.
- Translations must be submitted by April 15, 2025.
How to submit your translation
Submit your translation electronically, preferably as a shared Google document, to Prof. Omid Ghaemmaghami (omid@binghamton.edu) by the deadline (April 15, 2025).
