The Center for Latin Studies at the Faculty of Letters at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik organizes a colloquium on “Latin of the Maronites” in November 2012 in the USEK Main Campus, and announces a call for papers for every researcher who would like to answer the problematical issues and the discussion topics suggested below.

Rationale
As we read the Latin texts of Lebanese people who attended the Maronite College of Rome, we discover writing features showing the twofold cultural belonging of the author: a Latin-speaking western culture and a Lebanese eastern culture, undoubtedly Christian, reflecting however eastern differences. On the linguistic level, it is not difficult to track “oriental fads”, such as Lebanese terms, borrowings, calques, etc.
It is also not difficult, in terms of content, to identify “gaps”, mostly historical or geographical confusions.
Fads and gaps lead therefore to a breakthrough in this Latin-speaking Maronite literature. In order to examine the adequacy of the historical contribution of this literature, as well as the authenticity of its documentary value and its official status, the following investigation fields are to be explored:
1. The cultural identity of the author which helps in accessing the education received by this latter, and the conditions which determine the choice of Latin as official language.
2. The preference for the genre of texts: hagiographical, historical, geographical, theological or others. We will discuss the real motives (personal scientific convictions, presence of a partner, etc.) which encourage a Maronite author to choose this or that field of knowledge.
3. The point of view, whether critical or not, which occidental people have regarding the Latin-speaking Maronite literary works.
4. Translations for the establishment of successful linguistic comparisons.

The colloquium will host, in addition to speeches on Onaissi, Sahiūni and Haklāni, any contribution that
could bring further enlightenment on the field under study.

Instructions for Papers
Contributors who would like to take part in the colloquium are kindly asked to send their abstracts, by June 29, 2012, to Mrs. Mireille Issa, Head of the Center for Latin Studies, on the following e-mail address: mireilleissa@usek.edu.lb
Time allotted for each paper is 30 minutes.
Articles should not exceed 45 000 characters or 7500 words.