MAGISTER IN PHILOSOPHIA IN STUDIIS DE RATIONIBUS UISQUE RERUM GERENDARUM

[voltape]

I have a diploma in Latin from the University of New Brunswick. The degree is
"MAGISTER IN PHILOSOPHIA IN STUDIIS DE RATIONIBUS UISQUE RERUM GERENDARUM" - I understand it is Master of Philosophy in ... I can't go any longer - seems it is Management and maybe accounting. I've used the Google translator (which for Latin it is not much reliable) and I got:
"TEACHER IN PHILOSOPHY IN THE STUDY ON REASONING AND CONTROL" Any help, please.
Thanks.
Note: it is written in stylized letters so I can't say whether it is UISQUE or VISQUE

 

[Scholiast]

Saluete omnes!

'Master of Philosophy in Management and Accountancy'.

Σ

 

[voltape]

Gratias ago tibi, Scholiaste! Once again you saved me! Greetings from Lima, Peru!

 

[voltape]

Just a question; that "UISQUE" . what is it? it would seem it is VIS + QUE, meaning "and vis" . But "vis" is force. What is "force" doing there? Thank you again.

 

[Sobakus]

I personally can't fathom what it's doing there, and discovering the meaning of the whole thing requires more divination powers than what I possess, though Scholiast's suggestion looks as probable as any. Literally it says "Master in philosophy in the study about ways/reasons, and of the power of conducting things" - except vīs has no genitive case in use, so this is a generous interpretation (as it's written, "the power" is the subject and is coordinated with "master").

 

[Scholiast]

saluete de nouo!

Yes, sorry that in my previous answer (# 2) I neglected this (UISQUE) puzzlesome bit. I suspect an error of transcription or perhaps printing. Could it conceivably have been URBISQUE, hence meaning "Accountancy and Civic Management"?

Maybe voltape could supply a photo of the document? If so we might between us be able to shed more light on the matter.

Σ

 

[voltape]

Dear Scholiast: this is a copy of the Degree. The client says it is Master of Philosophy in Policy Studies. The Latin seems too long for such a short translation. Please, it's urgent.
Thank you very much again.

 

[Sobakus]

Oh, I have an idea: it's rationibus viisque "methods and ways". rerum doesn't specify that it's public policy (rerum publicarum) as opposed to business or private affairs, but I would believe a client who said that the former is meant. Written out in full it would have been even longer.

 

[bearded]

rationibus viisque

Quite plausible, but: are there other examples of the contraction of viis to vis?

 

[voltape]

thank you, but it says VISQUE, not VIISQUE - could it be a typo in the Diploma? Would you advice me to accept it as "Policy Studies"? Thank you again.

 

[Sobakus]

Are there other examples of the reduction of viis to vis?

Well, dīs = diīs (later = deīs) "to the gods" is the most common one from Plautus onwards; with other nouns the double ii spelling (and syllabification) was predominant classically, and one i is not commonly attested, but it happens, as well as the reverse - two ii for a single long /ī/. This phenomenon is rather antique (in the living language) than medieval or later.

thank you, but it says VISQUE, not VIISQUE - could it be a typo in the Diploma? Would you advice me to accept it as "Policy Studies"? Thank you again.

The only way it can be understood is as UIISQUE "and ways" - whether it's a typo or intended only the typist knows, but I'd say a typo. rationibus viisque (ratio viaque) is an established expression. "Policy Studies" seems the most likely intended meaning.

 

[Scholiast]

Sobakus (# 8): brilliant suggestion. And despite the amiable bearded's misgivings (# 9), I am (though no expert in mediaeval Latin or its orthography, especially not in Gothic script), sure this looks to me convincing—although I cannot supply chapter and verse, I am sure I have seen this dat./abl. plural contraction elsewhere. Edit: cross-posted.

Σ

 

[voltape]

Hallelujah! The client sent me his certificate in English and it is Policy Studies, so your deduction was correct. Thanks to you all! Diplomas in Latin of modern careers are bewildering.