Medieval greetings–for a good cause!

The 2019 Translatathon is now closed! Thanks to your support we have exceeded our fundraising goals!

The Translatathon raised over 500 eur for the Dutch Cancer Society! See more about the results here.

Thanks to your generosity and support, this event was a success and we are planning to try it again next year! Watch this space for updates about the 2020 translatathon, or email openmedieval@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list. Happy Holidays from the Translatathon Team!

Dedicated students in Leiden University’s English programme have been busy learning how to translate and write Old and Middle English– the kinds of English people used to write long before Shakespeare’s time!

Now, we want to use our medieval English skills to help support cancer research.

A sample greeting translated into Old English

How?

For a small minimum donation, we’ll translate your short message into a medieval variety of English.

We’ll follow historically-accurate rules of Old or Middle English grammar and syntax. See examples here.

All proceeds will be donated to support cancer research.

How does this translatathon work?

  1. You choose if you want your message translated into either
    • Middle English (minimum donation of 2.5 EUR)
    • Old English (minimum donation of 5 EUR )
  2. You select a holiday card if you like (add 3 EUR to the minimum donation, which includes the card and the mailing costs)
  3. You donate at the gofundme page, and e-mail us the message to be translated (280 characters or fewer) and how you want it delivered (no later than November 20th, 2019)
  4. Our dedicated student volunteers in Leiden’s BA and MA English programmes, working with the help of their tutors, will translate your message during our translatathon on November 22nd
  5. Your message is checked for accuracy and then mailed out
  6. You surprise your friend, partner, colleague, family–whoever–with a fun, historically accurate medieval greeting
  • Our students get practice translating Old and Middle English
  • Your friends and family get one-of-a-kind holiday greetings and
  • Together we make a small (but hopefully meaningful) difference for cancer research.

More details and request form