1) Translate the following liturgical phrases into your Hearth Culture language:

This was done as part of the IE Language course for GSP/CTP 1.  You can find the work here: http://ghosti.net/courses/ie-language-1.html

2) What do you consider to be the importance of using phrases in a hearth culture language other than Modern English (or your own native language) in ADF ritual? (Minimum 200 words)

There are two different sides to the argument for and against the use of a foreign language in ritual.

The arguments for using the hearth culture language are varied.  Some people will make the argument that by using the native tongue of the deities that you are worshiping will make them hear you more clearly, and possibly be more attentive to you.  This can be related to visiting a foreign country and at least making the attempt to speak in their language.  Many people in that country would appreciate the attempt and think better of you for doing it.

Another argument for the use of the hearth culture language is that it adds a bit of exotic, possibly authentic, feeling to the rite.  If done well, it can make a participant feel as if this rite is a valid ritual because it does use the language and makes an attempt at connecting to the past.  It is this kind of authenticity that is often what one is looking for when they add in the liturgical phrases.

There are arguments against using the hearth culture language.  If they are used and spoken poorly, it is a major detraction from the rite.  While the intent may be to make it feel more ancient and authentic, stumbling your way through the phrases does not do that.  As a result, plenty of practice with the phrases should be done before hand.

Another argument against is specifically when doing a call and response and expecting the participants to respond.  If the participants don't know how to say the phrase, and more importantly don't understand what the phrase means, it can become a major detriment to the rite.  This can easily be overcome by a good pre-ritual briefing going over these phrases, a handout with the pronunciation, spelling, and meaning of the phrases, saying the phrase in both the hearth culture's language and the local language with having the local language repeated, or any combination.

Overall, I personally find the use of the foreign language to be more of a distraction and a detriment to the rituals, especially when more than a couple short phrases are used.  I have been to rituals where long phrases have been spoken, and I have felt lost.  When they are used, I feel that they should be explained up front and the phrase spoken in both the hearth culture's language and the local language with the local language being repeated.