Interest in Latin Rising in Schools

abcnews ^ | 11/10/02

[N. Theknow]

I took Latin

Graduated "skinnibus teethibus."

[Conagher]

Yes! My moronic school offered only Spanish and French. I took a year of French (a collosal waste; I eventually gave up*) and my brother took Spanish. He found it useful when he worked construction during the summers (talking to the cheap laborers), but other than that it seemed to be utterly useless.

Latin, I have found, is incredibly useful in the areas of law, medicine, science and religion. Unfortunately my school district was more interested in producing community college drop-outs and washed-up high school athletes than they were in producing doctors, lawyers, scientists or theologians. I always regretted never having the chance to take a classical language in school.

* Bitter irony intended.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I was a very mediocre Spanish student. I didn't want to drag down my GPA, so I switched to Latin, which I did well at. Now after taking Latin, I'm pretty sure I could well at Spanish. I plan on studying it when time permits. I think a good understanding of Latin provides a template for learning so many other languages.

[Conagher]

"I have a vevy gveat fviend in Vome called Biggus Dickus.

"He has a wife, you know. Do you know what she's called? She's called... Incontinentia. Incontinentia Buttocks."

Life of Brian, Scene XIII.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I think a good understanding of Latin provides a template for learning so many other languages.

I didn't mean to state a well known fact as if I had come up with it myself...

[Vladiator]

Sum
es
est
Summus
estus
sunt

[Welsh Rabbit]

Yeah, also taking Latin will make you appreciate the humor in that scene in the Life of Brian where Eric Idol is trying to write "Romans go home!" on the barracks wall.

[egarvue]

But its so true. I took Latin, and it helped me tremendously in my classes in college when I studied to be a teacher. Another bonus of Latin is that by studying it and the Romans, it helps ground the student in Western culter and Western values, rather than the usual PC pablum that is passed off as education.

[Conagher]

My classicist roommate and private-schooled roommate had to explain that whole scene to me.

Just an aside, did you know that whole troupe consists of a bunch of unemployed classics majors?

[TomSmedley]

I think a good understanding of Latin provides a template for learning so many other languages.

I've heard Romainian described as "a cross between Latin and Russian," and Farsi described as "a cross between Latin and Arabic." As a member of the last generation to learn the Latin mass, I've considered revisiting that language someday. Perhaps in the course of home schooling my youngest two kids? My older two and I studied NT Greek together once upon a time, attending Sunday classes taught by an erudite local pastor.

I'm working on Italian at the moment, and running into a lot of cognates.

One serious disadvantage to learning Latin is the classical literature. Rumor has it that Unitarianism got started when pastors with classical educations, and more brains than sense, began looking upon the God of the Bible with the same condesending contempt as the Latin writers had for their deities.

[martin_fierro]

Latin-English/English-Latin Online Dictionary (JAVA Req'd)

[N. Theknow]

"Centuwion, why do they titter so?"

"Some sort of Jewish joke sir."

"Vewy well, wewease Woderwick!"

[youngtechster]

yeah I know what you mean, my mother took latin when she went to high school and i developed an interest, but my school doesn't have it so the most interesting language to me after that was spanish. this is stupid. but imagine what a sophistical sounding society we would have if we were to use latin.

i wish i could take latin.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I'm working on Italian at the moment, and running into a lot of cognates

If get good at Italian, learning Latin should be easy. I've had friends who were good Latin students, but knew no Italian, and were able to make themselves understood when vactioning in Italy.

[Constitution Day]

Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

[Slyfox]

Handy Latin Phrases

[alancarp]

"Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur."

-- "Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound."

[weikel]

You didn't need to understand the Latin to get that lol.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Another bonus of Latin is that by studying it and the Romans, it helps ground the student in Western culture and Western values, rather than the usual PC pablum that is passed off as education.

That's probably why Latin courses are being discontinued in so many high schools and colleges.