Latin Lives: Finland, the Weather and Wikipedia
You have probably heard or even recited that ditty:
Latin's a dead language,
As dead as dead can be.
First it killed the Romans,
And now it's killing me.
If you did recite it you probably also delighted in your Latin teacher's reluctant laugh and attempt to convince you that Latin is not dead.
Were you convinced?
It seems that Latin, while unlikely to ever be the common language of the world again, is not really dead.
Most people cite the use of it as an official language by the Vatican. But there are plenty who discount that use.
Now however, if you do a search or rather a trawl through the internet you will find that in fact, Latin is thriving.
The biggest boost it has received in the secular realm is the decision by Finland to promulgate its EU Presidency newsletters in Latin. One example is here: Conspectus Rerum Latinus 6/2006. From there you can go back to the main page and find more newsletters.
As if that were not enough, you can also now check the weather in Latin. The entire site is not in Latin but key words having to do with the weather are. Check out the Weather Underground in Latin.
If none of this has convinced you then you may not ever be convinced. But what is a curious thing is how many people remember their lost Latin. And though some of them may have harsh memories of some overly firm nun or too strict a priest form their Latin learning days, almost everyone seems to relish having learned Latin and trying to put it into every day use.
Besides the usual recitation of fields that use Latin (any science field, medicine, law, etc.), fields such as automotives have Latin everywhere (e.g., ignition, transmission, the very word automobile).
Perhaps more indicative of the current living status of Latin, the fast growing Wikipedia is now appearing in Latin. Yes, it is: Vicipaedia.
My point: Latin is a language worth learning. It is worth learning because it is so pervasive. It is not the only language to learn in the world. It is not the oldest or most widespread but it has a formidable history and despite its seeming disappearance has continued to thrive.
Why not learn some? Ask me how.
Tom
Sign up for my newsletter.
Latin's a dead language,
As dead as dead can be.
First it killed the Romans,
And now it's killing me.
If you did recite it you probably also delighted in your Latin teacher's reluctant laugh and attempt to convince you that Latin is not dead.
Were you convinced?
It seems that Latin, while unlikely to ever be the common language of the world again, is not really dead.
Most people cite the use of it as an official language by the Vatican. But there are plenty who discount that use.
Now however, if you do a search or rather a trawl through the internet you will find that in fact, Latin is thriving.
The biggest boost it has received in the secular realm is the decision by Finland to promulgate its EU Presidency newsletters in Latin. One example is here: Conspectus Rerum Latinus 6/2006. From there you can go back to the main page and find more newsletters.
As if that were not enough, you can also now check the weather in Latin. The entire site is not in Latin but key words having to do with the weather are. Check out the Weather Underground in Latin.
If none of this has convinced you then you may not ever be convinced. But what is a curious thing is how many people remember their lost Latin. And though some of them may have harsh memories of some overly firm nun or too strict a priest form their Latin learning days, almost everyone seems to relish having learned Latin and trying to put it into every day use.
Besides the usual recitation of fields that use Latin (any science field, medicine, law, etc.), fields such as automotives have Latin everywhere (e.g., ignition, transmission, the very word automobile).
Perhaps more indicative of the current living status of Latin, the fast growing Wikipedia is now appearing in Latin. Yes, it is: Vicipaedia.
My point: Latin is a language worth learning. It is worth learning because it is so pervasive. It is not the only language to learn in the world. It is not the oldest or most widespread but it has a formidable history and despite its seeming disappearance has continued to thrive.
Why not learn some? Ask me how.
Tom
Sign up for my newsletter.
Labels: Culture
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