Today very few learners opt to take Latin as a matric subject and it is even seen as an elitist subject that is needed only by academics. In this article, we’ll look at whether that is true or if there are still benefits of learning Latin for the average student. We’ll also look at the best way to learn Latin, even if it is no longer offered as a subject at your school.
The History of Latin and English
Did you know that a whopping 29% of English vocabulary is derived from Latin and a further 29% is made up of French?
In learning Latin grammar, you’ll soon find out that while Latin and French make up two-thirds of English, Old English, Old Norse and Dutch were also incorporated.
The main reason is simply that after the fall of the Roman Empire, Angles, Saxons Norses, Danes and French sought refuge in the United Kingdom.
After the Roman Empire left England, Latin was replaced by Old English. Then, after William the Conqueror, the French Duke of Normandy invaded England in 1066, Norman (a romance language and an old version of French) became the official court language. This was the case for nearly 300 years.
Did you know that your Latin grammar could help you master French?
Strangely English has more in common with Germanic languages than with Latin grammar. Apart from the old architecture and infrastructure left behind by the Romans are thousands and thousands of adjectives, nouns, verbs and phrases that make up everyday English.
One of the first major splits between English and Latin occurred in 1532 when King Henry VIII broke with both the Catholic Church and Rome. Later, during the accession of Elizabeth I to the throne, the first book of Common Prayer was written in English and recognised by Parliament.
Mass was read in English which made speaking Latin even more remote for ordinary people. The fact that mass was said and read in English was a blow to the importance of learning Latin, which became even more remote from the ordinary people.
Even so, Latin grammar remained part of school curriculums and the benefits of learning Latin for those who intended to study law, science or religion were undisputed.
The importance of learning Latin remained as something needed only by academics.
Find out how speaking Latin improves your English.
In 2012, classics lecturer, John Davie, from Trinity College Oxford wrote:
“Classics as an academic subject has lost much of its intellectual force in recent years,” he said, “We have, in GCSE, an exam that insults the intelligence of all but a few of the pupils who make up the independent sector. Recent changes to this exam have by general consent among teachers made the papers even easier. In the AS exam, students are asked questions so straightforward as to verge on the banal.
In the majority of British universities, classics in its traditional form has either disappeared altogether or has been replaced by a course which presents the literature, history and philosophy mainly, or entirely, in translation, i.e. less a degree course in classics than in classical civilisation.”
Around the world, educators called for Latin grammar to remain as an academic subject. In 2016, the renowned University of Cambridge scholar, Mary Beard expounded on the importance of learning Latin.
“There's no magic bullet" and that the education community needed to be “careful about putting all eggs in one basket”."There are all kinds of subjects that raise children’s aspirations. That said, Latin, Greek and classical civilisation can be an eye-opener. They offer all kinds of new ways of understanding the modern world as well as the ancient, and they are a wonderful way of exploring foundational literature and ideas, without having to ask the way to the train station in them.”
While the future of speaking Latin in primary and high schools would still go through a few fiery debates, many independent tutors like those found on Superprof still teach the language privately, which of course is the best way to learn Latin.
While the importance of learning Latin is still lost on many, for those who want to better understand the keys to ancient civilisations, speaking Latin is extremely helpful.
Speaking Latin and the Social Divide
Many people think that speaking Latin is reserved for the elite which is an idea that dates back to the Renaissance period when the importance of learning Latin was a necessity for most lettered people. In those days if you were from the bourgeoisie, nobility and upper classes, both Greek and Latin grammar were tools that were used for asserting one’s prestige above the rest of society.
Back then, one of the benefits of learning Latin was to climb the social ladder this was further reinforced by the fact that it was the official language of the Catholic Church.
During the middle of the 20th century, mathematics and sciences became a very prestigious field of study even though the benefits of learning Latin were still highly regarded.
Speaking Latin was a requirement for clerics, philosophers and scientists for several hundred years and it was therefore not surprising that it was mostly studied by wealthier families who had access to education.
Are you wondering about the best way to learn Latin today?
These days, because it has been removed from most state school curriculums, the best way to learn Latin is privately.
You could find a tutor on Superprof and opt for face-to-face or online lessons with a tutor from just about anywhere in the world. In fact, opting to learn online from the comfort and convenience of your own home could be the best way to learn Latin today.
Alternatively, you could check out some of these recommended platforms that are committed to keeping the heritage of Latin alive. Taking a look at this free material could be a worthwhile exercise to ascertain whether or not you want to invest in private Latin lessons.
- The Schola Latína Európæa & Úniversális: an online Latin courses website that connects people who share a similar passion for learning the language of Cicero and Plato. This is an excellent website if you are still in the process of learning Latin’s declension cases.
- Nuntii Latini: if you want to keep up to date with international news in Latin then this Finland-based news site broadcast is perfect. An added bonus is that the broadcasts come with corresponding texts.
- Latinitium: if you are looking for video and audio files then this website is perfect. Using the podcasts and other resources, will help you to learn the correct Latin pronunciation.
Learning Latin today is still beneficial despite that it is an ancient language. Sit scriptor scire! (Let us learn!)
The Lesser Known Benefits of Learning Latin
Whether you are learning the use of Latin declensions, memorising grammar or reading the ancient texts of Julius Caesar, Cicero and Ovid, you can expect the flexibility of your brain to improve.
Any language learning, but especially one like Latin, with its numerous declensions and cases will force your brain to do more work than it usually would. Before you give up, remember that the brains of multilingual and bilingual people are far more flexible than a monolingual individual.
Find Latin courses for every ability and budget on Superprof.
When your brain has to translate everything that you hear, read or write from one language to another, there is no doubt that its adaptability, logic and memory will increase. As the mother tongue of Romance languages and as a member of the Indo-European languages, once you understand Latin, it will be far easier to learn Spanish, French or Italian.
Not only do these dialects share 75 – 90% of their vocabulary with Latin, but they also share much of the same syntax, conjugation, grammar and alphabet. All of this makes it a key reason for linguists to learn Latin.
Unfortunately, Latin has a reputation for being extremely difficult and obsolete, but both of these are myths. Why not give it a try and decide for yourself if you would like to add it to your language education or not.
Don’t miss our article about the top 10 reasons to learn Latin today.
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