Does Latin Language Affect us Today in the United States - Literature review Example

Does Latin Language Affect Us Today in the United s? M.D. Hasan High School Latin language affects us today, in the United s. The influence of the Latin language in the United States encompasses linguistics, but is certainly not limited to it. More than two thirds of the words in the English language stem from Latin origins. The influence of Latin is applicable to other languages too, including Spanish, which is the second most common language spoken in the United States, today. Indirectly, the Latin language also affects the discipline with which we attack a task, our logical reasoning, and our understanding of different cultures and languages. Latin language not only affects the study of Classical literature, but it also has an impact modern literature and even some Hollywood movies, cannot escape its influence. Possibly due to these reasons, amongst numerous others; there is a resurgence of interest in the Latin language, now; which in turn, makes it have an even greater impact in our lives, today. Latin, which originated in 1000 BC in Latium, is generally considered, to be a dead language. The reason for this is manifold. For instance, Latin is not used as a spoken language by a large majority of people, today. Neither, is it the native tongue of anyone, anymore; and although even now, there are a few responses to the Litany in the Roman Catholic church and a few updates carried out to the Latin language by the Roman Catholic clergy, most people do not consider it to be developing to the extent of other modern languages. Though there is some truth in such sentiments; I believe, that the Latin language continues to wield a considerable impact on the culture, attitude and language of the American people. Latin language affects us, today, in more ways than we realize. First, let us examine the influence of Latin on the English language, which is predominantly used by a majority of people in the United States.( In fact, over 82% of the population of the United States, claim English to be their mother tongue, with over 95% of US residents stating that they are very comfortable with its use.) Staggering as it may sound, it is said that nearly two thirds of the words in the English language which is in use today, has Latin origins. For example, first, let us look at the influence on Latin in the field of biology. The words avian, arachnid, feline, canine and bovine, amongst numerous other terms, all have Latin origins. Then, when it comes to anatomical sciences, the words dental, oral, mental and renal can all trace their origins back to the Latin language. Students of sociology, who frequently use the words maternal, paternal and/or fraternal, should know that such words too, have Latin roots. Those who are in the legal profession, also use Latin phrases such as subpoena, habeas corpus, de facto, inter alia, with aplomb. Sometimes, we find ourselves turning to Latin to describe everyday events without even realizing it. Terms such as “et cetera” and “LEGO” bear ample testimony to this point. The second most common language in the United States, today, is said to be Spanish and it is spoken by approximately 12% of the population. Here, too, Latin has wielded a heavy influence. So much so, that Rodriguez (2011) affirmed that: The Spanish language, as we know it today, is derived from a non-standard form of Latin — known as Vulgar Latin — that was once spoken in the north-central area of the Iberian Peninsula. Such is the influence of Vulgar Latin on the Spanish language that it accounts for about seventy-five percent of the Spanish lexicon (para 1). Proponents of the study of the Latin language state that due to its exact nature, it helps scholars develop the necessary discipline in the study of other subjects. This is re-iterated by Hughes (2010) who stated that “In the United States, surveys have revealed that children from disadvantaged backgrounds do better not just in languages but also maths and English once they have studied a year of Latin” (para 2). Similarly, it is thought that the study of Latin helps scholars in the learning of other languages, too. Paton (2010) has quoted Nick Gibb who has said that “Latin gives us not just the skills to learn not just Romance languages like Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and French, but the aptitude and confidence to learn new tongues beyond Western Europe” (para 5). Paton has also stated that “Learning an ancient language equips you to learn a modern language and vice versa. And learning any language, new or old, helps give young people the academic hunger, thirst and confidence to keep on exploring the world around them” (para 7). This, I feel, is relevant to us especially today, in the United States, as the ability to master a foreign tongue sets us at a distinct advantage in the global market place; and Latin seems to have the capacity to give us a much needed initial boost in this direction, without much ado. Few can deny that Latin is indeed, a highly inflected language, as it has an array of grammatical forms for numerous words. Latin is also thought to be a logical language, because its tight syntax holds even the longest and most complex sentence together as a logical unit. Thereby, one can see that the study of Latin, creates the groundwork for rational thought and logical reasoning, which is as relevant to us, today, in the United States, as it was to Romans, centuries ago. This point is amply reiterated by Mcgraw (2012) who stated “There are some very good reasons to study Latin. Educators say that, far more than other languages, it develops critical thinkers because of its complexity” (para 22) Latin is also relevant to all those who wish gain an in-depth understanding of classical literature, and many such students are there in the United States, today. The speeches of Cicero, Virgil’s epics, the works of Ovid, Tibullus, Propertius and Livy amongst innumerable others, are all in Latin. Although translations of these are widely available, reading such works in its original language, which in this case, is Latin, transports the reader to another realm and another time. For instance, Virgil’s Aeneid carries the oft quoted phrase "Timeo Danaos et dona ferentis" which can be glibly translated as "I fear the Greeks, even bearing gifts"; but I feel, it has greater efficacy in its original form, which in this case is Latin. Similarly, the majesty, pomposity and triumph of Julius Ceasar’s “Veni, vidi, vici” cannot be captured to quite the same effect in English, even though “I came, I saw, I conquered” does it some justice. This is indeed re-iterated in the article by Hu (2008) who in turn quoted Dr Blistein who said “Goethe is better in German, Flaubert is better in French and Virgil is better in Latin” (para 10). This is possibly why organizations, universities and institutions all over the United States have Latin mottos, even today. For instance, Harvard’s motto simply states “Veritas” (truth), Yale’s motto is “Lux et Veritas” (light and truth), whilst Princeton’s motto is illustrated by the eloquent Latin phrase “Dei sub numine viget” (Under Gods power she flourishes). The motto of the US Marine Corps is “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful), whilst the US Coast Guard’s motto aptly states “Semper Paratus”(Always Ready). The influence of Latin in the United States is possibly never more pronounced than by the fact that our country’s very motto states “ E Pluribus Unum’ which can be thus translated, so as to mean “Out of Many, One”. Also, Latin has an influence on popular literature that is widely read in the United States, today. A number of modern, children’s stories have been translated to Latin, with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, and Green Eggs and Ham, amongst numerous others, which bear ample testimony to this fact. Latin even plays a part in the world of cinema, today. For instance, movies such as The Passion of Christ, The Harry Potter movies and the Exorcist films carry out some of its dialogue in Latin. Another point that merits mention, is that Latin provides us with essential knowledge of the past. I feel, this is vital, because the future can only be built upon the foundations laid in the past. For it is by analyzing the past that we can avoid the mistakes made hitherto, and awareness of history enables us to make better future judgments; in most instances, at least. Morris (2012) stated “Fluency in Latin and Ancient Greek was once the hallmark of an educated European. Familiarity with the works of the likes of Julius Caesar and Cicero was seen as an adequate, if vital resource for running Europe’s empires”(para 7). In my opinion, this statement, by a slight stretch of the imagination, can be applied just as well to the United States, too. As we all know, the United States of today is a melting pot of diverse races and different cultures. The study of Latin, amongst other factors, helps us respect these differences and glean an understanding of other cultures with comparative ease. Mostly, it helps us understand that beyond superficial differences; the desires, hopes, tribulations and trials of humanity, remain the same, irrespective of time, creed or race. “I feel that Latin helps us bridge cultural divides, and this in itself is enough reason for scholars to study Latin.”( R.Amerasinghe, personal communication, November 4, 2012) In a persuasive article, Colls (2009) re-affirmed the importance of studying Latin in a cultural context, for he said: Its also the way they express their humor, their love, their life. It is a testimony of human communities which is extremely precious, because it expresses what other communities than ours in the modern industrialized world are able to express (para 10). He continues to elaborate this point and has stated that “languages are not simply a collection of words. They are living, breathing organisms holding the connections and associations that define a culture. When a language becomes extinct, the culture in which it lived is lost too” (para 11) It is possibly due to all the afore-mentioned reasons, that there seems to be renewed interest in the revival of the Latin language in the United States, today. Hu (2008) stated “The resurgence of a language once rejected as outdated and irrelevant is reflected across the country as Latin is embraced by a new generation of students”(para 4). Hu further re-enforced her opinion thus: The number of students in the United States taking the National Latin Exam has risen steadily to more than 134,000 students in each of the past two years, from 124,000 in 2003 and 101,000 in 1998, with large increases in remote parts of the country like New Mexico, Alaska and Vermont. The number of students taking the Advanced Placement test in Latin, meanwhile, has nearly doubled over the past 10 years, to 8,654 in 2007. While Spanish and French still dominate student schedules — and Chinese and Arabic are trendier choices — Latin has quietly flourished in many high-performing suburbs, like New Rochelle, where Latin’s virtues are sung by superintendents and principals who took it in their day (para 5). In some institutions of higher learning in the United States, Latin is recognized and given a place of due prominence. For instance, Grady (2012) stated: Latin may not be spoken anymore, but Seton High School’s Latin students prove it cannot be considered a dead language. During the school’s annual Latin Day festivities, students participated in a mass that is entirely in Latin, heard from a speaker from the University of Cincinnati Classics Department and played traditional games, such as chariot races (para 1). Similarly, Classical Associations in certain States and/or universities organize Latin Day workshops, events, contests and presentations, so that a growing interest in Latin is duly fostered. Some universities even offer scholarship competitions in Latin. Such occurrences are further explained by McGraw (2012) who stated: Some might be surprised that Latin still is around, let alone growing in popularity — which it is. After all, it has been often referred to as a ‘dead language’ because it’s not widely spoken and because of educational emphasis on the study of widely spoken languages such as Spanish and even Mandarin. But there is a revival nationwide. It is particularly emphasized in charter schools, and those with a strong classical curriculum are most likely to include it (para 6,7). I feel this revival is indeed, timely, for the influence of Latin has a beneficial effect in our lives, on so many different levels; and this is one point that is amply re-iterated by the numerous examples previously documented in this very article. As is readily apparent Latin does indeed, affect us today, in the United States. By some forms of classification, Latin may be a dead language; but in my opinion, but it is certainly not an extinct one. This is because it continues to affect our speech, our mode of thought, our reasoning and our actions, across the span of time, even today, in the United States. Our knowledge of the past which lays the groundwork for the future, our cross-cultural understanding and our love for classical literature, can be, at least in part, attributed to the influence of the Latin language in our lives. Of course, its influence may sometimes be direct, as in the case of linguistics; but in most instances, it affects us in a less obvious manner, so much so, that we ourselves are not aware of its influence, at times. Therein, lies its very beauty, for the Latin language is ingrained in our very being, making it an integral part of us. References Colls, T. (2009, October 19). The Death of Language? BBC Today. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8311000/8311069.stm Grady, E. (2012, July 23). Seton High School Latin students revive dead language. Cincinnati.Com Retrieved from http://local.cincinnati.com/share/story/195433 Hu,W. (2008, October 6). A Dead Language That is Very Much Alive. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/nyregion/07latin.html?pagewanted=all Hughes, B. (2010, June 14). Latin: Why we are all better off with the ancient language. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jun/14/latin-language-in-schools McGraw,C. (2012, October 8). Latin a dead language? Not in Colorado Springs. The Gazette. Retrieved from http://www.gazette.com/articles/language-145604-latin-dead.html Morris, H. (2012, September 1). Breathing Life Into a Dead Language. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved from http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/breathing-life-into-a-dead-language/ Paton, G. (2010, November 10). More state schools to offer Latin in the curriculum overhaul. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8170876/More-state-schools-to-offer-Latin-in-curriculum-overhaul.html Rodriguez, S.G. (2011, August 24). The Main Influences on the Spanish Language. Lisko. Retrieved from http://www.translationslisko.com/language-origins/ Interview. Ramya Ameresinghe has studied Greek and Roman Civilization for three years and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. I asked for her opinion on the topic “how the Latin language affects us today in the United States?” and she was happy to share her views on the subject with me. The interview was conducted on the 4th of November 2012 at 5.00 p.m. The questions and answers at the interview are recorded below: Q: Do you think Latin has an impact in our everyday lives? A: Yes, I do. Q: Could you please elaborate this a bit further? A: Of course. We use English in our daily conversations, and more than half the words in English, stem from Latin origins. Q: Did you enjoy your study of Classical Civilization? A: Yes, it made me appreciate well written literature whatever the language it was written in. Q: In your opinion, what are the advantages that studying Latin brings with it? A: I feel that Latin helps us bridge cultural divides, and this in itself is enough reason for scholars to study Latin. But it also helps us discipline our minds, which is something I have the highest regard for. After the afore-mentioned interview I learnt that open ended questions yield more informative answers. Also, I learnt that as much as Latin has a bearing on us, today, in the United States, it carries a similarly notable affect on most other parts of the globe, too. Read More