Why study or learn Latin? Why should anyone be preoccupied with a "dead language"?
I will give three reasons for studying Latin in this blog entry. Of course, I realize that most people will never study Latin in any great depth or at any great length, but I want to impart some knowledge of Latin and show why it's important to know the language to some extent.
1) Knowing Latin facilitates the study of ancient and medieval theology. Through a knowledge of Latin, one can study ancient or medieval documents in the original language. Scholars know that it's precarious to rely on translations. Furthermore, if one also wants to establish the most likely reading of the text, then it's essential to know Latin well. Some important works written in Latin include Adversus Praxean (Tertullian), De Trinitate (Novatian/Augustine), the Latin Vulgate and the Summa Theologiae. There's also the work by Peter Abelard entitled Sic et Non. The only way to appreciate these documents fully is by knowing Latin.
2) Since Jerome translated the whole Bible into Latin, and that Bible became the official text for the Catholic Church, we have another reason to study Latin. If one compares the Masoretic Text with the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint version (LXX), and the Latin Vulgate, his or her study of the Bible will be enhanced. Moreover, many notes in critical editions of Greek texts or Greek lexicons are written in Latin.
3) Study of Latin improves vocabulary, one's writing style, and it can build knowledge of literary tropes. My erstwhile professor in classics also concentrated on Greek meter when studying for the doctoral degree; he likewise introduced me to the wonderful world of Latin meter. Admittedly, I'm still trying to master Greek and Latin meter in my reading of classical poetry, but I'm starting to discern the value of poetic scansion.
Of the many fascinating aspects of Latin can be found in section 427 of the Allen and Greenough Latin grammar, which explains how Latin describes the concept of place without using prepositions. This is not to say that Latin avoids the use of prepositions altogether when delineating location, but it sometimes does. For instance with words like bellī, mīlitiae, and domī. Terrā marīque is another good one.
This post just illustrates the remarkable value that the knowledge of Latin has.
2 comments:
Just one example of Greek and Latin technical jargon https://www.pocketanatomy.com/teaching-anatomy/the-anatomy-of-medical-jargon
Good observation. I did not mention it because I wanted to focus on theology/philosophy, but medicine and science in general has needed Latin. Lawyers need Latin too, and they have their own way to pronounce many legal phrases like res non verbum, obiter dictum, mens rea and mens reus. Theologians like the tres personae, una substantia stuff.
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