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For many of us — especially those sporting liberal arts degrees of some kind — studying Latin is a fond, if sometimes painful, memory. The same can’t be said for the language itself, unfortunately; despite my semester spent in the Latinate trenches just six years ago, I can only remember the barest bits of phrases (like the cheeky “Semper ubi sub ubi,” which translates to “Always where under where.”) For our grandparents, Latin was often a requirement. For ourselves, it was perhaps a dalliance. For the current and up-and-coming generations, according to Father Reginald Foster, one of the leading Latin scholars and the Vatican’s senior Latinist, the language is in its last throes.
Even in European schools, the language isn’t usually required. The major exception is Italy, of course, which mandates about four hours of Latin instruction per child per week. (That’s enough to be equipped to make silly puns, like the above, but that’s about it.) Important Papal announcements, like a Bishop’s appointment, have for a thousand years been written in Latin on parchment — but now those Bishops are starting to ask for translations. Father Foster believes that without Latin we miss out on important elements of history. “St Augustine thought in Latin, you can’t read his text in English, it’s like listening to Mozart through a jukebox,” he says.
Pope Benedict is concerned, naturally — but not concerned enough to restore the once-traditional Latin Mass. He has a better plan: Benedict plans to forgo his usual afternoon siestas and study Latin during that time, instead. Let’s hope the world pays attention to his Holy schedule!
Comments (11)
Comment
To show how far we’ve come, I read that sentence as “Important Paypal announcements…”
I learned more Latin from doing crossword puzzles than I ever learned in class.
posted by Miss Cellania on 1-29-2007 at 9:43 am
My first Latin teacher was awesome, but the one I had for the next two years (three years was required of honors jr high students) would fall asleep in class. It was pretty sad. I still have no idea how I got in the 90s on the final- I really didn’t know any of it.
posted by Kate on 1-29-2007 at 11:31 am
The only latin I remember is “Absconde obiserai iligitimo”. It served me well in school.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 1-29-2007 at 11:38 am
Aside from the lawyer speak, here are the phrases I like.
- De gustibus non disputandem est. (roughly - In matters of opinion, there’s no accounting for taste)
- Orbem non sufficit. (The world is not enough)
- Servum scit. (He knows the servant). It’s “funny” because we learned that “sc” was pronounced “sh” - but that’s not the same everywhere.
- Fidem scit. (He knows the faith) Same as above.
- Amo lingua latinam. (I love Latin)
There are “street-Latin” books available in the stores, and I have Cattus Petasus (Cat in the Hat) as well as Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit (How the Grinch Stole Christmas). I’ll read those to my future kids.
posted by Stephen on 1-29-2007 at 1:41 pm
My favorite:
Minutus cantorum,
minutus balorum,
minutus carborata
descendum pantorum.
In English:
A little song,
a little dance,
a little seltzer
down your pants.
posted by Bryan on 1-29-2007 at 2:10 pm
Am I the only one getting “Rushmore” flashbacks?
“Why dint ya joost peess ovf, Fishar?”
“Was that Latin?”
posted by Sillstaw on 1-29-2007 at 3:15 pm
“Sic transit gloria mundi” has always been a favorite of mine.
posted by Jarred Hanson on 1-29-2007 at 9:15 pm
“Sic transit gloria mundi” has always been a favourite of mine.
posted by Jarred Hanson on 1-29-2007 at 9:16 pm
Latin will never completely die out, even if the Holy See is the only thing that keeps it alive. The Swiss Guard- the Pope’s security and body guards who wear silly Shakespearian puffy pants and berets- are required to be fluent in at least four languages, one of which must be Latin. Plus, Latin is the basis for the Romance languages- knowing it has made it incredibly easy for me to learn other languages. Hooray for Latin!
posted by ME on 1-30-2007 at 11:55 am
Latin is actually making quite a resurgence in middle schools and high schools in Illinois. It teaches one to think critically about English and really aids in the study of any language, non-romance included because of its strict grammatical rules
www.righthandpointing.com/latin is a latin word of the day webiste.
Ave atque Vale
posted by Colin O'Donovan on 1-30-2007 at 10:44 pm
Atinlay ed-day? Erishpay e-thay oughtthay.
posted by Aveday on 1-31-2007 at 7:52 am