Recently, I was having a conversation with a family friend when I mentioned that I take Latin class. Surprised, she asked me why I don’t take a modern language instead. Despite the bluntness of her question, I was not taken aback: after over six years of studying Latin, this question has become commonplace.
I was prompted to reflect on my choice of language class when my brother was entering middle school and had to choose which language to take. I thought back to four years prior when I had been in the same position. In the time since then, I considered to myself, have I enjoyed Latin? Do I find it worthwhile and enriching? Would I recommend the experience? The answer to all three questions is a resounding yes.
To understand why I appreciate Latin so much, it’s best to start at the beginning. I fell in love with Greek and Roman mythology in first grade, reading “D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths” countless times and eagerly anticipating reading the original Latin versions of those stories. Then, throughout elementary school, while discovering my love of writing, I came to realize that Latin would help expand my vocabulary and knowledge of grammar, and in turn, make me a better writer.
The main critique I have heard of Latin is that it is no longer applicable in our modern world. But this is simply not the case. While I consider Latin to be particularly beneficial to those interested in literature and the language arts, it has many applications outside of the humanities as well.
If you’re interested in science, Latin is the language of taxonomy. A good deal of medical terminology is in Latin as well; nomenclature for the anatomy, in particular, is almost exclusively in Latin. Or if you’re planning to pursue a career in law, Latin is used for many legal terms as well, like amicus curiae and modus operandi. And if you’re interested in political science, it is essential to read Latin texts that inspired the design of the United States government.
“A lot of the great intellectual works of even the last 500 years are written in Latin,” Polytechnic Middle and Upper School Latin teacher Alexander Lessie pointed out. “Important business is still conducted in Latin: the Catholic Church, for example, uses Latin on a day-to-day basis. The previous pope, Pope Benedict, announced his resignation from the papacy in Latin.”
Polytechnic Upper School Latin and History teacher Katie Schuhl provided an example of how the works of Eutropius, a Roman historian, apply to the study of international relations. “Reading about war and sea powers versus land powers [is] still relevant today. Russia is a huge land power; China is generally a land power; we’re a sea power because we’ve got the largest navy. … We can look back and see how sea and land powers interact with each other.”
Latin can also help build a foundation for studying other languages. Polytechnic School senior Celeste Rodriguez-Garcia took Latin in middle school and switched to Spanish in high school.
“I chose to switch out because I wanted to improve my Spanish and work on grammar but I definitely think that Latin helped pave the way for my Spanish learning career in high school,” Rodriguez-Garcia said.
Clearly, Latin has many modern applications. However, its value extends beyond that. A common theme I have noticed among my peers is that we are constantly trying to figure out why what we are learning will be relevant to our lives and future careers. I have heard my classmates ask, “How is this useful?” among fellow students or even directly to our teachers. While learning can certainly serve practical and useful purposes, it doesn’t always have to. I believe there is an intrinsic value to education and learning something just for the sake of learning it. This is especially true for Latin.
Columbia University student Kaylin Yagura described how Latin brings satisfaction to her everyday life.
“I chose to take Latin admittedly because of mythology and Harry Potter spells, but I learned to love Latin through learning about Roman history, SPQR Club and the satisfaction I get every time there’s a crossword clue about Latin,” Yagura said.
I, too, have found enjoyment in learning Latin, especially now that my brother is taking it and we can practice the language together. In this way, Latin is still very much alive.
“Even though Latin is a ‘dead language,’” Lessie said, “It has never ceased to be living, in a certain sense.”
