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Latin has heavily influenced several modern languages. And most famously, it was spoken as the primary official language of Vatican City up until quite recently.
However, only a small global community now speaks Latin, but the numbers are gradually growing. About 1 million people worldwide fluently speak it, whereas thousands of others are learning it.
Nevertheless, if you are interested in learning Latin in New York, Houston, or other major US cities, there are Latin for beginners' classes that you can enroll in.
Latin has had such a vast prevalence in Western and European literature, science, and medicine that it may never be categorized as an "Extinct Language."
Latin Is As Relevant As Ever
You may have heard that Latin isn't as useful as it used to be. To most people's ears, this is a forceful indictment.
On the other hand, scholars use the term "dead" in a technical definition, allowing for lots of leeway for interpretation.
A "dead" language is one that is no longer spoken by any group, even though it is still used in other contexts.
On the other hand, an "extinct" language no longer has speakers or written use. Meanwhile, some languages are also known as liturgical languages because they are still used in religious situations.
They are still studied and accessed through a vast amount of old literature. Moreover, most classical languages would fall into this category. These include:
- Greek
- Latin
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Arabic
- Sanskrit
Some might add Hebrew and French to that list.
However, Latin is a classical and liturgical language and a dead language that never perished. This means that, even though Latin is not the native language of any society, it is nonetheless spoken (if only by a few) and widely studied for several compelling, positive reasons.
Latin has also not dead since part of it lives on with French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian, the five Romance languages. For instance, it accounts for over 90% of the Vocabulary in these languages.
Mastering Latin Makes It Easier To Learn Another Language
The majority of the romance languages– such as German and Russian – stem from Latin. Hence, many terms are almost identical.
For example, the Spanish term for "boss" (patrone) is a direct descendent of the Latin word patronus, which translates to "political patron."
This strong connection lays the groundwork for learning other modern languages. Other than that, when you learn Latin at a young age, you get familiar with breaking down elements of speech and grammatical structures.
Something which comes in handy you intend to learn a Romance language such as French, Italian, Romanian or Portuguese — more than 80% of words in these languages are derived from Latin, as is the majority of their Vocabulary, grammar, and structure.
Once you understand the ideas of agreement, inflected nouns, conjugated verbs, and grammatical gender in Latin, you will be better ready to master the language.
In-Depth Look Into The Roman Empire
There is no English version for Latin terms such as a forum, Patronus, and imperator. When you study Latin vocabulary, you also learn about the Roman political and social realities that underpin them.
Simply put, because language is an intrinsic aspect of civilization, learning Latin will teach you about Roman culture and society.
Benefits Of Learning Latin
Learning a second language has its benefits, but why should you mainly know Latin? Here are a few convincing reasons you should sign up for those Latin online courses:
Cognitive Enhancements
Latin grammar is complicated, and reading a phrase may seem like solving a puzzle. This is why the language is popular among those who appreciate math and music since it needs some of the same cognitive abilities as these fields.
A Love Of Music
Anyone who has taken two semesters of Latin will be able to understand the Tallis Scholars', Anonymous Four's Renaissance masses, and Gregorian chants.
Historical Significance
Many top graduate programs in Ancient or Medieval History prefer students with a Latin background as it helps them better understand the coursework.
This is because when students are researching in these disciplines, most resources are in Latin.
A Broad Education
Latin and Greek have initially been at the heart of a liberal education, so termed because only the "free" ("liberal" from liber, meaning "free") could afford to study courses that did not teach them a profession but improved their cognitive abilities.
Latin Can Help With Math
According to a study, children abreast in Latin had better reading scores than those who weren’t (they were ahead of their peers by a year). Plus, Latin learners progressed nine months in their math problem-solving ability.
If this comes as a surprise, keep in mind that Mathematics is also a 'language.' A logical one that, like Latin, demands attention to systems, detail, and ordered thought.
Mathematical Vocabulary (particularly Advanced mathematical Vocabulary) draws from several different alphabets and contains symbols unique to mathematical vocabulary.
It appears that because Latin grammatical structure is so similar to the structure of mathematical logic, knowing Latin may positively impact arithmetic.
English Vocabulary and Grammar
Latin studies help pupils learn English. It also helps bolster the existing Vocabulary because it is the source of 50% of all English words and 80–90% of all polysyllabic terms.
Therefore, learning Latin will help you better understand several other languages.
Become Multilingual
Latin never actually disappeared; as mentioned before, it helped provide the foundations of some of the more prominent languages spoken in Europe today.
And it accounts for over 90% of the Vocabulary in these languages. Therefore, when you take up Latin, you're essentially laying the work to learn six other languages simultaneously.
English Literature
Latin provides students with a broader grasp of English literature before 1950, most of which is filled with Latin references and quotations.
Writing and Reading
Learning Latin enhances vocabulary and comprehension of grammar, allowing students to write and read with more ease and clarity.
So if you’re learning Latin in a city like Chicago, you should know that it is competitive, and you will have to be on top of your reading and writing game.
Occupations
Latin prepares students for various significant professions that use Latin terminology and phrases or English words borrowed from Latin. This includes:
- Law
- Medicine
- Science
- Music
- Religion
- Philosophy
- Art
- Literature
Great Literature And Art
Learning Latin will enable students to appreciate some of the most influential literature in the original language.
Mastering it well enough to read original Latin works is an achievable skill that is fulfilling, enjoyable, and allows for significant future success.
Furthermore, if you are into monuments and art, you know that artwork is often graced with Latin origins and descriptions around the globe.
So if you’re in New York, Philadelphia, or other historically inclined cities, learning Latin will do you well.
History
Studying Latin and its influence and history enables students to fully appreciate and understand the Roman Empire.
As a result of its relevance has had insightful and enduring effects on Western civilization.
Simultaneous Learning
Studying Latin is something everyone can do alongside their primary academic concerns. This is because the history of the language will add context to anything else you may be learning too.
For instance, if you're studying history, science, English, or math, Latin will seem relevant at several junctions.
Educational Virtue
The discipline is a continuous practice in linguistic puzzle-solving that helps pupils become attentive and thoughtful readers and writers.
Joy
Deciphering Latin's "hidden code" and mastering how to puzzle-solve, see the depths behind words, and study great authors in their native tongue is a treat that students will remember for the rest of their lives.
How Can You Learn To Speak Latin
There are excellent online Latin lessons available in States. However, there are also several other things to focus on while you're studying, some of which are:
Learn The Basics
Whether you have learned Latin before or are a beginner, you should repeat or study the basics of Latin grammar and build a basic vocabulary.
You can achieve this by reading books, hearing podcasts, watching movies (all in Latin), or signing up for online Latin courses in Houston or wherever you are residing in the states.
Engage With People Who Speak Latin
You can easily find individuals in major cities like LA, Boston, or Chicago who often meet to practice Latin.
Join such a group; this will also boost your confidence as you will see you are not the only one struggling, which will put you at ease with your progress.
Learn Common Latin Words
Get a good hang of Latin words used in daily routine. For example, how do you say I'm headed out? Im 'virens e.
This is an excellent way to strive towards fluency in the language.
Learn With The Help Of A Professional Tutor
With around 1 million Latin speakers globally, the forgotten language has become trendy in the United States of America; whether you’re in Boston, Chicago, or LA.
However, only a few schools and other educational institutions in the U.S. teach Latin as a second language.
But do not worry! You can find several online tutors through Superprof. So, enroll yourself with one of the best tutors and begin your journey of learning the beautiful language.
The platform that connects tutors and students
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