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    Why Study Latin Rev

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    tonydrown
    The document provides 6 reasons for studying the Latin language. First, Latin was used for over 2000 years and influenced many great thinkers. Second, studying Latin improves English vocabulary as over 60% of English words are derived from Latin. Third, Latin serves as a foundation for learning other Romance languages. Fourth, studying Latin exercises the brain and improves thinking skills. Fifth, studying Latin culture provides wisdom from Roman history and examples. Finally, students who study Latin tend to score higher on standardized tests like the SAT.

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    Why Study Latin Rev

    Uploaded by

    tonydrown
    46 views3 pages
    The document provides 6 reasons for studying the Latin language. First, Latin was used for over 2000 years and influenced many great thinkers. Second, studying Latin improves English vocabulary as over 60% of English words are derived from Latin. Third, Latin serves as a foundation for learning other Romance languages. Fourth, studying Latin exercises the brain and improves thinking skills. Fifth, studying Latin culture provides wisdom from Roman history and examples. Finally, students who study Latin tend to score higher on standardized tests like the SAT.

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    The document provides 6 reasons for studying the Latin language. First, Latin was used for over 2000 years and influenced many great thinkers. Second, studying Latin improves English vocabulary as over 60% of English words are derived from Latin. Third, Latin serves as a foundation for learning other Romance languages. Fourth, studying Latin exercises the brain and improves thinking skills. Fifth, studying Latin culture provides wisdom from Roman history and examples. Finally, students who study Latin tend to score higher on standardized tests like the SAT.

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    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    46 views3 pages

    Why Study Latin Rev

    Uploaded by

    tonydrown
    The document provides 6 reasons for studying the Latin language. First, Latin was used for over 2000 years and influenced many great thinkers. Second, studying Latin improves English vocabulary as over 60% of English words are derived from Latin. Third, Latin serves as a foundation for learning other Romance languages. Fourth, studying Latin exercises the brain and improves thinking skills. Fifth, studying Latin culture provides wisdom from Roman history and examples. Finally, students who study Latin tend to score higher on standardized tests like the SAT.

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    of 3

    Why do we study the Latin Language?

    There are at least 6 good reasons that I can

    think of:

    First, it is Latin we are learning. This is a language that was used during the

    Roman Republic and Empire and dominated world culture for at least 1500 years

    of human history. Then it remained important for another 500. Compare this to

    the approx. 1000-year existence of English!

    Latin as a form of human expression is a precise and beautiful language. It is the

    language of Caesar, Cicero, and Vergil, and after them it would be the curriculum

    of school children for the next 1900 years. Consequently, most of the greatest

    thinkers and movers and shakers in our Western tradition such as Augustine,

    Erasmus, Isaac Newton, and Thomas Jefferson, to name a few, read the Latin

    authors, wrote in Latin, thought and spoke in ways organized by the Latin

    language. To celebrate her 60th birthday, Queen Elizabeth I spent two weeks

    translating the ancient Latin philosopher Boethius into English. Now, there's

    someone who knew how to throw a party! So, remember as you decline your

    nouns and conjugate your verbs, that you are taking your place in a 2000-year

    line of students, like little Willie Shakespeare, who have gone before you

    chanting, "amo, amas, amat..."

    The second reason to learn Latin is that you will learn much new English

    vocabulary and be able to better understand the English words you already

    know. For example, using the one Latin root word, “scriber”, which means "to

    write," you can add the English derivatives: conscribe – conscription, inscribe –
    inscription, describe – description, prescribe – prescription, transcribe –

    transcript, which are somehow related to the idea of writing, to your vocabulary

    store! It's estimated that at least 60% of English vocabulary is derived from

    Latin. And these are the words that are used by lawyers, theologians, writers,

    historians, people in the medical field, scientists--in short, the more educated

    segment of our society. The more words you know, the better you can express

    your ideas, and the better you can do this, the more you can accomplish in every

    endeavor. Studies show that those who use language well are also the highest

    paid and most successful in their careers.

    Our third reason for learning Latin is that, besides helping our English, we can

    gain a foundation for all language study. Ninety to ninety-five percent of

    Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian vocabulary is derived

    from Latin. So knowing Latin will make learning those languages much easier. In

    addition, language learning principles acquired in the study of Latin transfer to

    the learning of non-Romance languages as well. How to conjugate a verb, what a

    perfect passive participle is, what a reflexives pronoun is used for...all these

    grammar goodies are found in every language. So think if it, with your foundation

    in Latin, you'll become a language learning machine!

    The fourth reason for studying Latin is to grow our brain power. Through

    the diligent effort and the particular skills required to learn the language, you will

    find that you are also learning to be more observant, analytical, logical, accurate,
    and organized in your thinking. In other words, you'll get smarter! Won't this

    come in handy in all of life?!

    The fifth reason to learn Latin is to learn wisdom. That may seem like a tall

    order, but in conjunction with studying the language of the Romans, we will

    study their history and culture. Many of the ideas and achievements of the

    R0mans are our heritage. They have been handed down to us through the

    centuries and we make use of them without realizing it. In studying the Romans,

    we will see the good, the bad, and the ugly. Examples worthy of following, such

    as Mucius who burned off his right hand to protect his city and its people. There

    will be examples that warn us what to avoid, such as the traitor Coriolanus, held

    back only by the pleas of his mother, from betraying Rome. President Harry said

    that oftentimes when he was confronted with a thorny problem, he found more

    wisdom in reading Plutarch (an ancient historian of the Romans) than in all his

    cabinet advisors. This study will give you, too, much to ponder as you set out to

    make your mark in history.

    Finally, our sixth reason for studying Latin is that students who learn Latin

    score higher on the SAT test (that's the one you take to get into college) than

    students of any other language. There are no guarantees, of course, but why not

    put the odds of scoring better in your favor?

    So, those are the reasons to learn Latin. What are we waiting for? Let's get

    started!

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