Latin
The Roman empire and its primary language, Latin, are responsible for transmitting
to western civilization not only the rich culture of Rome but also Greek, Jewish,
and Christian writings and ideas. Latin is thus one of the world's most influential
languages, both as a vehicle of ancient culture and as the direct source of
the "Romance" (i.e., "Roman") languages. After the collapse
of Rome, Latin didn't really die, it just turned into Italian, French, Spanish,
and several other languages. Or, more accurately, it turned into dozens of local
dialects, which gradually merged to form those more familiar languages. This
dialect formation had been going on for centuries. Indeed, educated Romans had
often bemoaned the increasinly incomprehensible versions of Latin which were
developing in the provinces. Today, about six hundred million people around
the world speak a language derived from Latin and Latin has also had a huge
influence on the English language via the Norman Conquest and direct borrowing,
which continues to this day.
The historical significance of Latin, the beauty of Latin literature, the intrinsic
interest of Roman culture and its influence on western civilization (in art,
law, literature, political theory, et cetera) make the study of Latin exceptionally
rewarding and useful. In learning Latin one gains access to the masterpieces
of classical Roman literature-the poetry of Catullus, Vergil, and Ovid, the
speeches of Cicero, the histories of Tacitus, for example-which have enthralled
readers for two thousand years. Learning Latin is also a superb way to learn
about language itself, and especially the languages it influenced. Is it not
delightful to discover that the English word "pedigree" derives, via
French, from the Latin pes (foot), de (of), grus (crane)
What does a pedigree have to do with a crane's foot? Answer: The three lines
of the bird's foot suggest the branches of a family tree!
Sources:
Latin Language and Literature
Vassar
Latin Language
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