People
often take their language for granted. Only a few bother to learn the history
behind their own mother tongue or what words and phrases in their language's
vocabulary are actually words that come from another language. Take the English
language for instance. There are many words used in the English language that
are borrowed from such languages as German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian,
Japanese, and Chinese. These languages mentioned are all languages still spoken
by millions, if not billions, of people today in various parts of the world.
Arms of the United States of America (E Pluribus Unum) |
But there
are also words in the English language that come from one of the so-called dead
languages of the world – Latin. Without being aware of it, adult English
speakers have been using Latin words for much of their lives. Latin gave rise
to what is known as Romance Languages, a category where French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Italian and many other related languages rose from.
It was in
the Italian peninsula where Latin was first spoken. Latin was the language of
the people of Latium (central western Italy), the language of Ancient Rome. The
Roman conquest of lands near and far ensured the spread of Latin in its
territories. Latin mixed with the local tongues and this gave birth to several
Romance Languages. This language of the Ancient Roman Republic has undergone
several incarnations throughout its history as a language. With the decline of
the once mighty Roman Empire and the ascendance to power of other peoples and
nations, the use of Latin was relegated to the sciences, religion and law.
Latin has
not completely disappeared. It is still very much part of the human culture and
communication even though no one really speaks Latin in ordinary conversations.
Today, there exist organizations and individuals clamoring for the revival of
this much revered dead language.
Where do you find Latin today?
The
definition of "dead language" is a language that is no longer spoken
in daily, ordinary communication but is still used in special circumstances.
Latin falls into this category. Technically, there are no Latin speakers
anymore but Latin is still widely used in several fields. Latin is not
considered an extinct language because for a language to be classified as
extinct it means that there is no one in the world that speaks that language
anymore and that language is no longer in use anywhere.
Latin
remains in the field of science, law and religion. In the various fields of
science such as botany, zoology and medicine, Latin names continue to be used.
The scientific names of plants, animals, and body parts, for example, are in
Latin. This makes it easier for people of different languages involved in the
sciences to understand what exactly is being referred to. To this day, Latin words
are used when creating new words in the different branches of science.
If you
speak legalese, then you should know a few Latin terms. Law today uses many
Latin terms that were handed down from the Ancient Romans. The Ancient Romans
were a powerful force at one time in history. These conquerors spoke Latin.
And, as they took over nations, they "Latinized" the peoples they
conquered. The legal system of the Ancient Romans has had great influence on
the legal systems of the countries where they once ruled. So even if the
Ancient Romans no longer ruled over these countries, their influence was still
strong.
In some
religions, Latin is considered as a sacred, liturgical or ecclesiastical
language. In the Roman Catholic Church for instance, the use of Latin is
extensive. Official documents of the Catholic Church are written in Latin. In
some parts of the Catholic liturgy, Latin is still in use today. And there are
members of the Christian clergy that speak Latin fluently.
Latin words in the English vocabulary
English is
not a Romance language and not based on Latin. It is classified as a Germanic
language. But this fact did not prevent authors (as well as church leaders,
scholars and scientists) in the past from incorporating Latin words into the
English dictionary. Of course not all the words that were borrowed from Latin
stood the test of time. Here are just a few that did:
ad lib (according to
one's wishes)
ad nauseam (to the point of sickness)
ad nauseam (to the point of sickness)
alias (another identity)
alibi (defense used to
prove that a person was not in the location where a crime was committed)
gratis (no payment)
in vitro (inside a test
tube)
memento (token)
memorandum (shortened to
memo; written reminder or informal record)
modus operandi (method of
working)
per annum (for each year)
post mortem (after death)
status quo (existing state)
vice versa (order is
reversed)
The
English language has also retained a few Latin abbreviations such as:
A.D.
for anno domini (in the year of the
Lord)
a.m.
for ante meridiem (before noon)
c.
for circa (about or approximately)
e.g.
for exempli gratia (for example)
etc.
for et cetera (and so forth)
i.e.
for id est (that is)
n.b.
for nota bene (note well)
p.m.
for post meridiem (after noon)
Latin mottos throughout the globe
Organizations,
states and countries all over the world have Latin mottos. Here are just a few
of them:
Olympic
Games: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger)
Society of
Jesus: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the greater glory of God)
Carmelites: Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum (With zeal have
I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts)
Harvard
University: Veritas (truth)
Yale
University: Lux et veritas (Light and truth)
Princeton
University: Dei sub numine viget (Under God's power
she flourishes)
U.S. Marine
Corps: Semper Fidelis, sometimes shortened to Sepmer Fi (Always Faithful)
U.S. Coast
Guard: Semper Paratus (Always Ready)
U.S. Navy: Non sibi sed patriae (Not self but country) unofficial motto
Canada: A Mari Usque Ad Mare (From Sea to Sea)
United
States of America: E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One)
traditional motto
Switzerland: Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro un (One for all, all for one) traditional
motto
Latin in the contemporary world
In 1956,
the Living Latin movement was born with the goal of teaching Latin for oral and
written communication. A number of universities in the United States as well as
in countries in Europe and elsewhere hold classes on the Latin language. The
Internet is helping revive Latin through the sheer number of websites that
incorporate Latin into their webpages.
Books
written in Latin still exist today. There are books written in Latin with
English translations within the pages of books. A number of well-loved
children's books have been translated into Latin. Here are just some of them:
Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
Stone)
Winnie Ille Pu (Wisdom of Pooh)
Cattus Petasatus (The Cat in the Hat)
Cattus Petasatus (The Cat in the Hat)
Virent Ova! Viret Perna!! (Green Eggs and Ham)
Regulus (The Little Prince)
Asterix Legionarius (Asterix Leggionaire)
Writers of
songs, books, articles and other forms of publication would time and again
sprinkle Latin into their works. In Germany, a band called Ista keeps the Latin
language alive by using it in their songs.
Latin is
also part of cinema. Films like "The Passion of the Christ,"
"Sebastiane," "Exorcist" films, "The 13th
Warrior," "Harry Potter" movies, and some television series
like "Karol: A Man Who Became
Pope" incorporate dialogue in Latin. The dialogue in some movies are even
purely Latin.
It is high
time to brush up on Latin. After all, Latin words and phrases are still very
relevant in the lives of people today. It may have been classified as a dead
language but Latin still exists in the consciousness of men and women all over
the world. Human communication, both oral and written, contains fragments of
this ancient language. Discover more about Latin words and phrases through
books, songs, films and other media. The materials are out there waiting for
you. Latin will be within the human culture ad
infinitum (to infinity).
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