| REVIEWER | RATING & REVIEW |
 | CanadaSucks (45)
12/11/2006 | Volumes have been written about the benefits of studying Latin. . .public schools aren't smart or gutsy enough to bring it back. . .
(3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | GenghisTheHun (168)
12/11/2006 |  I am a great fan of the Latin Language and its study greatly helped me to gain proficiency in the English language, especially in grammar.
I was one of the first "victims" of modern education, as grammar started to be discounted in the public schools in the early 1950's in favor of a more trendy method of teaching English. As a result, I knew little grammar until I took my years of Latin.
Latin was a living language as late as the 15th Century. I can no longer find the source for this, but I remember reading, decades ago, that Petrarch insisted that the classical forms of Latin be used rather than the Vulgate or common forms spoken in every day life.
That would be similar, I suppose, to imposing Shakespeare's grammar and syntax on modern English. So powerful was the influence of Petrarch, in Italy, that he was able to force it through. As a result, Latin died out as a spoken language as the common speakers were unable or unused to the classical formations.
These folks moved into the dialects, and swelled the ranks of those speaking early Italian, French and the others.
As I state, I cannot find the source for this comment, and I am taking it from memory. I shall look for it, but it is interesting.
(6 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Djahuti (54)
08/22/2006 | Good to study for a more thorough understanding of the "Romantic" languages,such as English,Italian or Spanish-all of which are derived from it.However,it is a "dead" language.Pretty important for Law Students,too!
(4 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Ih8rateitall (5)
03/13/2006 | I was flipping channels and tried watching a latin show and the language is too fast. The English equilivent would be:
HeyJohnnyhowareyoushe'sfineandyouwellimfineandthekidsaredoinggreatthanksdude!
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | mike44 (0)
08/28/2005 | So why exactly did everyone stop speaking it ???????? Dead , Dead and Dead
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | KittyCatWorld (0)
02/10/2005 | More Latins
http://amigos.com/go/p35844c
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | VisionDude8 (0)
11/13/2004 | Of course, you can learn the history of all our languages and where our words came from, but what will that serve you in today's world? I dunno, I've tried learning it once but it's very complicated. Another time, I heard some guy scream something in Latin in the middle of a parade (with a lot of people) and no one understood.
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Wg Cr Frame (1)
11/06/2004 | oldskool for its whole life!
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | MrSerious (0)
07/22/2004 | Latin WAS a great language. Now it is dead. It's useful, but in the same was an old railroad tie is: You can make something else out of it.
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
| ANSGARD (1)
06/08/2004 | basically latin is ancient italian.
so if you like latin, you might like italian
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Drakainia (0)
06/02/2004 | I'm in high school, and I took an etymology class last year dealing with Latin and Greek derivatives. I used to dis the Latin kids for wanting to learn a dead language (before they fired the Latin teacher because they couldn't afford to pay him), but now I realize just how much Latin plays a part in the English language and how useful it is to have some knowledge of it. And it's very helpful in learning Esperanto, the wannabe international second-language, which I would recommend to everyone in the interest of world peace (What?). Or better communication, I don't know why.
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | abichara (60)
04/07/2004 | Latin formed the basis of all romance languages (Spanish, French, and Italian). Latin was the lingua franca used among Western scholars for a thousand years. Only in the past 200 years has it been replaced by French and English. While English is not directly related to Latin, the language has added many Greek, Roman, and French words that have directly impacted it. Latin might not have a common use, but learning it really helps you learn new vocabulary, being that many English and other European languages have Latin roots. It should be taught more in schools, Latin is an effective way of learning phonics.
(3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Eagle Scout (2)
11/17/2003 | It may be dead but still has its uses. Great for history, science, and confusing the hell out of somebody else.
(3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | fuzzyfreak (1)
10/13/2003 | Of course we still speak it, where do most European languages derive from then?
A fantastic scene in Monty Python's The Life of Brian sees a Roman gaurd (John Cleese) chastising Brian for his weak Latin and I couldn't put it better myself.
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | twinmom101 (31)
10/06/2003 | One of the best ways to improve one's writing, speaking and vocabulary is to take courses in Latin. I took two years of Latin in college and I noticed a massive improvement in my understanding of grammar and writing ability There was a reason why it was taught in schools for so many years after people stopped speaking it. Given many high school and college students' dismal performance in writing and grammar, it would be wise to bring Latin back to schools. This language will never be dead. All Romance languages are directly derived from it as are many words from our own language.
(6 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
| help me (0)
10/05/2003 | who cares? no one speaks it anymore.
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | jagman28782 (5)
09/13/2003 | R.I.P the world's last great language. No language ever will spawn any more word roots than Latin.
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
| Rosetta (0)
08/21/2003 | Although English is not a Romance (Latin derived) language, about 60% of our vocabulary is drawn from Latin -- so, a knowledge of Latin is provides a huge advantage in building one's English vocabulary.
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
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