Ever wonder who still speaks latin?

December 1, 2003 7:50 PM

Ever wonder who still speaks latin? So it seems like the vanishingly small number of native latin speakers seem to work all for one outfit. They all also seem to be British.
posted by MrLint (22 comments total)

"native" latin speakers?
posted by freebird at 7:58 PM on December 1, 2003

Heh.
posted by silusGROK at 8:06 PM on December 1, 2003

I still recall my first day of grad school Latin. The teacher asked the class, "Do any of you plan on a career in the Vatican?" When nobody said anything, he continued, "Well, then we'll not be focussing much on spoken Latin."
posted by tippiedog at 8:07 PM on December 1, 2003

The number of native Latin speakers currently living is zero.
posted by oaf at 8:10 PM on December 1, 2003

Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:10 PM on December 1, 2003

In a way I wish I had been offered the chance to study latin at school; as a botanist / ecologist, it could actually come in handy. It might be helpful in remembering the meaning of taxonomic names, and in understanding new technical terms. Anyone got any other good uses for latin? (apart from the Vatican?)
posted by Jimbob at 8:13 PM on December 1, 2003

Yeah! I was a Classics major in University, so this thread makes me very happy! And while there isn't a lot of need for latin in day to day life, it is great training for logical thinking, translating your medical charts, and when listed on a resume gives your interviewer something to talk about.

And there are so many jobs listed in the newspaper for Latin speakers! Just look in the want ads, under 'Restaurant Help needed'.
posted by sperare at 8:18 PM on December 1, 2003

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see them claim anywhere in the actual copy of the page that their translators are native Latin speakers. It only says that in a section heading. If you have native Latin speakers, it seems like you'd make it a bit more explicit. But then, if you didn't have native speakers, why would you have a heading say "Native Speaking Latin Translators"? Someone needs to edit their website.
posted by samw at 8:28 PM on December 1, 2003

Latin is the only language other than English that I would consider learning. I just haven't finished learning English yet, so I don't have the time.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:35 PM on December 1, 2003

Ahhh, flashback to high school. Virgil. Cicero. Ovid (pervert). Caesar.
posted by ilsa at 9:09 PM on December 1, 2003

For what it's worth, there's a Finnish radio station that broadcasts in Latin.
posted by hattifattener at 9:21 PM on December 1, 2003

I was president of the state Junior Classical League my senior year in high school.

(And, no, I wasn't a virgin. Come on, you were thinking it.)
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:33 PM on December 1, 2003

It only says that in a section heading

Yep, I was just being a smartass. It's pretty clear that they have a template page for why they "are the best option for your [INSERT LANGUAGE HERE] translation needs", and that language makes perfect sense for for everything but latin. Though, it makes me wonder if the "native" speakers they have for other languages really are...I mean, once you betray my trust that you grew up as, say, a Roman Briton, how can I believe anything you say?

I do wish learning latin had been an option in my education, but I don't see that as any impediment to my doing so.
posted by freebird at 9:48 PM on December 1, 2003

There's also a Latin Wikipedia with 630 pages.
posted by Eloquence at 10:03 PM on December 1, 2003

Ahh, this reminds me of my most fun summer ever, much of which was spent in Rome, learning and speaking Latin with Reginald Foster, in the incredible Aestiva Romae Latinitatis. Good times, good times...
posted by bigschmoove at 11:36 PM on December 1, 2003

Canis est in via dormit.
posted by nthdegx at 5:23 AM on December 2, 2003

hattifattener, thanks for that link.
posted by sklero at 7:12 AM on December 2, 2003

They all also seem to be British.

Not so! One of the most fervent is Italian.

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posted by languagehat at 8:06 AM on December 2, 2003

(And, no, I wasn't a virgin. Come on, you were thinking it.)

Actually no, I was thinking that you probably nailed the vice president in the back of the annual Saturnalia holiday party.

Did she still have braces?
posted by NormieP at 9:39 AM on December 2, 2003

I, like Dan Quayle, wish I had learned latin in school.... so I could speak to all the latin Americans.
posted by Eekacat at 10:00 AM on December 2, 2003

I was president of the state Junior Classical League my senior year in high school.

So Curley, you've only gone downhill since? I mean, come on, president in high school and only a mayor today? Is Jerry Brown your idol?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:23 AM on December 2, 2003

For what it's worth, there's a Finnish radio station that broadcasts in Latin.

Not only that, it broadcasts in Latin with a heavy Finnish accent, which is one of the most linguistically weird things I've heard in a while.
posted by chuq at 2:16 PM on December 2, 2003