Learning Latin by marklangley Now I admit that last post was on the silly side. I am still kind of embarrassed about it. The Latin itself would probably best be described as some kind of Latin doggerel. You will be relieved to know that I did dash it off rather quickly. So no one can accuse me of a too gross neglect of time in composing such a ludicrous work. Nonetheless, I am willing to say that the central point of Speaking Latin? Humbug! is still something that I am doggedly willing to defend. Namely that, The chief reason for learning Latin does not consist in learning Latin. It does not consist in learning to speak Latin or read Latin or write Latin. All of those things are secondary to the chief reason. And what, you ask, is the chief reason for learning Latin? The chief reason to learn Latin is to learn English. (as we said before right here ) Or more universally, the chief reason for learning Latin is that through it we learn the liberal art of grammar; through the study of Latin we learn language itself! Now that is a provocative statement isnt it? For example if we asked one who was taking Spanish Why are you taking Spanish? We would expect him to reply Why, obviously to learn Spanish, you dolt! El burro sabe mas que tu! And if another was spending years taking German classes we would not dare ask Why are you learning German? He would surely reply I am learning German in order to speak German, Du blöde Kuh! And similarly suppose one were attempting to learn Chinese. Would we not expect that such a one was learning Chinese in order to read Chinese? Why else would one learn Chinese with all those intriguing and mysterious characters? When is the last time that you said to someone oh, so you are learning French eh, can you say something in French for me? For example how does one say where is the nearest lavatory? And if he is not even able to say that, after taking two or three years of the subject, we remark silently to ourselves This fellow doesnt know French- what a waste of time. he is either not a very good students or he has a lousy teacher! The conventional measure of whether someones language study has been fruitful and profitable is the extent to which the language student is able to speak, read and write the language he is studying. Now, what do we mean when we say that the purpose of learning Latin is not really to learn Latin, but is rather to learn English. I mean quite simply this. The study of Latin has the unique capability of revealing what language itself (or Language qua language, or if you like language as such) is to anyone who spends even the smallest amount of time studying it. Latin is, for all intents and purposes, the embodiment of language in its formal aspects. That is to say, that Grammar, which is more or less hidden in this language or that language, is something delightfully manifest and accessible to the student in Latin. The Grammar and principle of language inherent in every language are marvelously manifest in Latin. Latin is such an effective vehicle for learning Grammar that one is almost inclined that the language itself is nothing other than a grammar manifesto; the culminating document achieved by the first Grammar Convention back around 700 B.C. Every Language has something in common, namely some manner of predicating. Every language is called a language because each involves a specific manner of saying some thing about something; each involves its own mode of making statements or asking questions; each involves its own way of asserting this or denying that. In every language, however primitive, there must needs be nouns and verbs and adjectives. There might even be pronouns and conjunctions and adverbs as well. But what these various parts of speech are might in fact be quite mysterious in this or that language. The fact that a verb has time and voice and mood and number may or may not be clear in this or that language. The fact that a noun may have gender and case may be unclear in some specific language. What is a noun? What is a verb? What is an adjective? And dont tell me that a noun is a person place or thing either! We have already spoken about this embarrassing confusion elsewhere. And is Grammar really necessary? Does a precise and refined knowledge of Grammar aid us in any other important endeavor? Or is it only an art that is helpful for those who would like to conduct themselves courteously?; is it only an art that might help one to avoid committing an embarrassing verbal faux pas at tea a party? Think about Grammar like this: Just as that great general and master of armies and strategy, Julius Caesar, knew how to organize and martial his forces in such a coordinated and ordered manner that he was able to conquer all of Gaul, Greece and Egypt, so too is one who has learned to martial his words through the art of grammar able to be an effective thinker. Just think of all those Latin paradigms as so many phalanxes and cohorts. Words ready for battle. Words arranged for effective thought and communication! When a student memorizes he becomes a veritable linguistic general. He becomes a Martial of effective speech! No other language is capable of making a student a master of language and of grammar so effectively. No other language is so accessible to the ordinary student!
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:20:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015