4 ms·
> As for the usefulness of Latin today, even if you're not in the Vatican or speak it for fun: It does give you a surprising leg up in learning Italian, French,
by microtherion 6y ago
> As for the usefulness of Latin today, even if you're not in the Vatican or speak it for fun: It does give you a surprising leg up in learning Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, English
Much as I would like to believe that (and personally I have never regretted my 7+ years of Latin), the empirical foundations of that claim appear to be quite shaky. For most people, the time would probably be better invested into learning a contemporary foreign language: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1061961.pdf https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1061961.pdf
- PsylentKnight 6y agoI've always liked Ben Franklin's thoughts on this topic: "It is true that, if you can clamber and get to the top of a staircase without using the steps, you will more easily gain them in descending; but certainly, if you begin with the lowest you will with more ease ascend to the top"
- YeGoblynQueenne 6y agoI once left a Latin course in high school and went to a doctor's appointment. Sitting at the lobby I listened to some Italian songs playing from a CD, probably. One song was "Parole" and I remember realising that not only could I understand every word, I could also parse the grammar in the way we did in class. Unfortunately I don't remember any of it today.