Latin today

I think Latin faces peculiar challenges in terms the Latin user’s maintenance of the language when compared to other foreign language options available in American schools. Unlike Spanish, French, German, Chinese, or even sign language, Latin is not used in contemporary society. Speaking a language in everyday interactions or at least on a regular basis is one of the most valuable methods for a speaker to exercise and reinforce their knowledge of the language, either “use it or lose it”. Latin, however, does not have this advantage. The basic curriculum for teaching Latin in America reflects this as well, as most school Latin programs do not stress the speaking of Latin but instead focus on written translation. The Latin user, therefore, has limited options when it comes to practicing and reinforcing their Latin abilities. There are, however, many texts written in Latin that one may translate in order to do this, such as “Metamorphoses” by Ovid or Virgil’s “Aeneid”. I, on the other hand, in order to maintain my Latin knowledge, have decided start on a smaller scale and have purchased “Winnie the Pooh” in Latin, which I plan on working through sometime this summer.

Chris Griesbach