Rod Dreher has a excellent piece on the work Sarah Ruden who is an highly acclaimed classical translator is doing on the writings of the Apostle Paul. Basically she show how this opens up the historical content of what Paul is saying. See
St. Paul, in historical context
Also in this same link is the interesting thoughts she has on the The Aeneid.
For Latin Lovers she says
The interviewer asks Ruden why anyone should study Latin today, instead of, say, Spanish or Chinese. She answers, in part (remember this is last year):
Who says this language is dead? Is literature dead? Is the West dead? Check in early next year, when my book on Paul of Tarsus comes out, and see how reading the "dead" language of Koinē Greek can challenge what is actually dead in us.
2 comments:
I'm a huge fan of teaching Latin in all schools. It's the basis for our own language and helps to build vocabulary because if you know the Latin word, you will understand the meaning of the English word. Just think how the SAT scores in Vocabulary would soar if every American student was given Latin classes as a requirement in the early years of education. (btw, I think foreign languages should also be taught in early years and not wait until high school).
My grandson was given classes in Latin when he was in first through third grade. The public school he went to offered Latin classes but it cost extra and was not required. My daughter jumped on it and she said my grandson loved the classes and retained everything he learned.
It is a shame it fell out of use. People associate latin with Catholic schools but it was pretty big in public schools too at one time.
I feel I missed out not having it offered
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