Latin: a language at the heart of Western culture
Many people's initial response to the idea of Latin being taught in modern-day New Zealand is surprise. I'd like to offer a brief synopsis of what studying Latin involves and what it can offer
I believe all students can benefit from the logic, grammar and cultural understanding gained through learning Latin. Learning it is like gaining insight into a secret code that underpins a lot of western civilisation. Latin will give you an excellent understanding of grammar, more easily learned through study of a foreign language because the rules of one’s own language can be harder to analyse due to their familiarity. Latin will also help you understand the logic of programming languages for computer science, and enable you to understand medical, botanical, zoological and other scientific terms.
Internal assessments in this course offer possibilities to explore Roman life and culture with reference to original texts, and to investigate how the Romans were both similar to and very different from us. Internal assessments offer freedom to choose one’s own topic wherever possible, with students in recent years choosing to research and analyse modern and Roman religious practices and festivals, sporting events, attitudes to women, moral and romantic codes and military structure. Recent students pursuing these interests have gone on to study archaeology, physical education and biblical studies to name a few examples.
I will finish with my three favourite quotes from an accomplished editor about her reasons for taking up the study of Latin:
1: ‘Because it uses the same sort of analytical skill that math does, but rather than equations, you end up with poetry’
2: ‘Because you will get to know the original Dead White Men on their own terms, and because it is constantly amazing.
And, 3: ‘Because it allows you to join a conversation that’s been ongoing for thousands of years’