After studying Latin for the last two years, my daughter and I see the benefits.
(The header photo are charts that we use from Latin Road to English Grammar.)
In fact we only embarked on this journey after hearing all the marvelous benefits to Classical study. It certainly sounded fascinating and certainly couldn’t hurt.
Our Vocabulary is Expanding
I’m glad to know that we are benefiting from one of the most popular reasons to study Latin: increase vocabulary.
With much of our language derived from Latin, it makes sense to study our roots.
After all, the ancient Romans conquered the known world, which included the European continent and the British Isles.
Leaving more than architectural monuments, the Romans also left their language which seeped into the cultures they left behind.
From simply knowing one Latin root, such as nauta, nautae meaning sailor…a host of other words can easily be understood like nautical, aeronautics, nautical mile, and nautilus.
That’s especially helpful when reading about voyages on the sea in our history studies, from the explorers of the 15th century through the arrival of colonists arriving in the New World in the 17th century, to trade between nations from the 15th to 18th century (which we are currently studying).
We’re Understanding other Languages
Since Latin has pervaded many languages from ancient times, the study of Latin enhances other foreign language studies.
Recently we read a literature book about the French voyageurs in Canada.
Despite the numerous French words in the book, we understood some of the words merely from our Latin studies.
Surrounded by much Spanish influence in our city, my daughter correctly translates some of the Spanish words we see while out and about merely from her Latin knowledge.
ExercisingOur Logic Skills
Because there can be more than one correct answer when doing translations, one must analyze the sentence to see if the chosen translation is clear or if there is ambiguity.
Latin is like a verbal puzzle, moving the pieces around until there is clarity.
Through much practice in Latin, my daughter now understands the importance in applying this to her papers.
She is learning how to scrutinize the word order in her sentences to find the best meaning which she is trying to articulate.
We Better Understand English Grammar
Little studied concepts like indirect objects and passive verb tense are magnified in Latin usage.
It wasn’t until our recent study of passive verb tenses that we finally understood how to strengthen verbs in writing assignments.
Language comes alive when lifted from a workbook page and applied to writing skills.
Latin-based classical education honed the rhetorical skills of the Framers who formed a new nation.
Motivated to study Latin from Patrick Henry
Many of our Founding Fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, communicated with understanding, power, clarity, and eloquence.
Known as the Firebrand of the American Revolution, Patrick Henry learned Latin from his father who had classically studied at King’s College, University of Aberdeen, in Scotland.
In fact, Thomas Jefferson himself, as a 17-year-old law student was spell bound, along with other members of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765, when Henry condemned King George for his treatment of the colonies.
Ablaze with passion, Patrick Henry challenged the House: If this be treason, make the most of it!
Jefferson, who had received a classical education at the College of William and Mary, later described Henry’s speech as: torrents of sublime eloquence…never heard from any other man.
Although he was a Latin scholar, John Adams, who had received a classical education at Harvard, told Thomas Jefferson in reference to who should write the Declaration of Independence: You can write ten times better than I.
While on vacation in Colonial Williamsburg in 2004, I heard Patrick Henry thundering away in a rainstorm. Read this to learn how he motivated me to study Latin and seek a classical education for my kids.
