- Half of our English
vocabulary is made up of Latin words and roots.一半英文词来自拉丁或源于拉丁词根。越高级的词汇越能看到拉丁的影子。
- Latin provides the root words
for all of the modern sciences.所有现代科学用语,其词皆根源于拉丁。A new science means a whole new set of words, a whole
new vocabulary. Think of all the new words that came with computer science.
Think of all of the big words in biology, chemistry, astronomy, psychology,
sociology, and economics. The first task in
learning a new subject is to learn the vocabulary. Learning the vocabulary is
half the battle.对于英文科学课程来说,掌握专有词汇是成功的一半.
- Latin is the language of law,
government, logic: 拉丁是法律,政府,逻辑学的语言。
While a large number of words in science come from Greek, law is the exclusive
domain of the Latin language. All legal terms are
Latin.很大一部分科学词汇源于希腊语,但是法学是拉丁语的天下。所有的法律术语皆为拉丁。The Romans excelled in the practical arts of law and
government, and it is from them that we derive our legal and political language.
Latin is invaluable for the business and law student.
- Latin is the most efficient
way to learn English grammar:
拉丁是学习英文语法的利器。Latin grammar is concrete and visible because of its
structure and inflection.
- Latin is the best
preparation for learning any language.学过拉丁语,学啥语言都容易。
- Latin effectively develops
and trains the mind:
拉丁是大脑体操。Your mind takes on the qualities of
the subjects that it dwells on. The formative aspect of subjects is as
important, if not more important, than the information they provide. For
instance, the subject of literature teaches insight, perception, and compassion
for the human condition. The subject of history develops judgment, discernment,
acumen, and wisdom; The subject of math teaches accuracy and logic. Those
qualities of mind are priceless and what differentiates the educated person from
the uneducated. Likewise, thethe mind of the student that has been educated in
Latin takes on the qualities of Latin: logic, order,
discipline, structure.Latin requires and teaches attention to
detail, accuracy, patience, precision, and
thorough, honest work. Latin is a mental workout, and Latin is your mental
trainer.
- Latin
effectively:拉丁之于文科,恰似数学之于理科。Latin does for the language side of the curriculum what
math does for science. It provides the mental discipline and structure that the
humanities side of the curriculum desperately needs. Both subjects are necessarily cumulative. Everything
must be remembered; nothing can be forgotten.
Latin is
not dead; it’s immortal.
摘自 Memorial Press The Classical Teacher