Why Study Latin? From the Introduction
Why study Latin? The inspiration of the Scripture testifies to the importance of language skills for both comprehending and formulating verbal thought and expression. God has revealed Himself and His plan in words. Words, and the relationship of words, are the basis for ideas, and ideas have consequqnces in our personal lives and for history. Language skills, therefore, make us more effective in our service to God, and Latin is a powerful and effective vehicle for learning those skills.
Latin has been the most widely used language in all the world's hisotry, and more than any other tongue, it influenced the languages of Europe and the Americas. It has been estimated that between 60 and 70% of our English words are derived from Latin. Some words, such as area, circus, and animal, are spelled the same in both languages. Others, such as cause, form, and note, are almost like Latin (causa, forma, nota). Still others, like people, space, and peace (populus, spatium, pax) come indirectly from Latin. Indeed, because Latin has been the language of learned men and women, it became the basis for the vocabularyof the sciences, law, technology, music, and medicine. For developing a powerful vocabulary, Latin is a definite plus.
Latin is equally important for learning the structure of language and grammar. The majority of our nation's founders could read both Latin and Greek, and they were able to use the English language the way a surgeon uses his scalpel or an artist his paintbrush. Their ability to write and say what they meant with precision is largely because of the skills they learned in their youth from studying these ancient languages. Furthermore, from Latin, a student can branch out into other languages with ease. Studies have shown that students who study Latin tend to perform better in all academic areas. The study habits and memory development gained in the study of Latin are vital factors for success in college and in getting higher scores on the SAT and ACT entrance exams.
