February 22, 2010
Europeans: Should Latin Become The Common Language Of Europe?
The EU is getting larger and larger. Communication is very important. What do you think about choosing Latin, for example, as the language of business, education and government within the European Union? Of course the individual countries would maintain their traditional languages, minority languages and dialects. It just seems that it would in the long run be easier to get things done if there was a common language. Everyone in the Union could after a generation or so be able to understand each other no matter where in the Union they were living, working or visiting. The children could begin learning Latin in the 1st grade or even preschool, like many in Scandinavia, for example, learn English at a young age.
Suggested Reading:
Understanding the Latin Mass: Hear and Learn the Words of the Novus OrdoAn account of the Novus Ordo, the latin mass. A word-by-word latin text of the mass with english translation. An accompaying Audio CD provides the spoken words. Includes a basic introduction to latin.
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Comments on Europeans: Should Latin Become The Common Language Of Europe? »
Well, I study for European Professional, so we kind of discuss this every week. )) In my class most people do think that French should be the main language of the EU, because the biggest part of the EU does speak this language or a language which is about the same as French, like Spanish or Italian. They are all from the same language group.
Latin is also a language from the same group (I think) , so I agree with you, it would be very easy for everyone if they learn it at school from the beginning. It would be nice if children at least would learn the basics of the language, and of course their own language.
It would be easier to tell eachothers opinions in the EU.
For example, English is not my native language, but I hope most people understand me. So it would also be easy to use just one language in the EU.
I’d prefer Esperanto rather than Latin. Latin is too difficult (declensions, three genders…) and people would end up going back to English. Esperanto, on the other head, is one of the easiest languages to learn and has a bit of every major European language in it, so it is equally easy for every European to learn. Latin, however, would be easier for Romance language speakers, and it wouldn’t be fair, just as English isn’t fair today. But we all know Esperanto can’t really work as a lingua franca nowadays so I’d rather stick with English.
By now “de facto” the common language within EU is English, I don’t understand why we should start speaking again a language that none speaks anymore apart from the Pope and some priests in their liturgies…
Remember Esperanto? It just wouldn’t work because it isn’t practical. There are already widely common languages, namely English and rapidly growing Mandarin. Forcing dozens of nations and groups to change their language to something that barely anyone speaks anymore (it isn’t even an official language of Vatican City) would be met with loud outcry, especially to a language like Latin. Our world has evolved with thousands upon thousands of languages, and an area as large as the European Union can’t be united under one, more so with something as arcane (it became arcane well over a thousand years ago) as Latin. But hey, if the Pope called, anyone could have a conversation.