Most of the European languages are based on Latin. And many know more Latin then they think. If you have a future doctor in the family, have them take Latin in school…it WILL help them. Medicines, diseases, and classifications are shortened versions of their Latin names.
Jolly: English is NOT derived from Latin. Don’t be misled by our many Latin borrowings. English is a highly simplified descendant of Low German dialects spoken by invaders of the British Isles from Denmark and Germany over a thousand years ago. One bit of evidence I like to use: Hand, Finger, and Arm are three words in German. Try that with any Romance language.
Monkey: The major European languages based on Latin are Italian, Spanish, Portugeuse, French, and Rumanian. They are far outnumbered by the European languages that are NOT derived from Latin, namely all the languages from the Germanic/Scandinavian, Slavic, Celtic, Greek, Albanian, and Finno-Ugric families. (Almost any large English dictionary will have a chart of the language families and their relationships.)
grapfhics over 14 years ago
scisne latine?
Latin is a language, as dead as dead can be. Once it killed the Romans and now it’s killing me.
lewisbower over 14 years ago
I chose between Latin and Spanish. If I ever go to ancient Rome I won’t be able to ask “Is this my aunt’s toothbrush?”
AddADadaAdDad over 14 years ago
sapere aude, Treggie.
Jolly1995 over 14 years ago
We all speak Latin because English is derived from it as are other languages.
monkeyhead over 14 years ago
Most of the European languages are based on Latin. And many know more Latin then they think. If you have a future doctor in the family, have them take Latin in school…it WILL help them. Medicines, diseases, and classifications are shortened versions of their Latin names.
pschearer Premium Member over 14 years ago
Jolly: English is NOT derived from Latin. Don’t be misled by our many Latin borrowings. English is a highly simplified descendant of Low German dialects spoken by invaders of the British Isles from Denmark and Germany over a thousand years ago. One bit of evidence I like to use: Hand, Finger, and Arm are three words in German. Try that with any Romance language.
Monkey: The major European languages based on Latin are Italian, Spanish, Portugeuse, French, and Rumanian. They are far outnumbered by the European languages that are NOT derived from Latin, namely all the languages from the Germanic/Scandinavian, Slavic, Celtic, Greek, Albanian, and Finno-Ugric families. (Almost any large English dictionary will have a chart of the language families and their relationships.)
1148559 over 14 years ago
I read once that the English language is actually the result of Norman soldiers trying to pick up Saxon bar maids.