Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#209514 02/11/13 10:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
J
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
J
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075
That's all very well, Joe, and to be sure, Latin isn't used very much as a medium of contemporary communication, these days.

However, it is a very living - and lively - language in Vatican City. The inhabitants therein are from all over the world, and Latin is still the lingua franca for most of the people who work there. The resident population is just over 800 but there are round about 3000 people who work there, but live elsewhere. A significant proportion of these, I think, will have to speak Latin to some extent. And the language is evolving to cope with the modern world, including all sorts of neolisms. There are Latin words and pgrases for television, automobiles, zip-fasteners, smart phones - you name it!

So, to call it a "moribund language," as the article does, is not strictly true


I'm immortal until proven otherwise
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,554
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,554
Continuity is what the use of Latin is all about.
The magnitude of this event transcends casual wordings. Christianity with it's message of unequivocal love for sinners and believers alike is why we are free. May God bless The Pope and Billy Billy Graham and maybe Mohammed.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
oy.


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
I ran across this BBC Radio 4 chat on how the Catholic Church is "into social media in a big way". Includes two different renderings of "tweet" in Latin: (the Vatican's) pagina publica breviloquentis and (Peter Jones) pipiatio (link).


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,915
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,915
Likes: 2
A phrase from back in my 8 years of Latin:

It killed Caesar and it's killing me.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
semper ubi sub ubi


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,915
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,915
Likes: 2
I had in my Latin book:

Ubi,ubi sunt meum sub ubi.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
My used Latin book had the phrase eat more possum written in the back cover. I still haven't really translated that one to my satisfaction. The closest I've gotten is "If he go by means of custom, I can."

Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
J
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
J
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
That's interesting about Latin's use in Vatican City. I didn't think that moribund was all that appropriate, either, since Latin gives birth to new words.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,271
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 263 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,502
LukeJavan8 9,915
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5