Classical Studies Institute of Louisville

Why Study Greek and Latin?

THE SHORT ANSWER:

Impact of Studying Various Foreign Languages on
Mean Verbal SAT Scores (2006):

THE BETTER ANSWER (which explains The Short Answer):

Reading, writing, and translating Greek and Latin sharpens the mind.
Because of their non-English word structure and sentence patterns, the classical languages have for centuries instilled such habits of mind as enhanced perceptiveness, accuracy, close analysis, and logical thinking. Thus the mind is developed in demanding and practical ways. Classics majors are hired by firms that need personnel who can define and identify problems, think on their feet, and arrive at sound and creative solutions.

Greek and Latin develop English skills.
A person’s reading, writing and speaking of his or her own language is improved by studying classical languages: Grammar is sharpened, a sense of organization is instilled, and vocabulary is enriched. According to Dictionary.com, about 80 percent of the entries in any English dictionary are borrowed, mainly from Greek and Latin. Over 60 percent of all English words have Greek or Latin roots. In the vocabulary of the sciences and technology, the figure rises to over 90 percent.

Greek and Latin provide a solid foundation for the acquisition of other languages.
Greek and Latin equip a person with the strongest single foundation for mastering Romance languages, modern inflected ones such as Russian and German, and even non-related tongues like Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. Working with Latin and Greek broadens a person’s notion of structures possible in languages other than English. In addition, Latin gives one a grip on about 80% of the vocabulary of the Romance languages — French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish.

The civilizations of Greece and Rome link us with cultures of fifty-seven nations on four continents.       A background in the classical civilizations makes Americans aware of customs, values, and ideas that we have in common with Eastern and Western Europeans and with North and South Americans. We share many concepts in government, religion, art, literature, and economic systems.

Acquaintance with ancient cultures promotes tolerance and understanding.
Anyone made aware of the rich and varied culture of the Greeks and Romans is more likely to accept the differing customs and values of other peoples today.

                                                                                               The 'Better Answer' portion of these contents is adapted from a printable brochure at:
                                                                                                                            http://www.promotelatin.org/WhyStudyLatin2003.pdf

THE BEST ANSWER:

The ability to read Homer, Plato, Cicero, or the New Testament writers in their own language – encountering the power of their words and thoughts without the mediation of a translator – is not just the only way to understand them for ourselves, it's a sublime pleasure!

Testimonials collected by
Diane Arnson Svarlien, Ph.D.
Georgetown College

TESTIMONIALS:

Hardly any lawful price would seem to me too high for what I have gained by being made to learn Latin and Greek.                                                                                                                                                                                             ~ C.S. Lewis

It took Latin to thrust me into bona fide alliance with words in their true meaning. Learning Latin . . . fed my love for words upon words, words in continuation and modification, and the beautiful accretion of a sentence....                                                                                                                                                                                     ~ Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginning

… it was [Theodore Geisel’s, aka Dr. Seuss’] Latin classes that had the most enduring influence on his future art.   ‘It allows you to adore words,’ Geisel once said about Latin, ‘take them apart and find out where they came from.'                                                                                                                                               ~ Douglas Brinkley in the New York Times, March 2, 2004

To read the Latin and Greek authors in their original is a sublime luxury … I thank on my knees him who directed my early education for having in my possession this rich source of delight.
                                                                                                         ~ Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Joseph Priestly, January 27, 1800

You may write English poetry without knowing any Latin. I am not sure whether without Latin you can wholly understand it.                                                                                                                                                                                          ~ T.S. Eliot