Latin Dictionary

Latin has long been considered a dead language but at least a single Latin dictionary is still being sold in bookstores and online Latin dictionaries are still bountiful all over the internet. Though no one has continued speaking the language, many people still find the need to translate Latin phrases into English.

The History of the Latin language

Latin was the official language that was spoken, written and read during the Roman Empire. A lot of languages including Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese are direct descendants of this language which might be obvious because these languages have Latin accents in them.

Even English is heavy influenced by the Latin language. If you compare the English dictionary to the Latin dictionary, you can find that almost 80 percent of the English language can be traced to Latin. This is why, if you browse through a Latin dictionary, you will find many words that are common and are English-sounding.

With so much influence that this now-dead language has on our own, there have been many courses that are teaching Latin in college and even in high school. Learning Latin by reading a Latin dictionary and knowing the dynamics, syntax and semantics of the language, you can greatly improve your own command of the English language. It is also use to provide a solid historical foundation in education.

Teaching and Learning Latin

Latin courses are not meant to teach conversational Latin. It is primarily taught for translating ancient literature as well as help improve and build the official Latin dictionary. Since no one really speaks Latin in conversations, the language is taught for reading and translating purposes.

Most people who are taking up Latin are those who major in Classical Studies. This is very important for them because they need to study many aspects of the Ancient Roman and Greek culture and history. When they proceed to earn advanced degrees in Archeology or Art History, knowing Latin will also help them with their research.

Law and medicine students will also be benefited by learning Latin because they will be able to efficiently master technical terminologies that are inherent in their respective fields. A lot of law and medical terms are comprised of Latin words and phrases and knowing Latin beforehand will give them a better grasp of the meaning of these terms. There are also many names in the Latin names dictionary that many lawyers and doctors will find familiar.