Conversational Latin?

Question

I know that Latin is a "dead language". I'll admit, I really don't know what that means. But I'll ask this question anyway.

Does conversational Latin exist? Are there people who speak it fluently? Can you take classes (besides the ones that lawyers and doctors take)?

Answer 1

Dead language means that it has been no longer updated (with new terms) since the times it was currently spoken by the Ancient Romans. In the Vatican State the Latin however is still the official language and all the cardinals,bishops,priests (as well the Pope obviously) are speaking it fluently. In any case is the only one language all of them can use to communicate each others.
In Italy we have University's courses specifically devoted to the learning of the Latin language but I guess this will be also possible abroad being Ancient Latin (and Ancient Greek) matter of teaching.

Answer 2

It certainly would be possible. The reason though that Latin was chosen for Science and Medicine is that while the entire language is well known and documented and the basis for most European languages, it is no longer used. Therefore it doesn't change with time as other languages do. No "modern slang" in latin, etc. Just think of the "slang terms" in English from the 60's like Groovy, that are no longer in widespread use today. Latin is used because it is no longer used as communication between people everyday. What is written in Latin 500 years ago is just as readable and understandable today as it was back then. And unless some country decides to take it upon themselves to "resurrect" it will be the same 500 years from now. To sum your answer though, is certainly possible to converse in Latin as all the aspect of the language are well known and you can even find Latin dictionaries to go by.

Answer 3

I was once on an email list with a woman who was trying to raise her daughter with Latin as her first language. I don't think she was all that successful, but obviously they both do speak it quite fluently and she mentioned knowing others who get together for Latin seminars. I believe Catholic priests still need to know Latin, and in some cases that would be the only language they have in common.

Sure you can take classes. Check a university Classics department.

Answer 4

"Dead language" meaning no longer used. I think there are very few people out there who know a few phrases but probably not very fluently enough to use it in conversations.
There are internet programs as well as CD-Rom ones, where you can learn Latin. As for private or public classes, I'm not sure, I've never heard of those before. Although, I know that many universities offer degrees and courses in Latin, so you could try there if you're really keen to learn it.
Since Latin is the basis of many European languages, a.k.a "romantic languages" (almost all those languages require the alphabet) I think its important to know a few Latin words or phrases. I'm learning French, and soon about to start on Italian and Spanish, and I find that if you know a few basic words such as "to think" and "to like", it will make learning those languages much, much easier. Those who are billingual may agree with me :)

Answer 5

Latin is a dead language in the sense that no modern society speaks it. Doctors are not required to take Latin anymore. I don't know that it was ever a requirement for lawyers. Latin is the basis for the romance languages, and you can trace the origins of many words back to Latin. I suppose there are some people who can converse in Latin but that conversation would certainly be very limited. There is no way you could say to someone "Want to go for a drive in my car and get a cheeseburger?" in Latin. You could however say "Get on my chariot if you want to go to the vomitorium." There is no modern vocabulary for Latin. I took Latin for many years for fun. Anybody can sign up for a Latin course. There are no specific courses for doctors and lawyers. There never was to my knowledge.

Answer 6

That a language is "dead" means that there are no more native speakers, i.e. people who learn it from their mother as their very first language.
Living Latin changed into modern Italian in the last 500 years, and, as has been pointed out, the medieval form is still used in the Catholic church, which also updates a dictionary every so often to keep it in step with modern developments, so there is the possibility to use it in a quite mundane conversation as well. In Germany there is still a requirement for quite advanced knowledge of Latin for certain subjects at university, so there are courses as well, there even is one somewhere online, it came up for me when I googled for a dictionary, so you might try that.

Answer 7

Raeto-Romanisch (I'm not sure what the name is in English) is one of the official languages of Switzerland. I heard it's the closest to Latin of all the languages that are still in use, but less than a million people speak it.
And yeah, there is a guy who speaks it fluently - he's a classics professor at the U of Kentucky (I think) who teaches Latin just like it's any other language. Both my medieval history professor and Latin professor (in California) made a big deal about him, so I'm guessing his ability is pretty rare. I wish I had him as a teacher, it's so weird not to speak it!

Answer 8

Latin is still the "lingua franca" in the Roman Catholic Church.
Today's older priests, especially the higher ranking ones like bishops, needed to have a working knowledge of conversational Latin.

Answer 9

Do some research on the web. I downloaded a program before (but i forget what it is) and I learned a few words. Start with a few words, then start expanding. There's a lot to learn from the internet, just don't get fooled. I learned conjugation and stuff from some site.