07-18-2001, 07:22 PM
I don't know Latin. Holy cow! Am I to be banned? Why do you find the ignorance of Latin intollerable? If there IS something to deplore of the mental states of the multitudes, it is the sad fact that most will never find an interest in life that will keep them company throughout and make their minds fly, NOT that they don't know Latin! You (we) are lucky to have a passion!<br>
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As for me, I might, out of passion, study Latin, but I have other passions too. I truely envy those that can read Latin because I would like to feel the rythm of the language that I can only vaguely imagine and because I want to have direct contact with a long dead soul (e.g. Tacitus) without the undesired mediation of a third party - the translator - even if talented (*). I might learn Latin for these reasons, certainly not because I feel "inferior".<br>
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(*) Someone (a male chauvinist) said that translations are like women. The more beautiful they are, the less faithful.<br>
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P.S. I, an average physicist, DO NOT find it intollerable that most people are ignorant of the laws of physics, although it can be vigorously argued (I am not, but just being fair) that knowing some physics is more important than knowing Latin as that knowledge permits us to write on computers or even read books using electricity allowing some to pursue their passion studies like Latin, ancient Greek, Egyptian, what ever. Without our the understanding of these laws of nature it is very likely that only a lucky few (very few) would study Latin and then spend their precious time translating for the 1 zillionth time Cicero and Tacitus without really ever having an original thought or something to say to the world, all while living off the efforts of vast and ignorant multitudes. Of these few, only a small hand full would really be creative and leave something behind besides translations of Cicero.<br>
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This final blurb was only intended as a healthy torpedo for the "ship". With able manuevering the ship can certainly avoid it (e.g. physics is great but there are other things in life; "ignorance of history is to be condemned to repeat it" and other bla bla blas) but the captain must learn to not steer too straight a course. "It is a jungle out there" and animals bite back and I am not a plant.<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
As for me, I might, out of passion, study Latin, but I have other passions too. I truely envy those that can read Latin because I would like to feel the rythm of the language that I can only vaguely imagine and because I want to have direct contact with a long dead soul (e.g. Tacitus) without the undesired mediation of a third party - the translator - even if talented (*). I might learn Latin for these reasons, certainly not because I feel "inferior".<br>
<br>
(*) Someone (a male chauvinist) said that translations are like women. The more beautiful they are, the less faithful.<br>
<br>
------------------------------------------------------<br>
P.S. I, an average physicist, DO NOT find it intollerable that most people are ignorant of the laws of physics, although it can be vigorously argued (I am not, but just being fair) that knowing some physics is more important than knowing Latin as that knowledge permits us to write on computers or even read books using electricity allowing some to pursue their passion studies like Latin, ancient Greek, Egyptian, what ever. Without our the understanding of these laws of nature it is very likely that only a lucky few (very few) would study Latin and then spend their precious time translating for the 1 zillionth time Cicero and Tacitus without really ever having an original thought or something to say to the world, all while living off the efforts of vast and ignorant multitudes. Of these few, only a small hand full would really be creative and leave something behind besides translations of Cicero.<br>
<br>
This final blurb was only intended as a healthy torpedo for the "ship". With able manuevering the ship can certainly avoid it (e.g. physics is great but there are other things in life; "ignorance of history is to be condemned to repeat it" and other bla bla blas) but the captain must learn to not steer too straight a course. "It is a jungle out there" and animals bite back and I am not a plant.<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Jeffery Wyss
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
