Friday, February 8, 2008

The New Latin Language at Gonzaga College High School

Remarks by Securities and Exchange Commission Chaiman, Christopher Cox, at the
"SEC SPEAKS IN 2008" PROGRAM OF THE PRACTISING LAW INSTITUTE


I don't know how your morning was, but even before arriving at this outstanding opportunity for continuing education credit,
I've had a bit of an education today. Each day, I drive four teenage boys to Gonzaga College High School - and I learn a lot along the way. This is a Jesuit school, where they teach Latin. But I'm discovering that even though Latin is an ancient language, it's changed a lot since I studied it. For example, did you know that domino vobiscum means "the pizza guy is here?" Or that sic semper tyrannis means "your dinosaur is ill?"
Perhaps the most relevant for all of us here in law enforcement this morning is what the classically-trained securities swindlers must be saying to themselves when they get caught: Et tu, pluribus unum? - which loosely translated means, "the U.S. government stabbed me in the back." ...

Link (here)

1 comment:

The Bent Branch said...

If you want to build up your vocabulary and you are a visual learner, then there is an ever growing resource of visual learning aids on Schola.

http://schola.ning.com



You need to sign in, and visit the photographiae section.



Here you will find over 2 800 photographs of objects, with the latin word for the object written on it.

Some also have basic phrases, introducing related verbs. Everyday objects are included as well, such as furniture, crockery and cutlery, transport, boats, etc.

There are also images related to learning greetings and salutations.



This resource is constantly expanding, and anyone serious about learning Latin will find it useful



All of the resources are free of charge



The Latinum podcast now has over 50 lessons online, each lesson is composed of several episodes comprising:

a. grammar
b. English-Latin conversational dialogue (question and answer)
c. Repetition of the same short dialogues in Latin only, first with
pauses, then again more quickly.



There are already thousands of regular users of the lessons, located all over the world. The clickable map on Latinum's home page gives an insight into where in the world people are studying and listening to Latin.



If you cannot attend an actual Latin class, (and even if you can) then Latinum's lessons, and extensive vocabulary learning resources, classical text readings, etc, will be an invaluable resource.

Many established Latin programmes, including schools and universities, are also now directing their students to it.

With over 1,300,000 lessons downloaded to date, this is the largest single Latin programme available.

http://latinum.mypodcast.com