‘veni, vidi, vici’ – this infamous phrase was stated by Julius Caesar as a result of victory. Such phrases hold a certain relevancy to speech and discussion today, with many words from many languages sharing a common element: being derived from Latin. In fact, it could be said that a fusion of Latin and Ancient Greek terms collectively form the vast majority of scientific words. From this, such antiquated languages became a way for specialists and scholars to communicate without language barriers, and hence were quite convenient. However, times have since changed and although students worldwide continue the legacy of the past, classical languages are regarded as ‘dead’. 

David Bowker is a teacher from Hertfordshire who studied Classics at the University of Cambridge. Going straight into teaching afterwards, he has taught lessons in Classics, religious studies and geography, and has been doing so for 33 years. With interests in meteorology and of course, the enormous breadth of the world of Latin and Greek, I had the pleasure to discuss the importance of studying such subjects, even if they may be thought of as a close-to-extinction existence. My interview with him can be found below:

1) Why is it that Classical languages are regarded as unimportant, or 'dead', today?

People possibly have misconceptions about classical languages, assuming that just because they are not currently spoken, they are somehow ‘dead’ or recondite. Also, some people may remember Latin being taught in a very regimented, dry and dusty way, whereas in fact, a huge new range of teaching approaches have been developed in the last three decades in particular.

2) The teaching of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) can help students greatly as learning a language, such as French or Mandarin Chinese, is a sought-after attribute in the world of work. Compared to this, what can learning a Classical language do?

I think learning a classical language perhaps requires an even greater attention to very precise detail. In Latin, it is not enough just to know the vocabulary; the ending of every single word is important in determining the part that it plays in the sentence, and you do have to do quite a bit of working out and problem-solving. These are skills that are not only transferable to other subjects but are also vital at university and in the world of work. A study of Latin also enables you to reach right down to the roots of many words that have come into modern foreign languages. In addition, studying a classical language unlocks a whole treasure chest of literature and culture of the ancient world that you would not have the opportunity to study by just learning a modern foreign language.

3) These advantages sound promising, but are there any disadvantages?

Following on from this, there is only a ‘disadvantage’ in studying an ancient language like Latin if you are not prepared to put in the work required to achieve a satisfactory standard. It is not a soft option- there is a lot of learning and hard work involved, and it may be that it is only after this that you begin to reap the real benefits.

4) In what way are learning both types of languages similar?

Having said that, if you are also learning a modern foreign language as well as Latin, there are many overlaps in the nature of the study- there are still verb tenses and vocabulary to learn, and translation skills to be fostered. One difference, though- there is no oral examination in Latin, even though it was largely a ‘spoken’, rather than a ‘written’ language

5) In what way are Classical civilisations significant today?

The foundations of much modern political thinking and philosophy lie in the ancient world, and in particular, in the writings of Plato and Aristotle. The foundations of democracy can be seen in the constitution of ancient Athens. Also, the treatment of the Greek myths in art and literature has been profoundly influential on later works.But at the same time, we must be aware of the differences between the ancient world and later times; there is much in Greek religion, for example, which is profoundly different from modern faiths, and studying the differences is just as fascinating as studying the similarities.

6) Lastly, what are your views on the future of these languages: extinction, or rejuvenation?

I am optimistic about the future of classical languages. I hope I am not being idealistic and that this is not mere ‘wishful thinking,’ but I think there is a genuine interest in the ancient world and its languages among many students. But it will probably still depend for the foreseeable future on the willingness and ability of teachers and students to pursue the subjects in extra time at all sorts of odd hours! There is no sign, though, that this willingness is diminishing. 

Floreat lingua Latina!