The ongoing significance of antiquated tongues in present-day contexts. - The Enduring Importance of Antiquated Languages
Revamped Article:
Keeping Up With The Classics: Why Ancient Languages Still Matter Today
Are you longing for a mental workout that delves deeper than memes and instant messaging? Dive into the captivating labyrinth of Ancient Greek and Latin—these languages aren't just historical relics; they're still bloody relevant.
Philipp Förster, a fervent enthusiast of these classical tongues, can't help but reminisce. "It's not just linguistics, but the entire ancient culture you immerse yourself in," he remarks. "And the languages themselves? Like a mathematical equation that brings a sense of clarity and beauty." He specifically raves about their literature, such as Homer's "Iliad." "It's a complex web of symbols and meanings that keeps you on your toes."
Fast-forward to 2024, and Philipp is earning his stripes as an Aerospace Engineering student at the Technical University of Munich. While rockets might be his new passion, he attributes the leg-up he had to his lingo knowledge. "Latin and Greek gave me the key to a treasure trove of technical terms in my field."
Then there's Johanna Scharbert, the die-hard Latin lover. "What sells it for me is the translation part. It's like peeling back layers of an onion, slowly deciphering the message and translating it into something comprehensible." She studied at the Karolinen-Gymnasium Rosenheim before moving on to medical school. The ancient texts provided her with a magical trip through time, delving into culture, history, and philosophical viewpoints. "I mean, people have been searching for personal happiness and making sense of the world for millennia, and that's not exactly new, is it?"
Fortunately, humanistic education—the study of ancient languages—still sparks life in Bavarian schools. According to the Ministry of Culture, no less than 98% of schools offered Latin in the 2023/24 academic year, while 12% brave souls dared to tread the rugged terrain of Ancient Greek. During this school year, approximately 124,400 students got down with Latin, with nearly 2,700 tackling Ancient Greek.
"We reap the benefits of humanistic education in navigating this digital jungle," says a Ministry of Culture representative. "Armed with critical thinking and empathy, these students can filter controversial information, reject 'fake news', and make informed decisions based on evidence and logic."
Harald Kloiber, head honcho of the Bavarian state association of the German Association of Ancient Philologists, reckons many ancient texts offer invaluable insights for the modern world. Julius Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" teaches us about manipulating narratives, a skill that comes in handy in the age of 'alternative facts.' Meanwhile, Ovid's "Metamorphoses" offers a unique perspective on crime victims that resonates even today. And Seneca? If you're wrestling with ethical dilemmas about treating your staff, take a walk through the ancient Roman philosopher's writings.
But that’s not all. Learning these languages helps young minds fine-tune their language skills by acquiring an understanding of rhetoric, style, and all the bells and whistles that make the written word sing. Stefan Kipf, a professor of classical philology in Berlin, found that students with a migration background experience faster language development by studying Latin concurrently.
So, if you're looking for a mental workout that transcends time and challenges your mind on a new level, ancient languages have got your back!
- The relevance of Ancient Greek and Latin today extends beyond linguistics, offering a unique immersion into ancient culture.
- Philipp Förster, an Aerospace Engineering student, attributes his success in his technical field to the technical terms he learned through his knowledge of Latin and Greek.
- Johanna Scharbert finds joy in the translation process, peeling back layers of meaning in ancient texts, a skill that enhances her personal growth and career development.
- Humanistic education, which focuses on the study of ancient languages, is still thriving in Bavarian schools, with 98% of schools offering Latin and 12% offering Ancient Greek in the 2023/24 academic year.
- Ancient texts offer valuable insights for the modern world, teaching critical skills such as recognizing manipulative narratives, understanding crime victims' perspectives, and addressing ethical dilemmas.
- Learning ancient languages also aids in the development of language skills, such as understanding rhetoric, style, and refining the written word, which can benefit students with a migration background in their learning and goal-setting for lifelong learning, online education, job-search, productivity, and education-and-self-development.
