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Forms of LatinHistory of literatureHistory of the Latin languageLanguage revival

Contemporary Latin

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A display of books and publications with Latin language titles in a store in Warsaw, Poland.

Contemporary Latin is the form of Literary Latin that has been used since the end of the 19th century. While there are many ways people use Latin today, such as adding Neo-Latin words to taxonomy and science, and using it in special ways for the Catholic Church, the main focus here is on Living, or Spoken, Latin. This is when Latin is used like a regular spoken language, allowing people to express thoughts and ideas just as they would in any other language.

Many people around the world study and practice Living Latin to keep the ancient language alive. They use it in conversations, writings, and even in some schools. This helps connect us with the past while also showing how a very old language can still be useful and exciting today.

Because Latin was the language of scholars, scientists, and leaders for many centuries, knowing it can help us understand many ideas and words that come from that time. By keeping Latin alive, we make sure that important knowledge and beautiful expressions from history are not forgotten.

Token Latin

Latin is still used in many languages around the world, especially in mottos and symbols. For example, the United States seal includes the Latin phrases E pluribus unum, Annuit cœptis, and Novus ordo seclorum. The European Union’s motto, In varietate concordia, is also in Latin.

In science, Latin is used to name things like plants, animals, stars, and chemical elements. For example, the symbol Au stands for aurum, which means gold in Latin. Latin words are also used in medicine and law, and many English words have Latin origins.

Latin uses and composition from 1900 to the present day

Main article: Ecclesiastical Latin

The Catholic Church still uses Latin today. Latin is used for official documents from the Holy See, and it is also used in some religious services, especially after Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the Latin Mass. Some universities in England also allow services in Latin.

Latin continues to be used in other areas as well. Some poets in Central Europe write serious poems in Latin. Latin texts are also used in classical music, such as in Stravinsky's opera Oedipus Rex. In schools and universities, Latin is used in scholarly writing, in critical editions of ancient texts, and in speeches during graduation ceremonies. Many universities around the world still award degrees using Latin words. The song Gaudeamus igitur is often sung at university events.

Living Latin

Latin-titled publications in a store in Warsaw, Poland

Living Latin, also known as Spoken Latin or Active Latin, is an effort to bring Latin back as a spoken language for modern communication. People get involved in this revival for fun, to learn better, or to try making Latin useful again for talking to people all over the world.

The idea of using Latin this way started a long time ago. In 1815, someone wrote a book saying Europe should use Latin as a common language. Later, in the late 1800s, magazines began coming out supporting Latin as a world language. In 1952, a teacher wrote an important article saying Latin should be spoken again. The big moment came in 1956 with the first International Conference for Living Latin in Avignon, France, where about 200 people from 22 countries met to start this new way of using Latin.

Original production

See also: List of recent original books in Latin

People have created original works in Latin, including poetry, prose, music, and films. Some examples are:

Poetry

    1. Carminum libri quattuor by Tomás Viñas.
    1. Carmina Latina by A. Pinto de Carvalho.
    1. Vox Humana by Johannes Alexander Gaertner.
    1. Pegasus Tolutarius by Henry C. Snurr, pen name Arrius Nurus.
    1. Suaviloquia by Jan Novák.
    1. Cantus Firmus by Johannes Alexander Gaertner.
    1. Carmina by Traian Lăzărescu.
    1. Periegesis Amatoria by Geneviève Immè.
    1. Harmonica vitrea by Anna Elissa Radke.
    1. Sermones by Michael von Albrecht

Prose

    1. Graecarum Litterarum Historia by Antonio d'Elia.
    1. Latinarum Litterarum Historia by Antonio d'Elia.
    1. De sacerdotibus sacerdotiisque Alexandri Magni et Lagidarum eponymis by Jozef IJsewijn.
    1. Sententiæ by Alain van Dievoet (pen name: Alaenus Divutius).
    1. Mystagogus Lycius, sive de historia linguaque Lyciorum by Wolfgang Jenniges.
    1. Capti: Fabula Menippeo-Hoffmanniana Americana by Stephen A. Berard.
    1. Praecursus: Fabula Neophysiologica by Stephen A. Berard.
    1. Hebdomada Aenigmatum by Luca Desiata

Music

Cinema

Television

    1. Mr. Bean, title sequences.
    1. O Tempora! by the Kulturzeit team of the German public channel 3sat.
  • 2020–present. Barbarians, a Netflix TV series using German and Latin dialogue.

Blogs

  • 2019–present. O tempora, o mores is a daily blog in Latin on Linkiesta, where Francesco Lepore, a journalist and a former papal Latinist at the Vatican, comments daily news.

Translations

Since the 1950s, many children's books have been translated into Latin. These translations serve as teaching tools and show that Latin can be used in everyday stories. Some famous examples include:

These translations help keep the Latin language alive and accessible.

Dictionaries, glossaries, and phrase books for contemporary Latin

Several books have been written to help people learn modern uses of Latin. In 1990, Latin for All Occasions by Henry Beard tried to find Latin words for today’s common phrases. Between 1992 and 1997, Neues Latein Lexicon / Lexicon recentis Latinitatis by Karl Egger included over 15,000 words for everyday modern life. Other helpful books include Imaginum vocabularium Latinum from 1998, Piper Salve from 1999, and Visuelles Wörterbuch Latein-Deutsch from 2010, translated by Robert Maier. In 2012, Septimana Latina was published, building on the work of Piper Salve.

Images

A Latin inscription at Salamanca University marking the visit of Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko in 1985.
An ATM in Vatican City displaying instructions in the Latin language.
A sign at Wallsend Metro station that reads 'Platform 2' in English and Latin, along with a 'No Smoking' message.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Contemporary Latin, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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