# Obviously, any Intelligent Person is Fluent in Latin **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619 "2009-09-26T03:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/61 "2009-09-27T06:25:03Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > I r speak lolcats, I know it from my learnings and having seen many lolcats in my day. Habeone Cheezbrger? ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/62 "2009-09-27T07:09:03Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Not just plain Swiss: remember their recruiting slogan: > > “Adventure, Danger, Romansch” I nominate this for the Best Linguistic Pun of 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/63 "2009-09-27T07:40:49Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > That’s really sad- Victorian English is very colourful and conveys a great many subtleties and nuances that modern, informal English cannot manage so… elegantly, IMHO. I don’t suppose you have an example or two at hand do you? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/64 "2009-09-27T11:12:46Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Antediluvian > > Unca diluvian > > All the little diluvians. name suggestions for dopers? Though you spelled it wrong, it should be Auntie Diluvian =) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/65 "2009-09-27T15:27:41Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Not just plain Swiss: remember their recruiting slogan: > > “Adventure, Danger, Romansch” > [@Olentzero](#): > > I nominate this for the Best Linguistic Pun of 2009. I was so impressed by it that I had no comeback! :o ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/66 "2009-09-27T15:38:09Z")
I’ll be the first to admit that Latin isn’t useful for most people living nowadays, but (present NCIS case excepted - I have no idea what’s going on with that) most of the Latin that I’ve seen in modern TV and film is pretty darn basic, with lots of cultural relevence, or parallels to English or other modern languages. I don’t think it actually takes much/any real knowledge of Latin to follow along. Re: pronunciation. Yes, it’s theoretical. But the letters are all still going to be in the same order, it’s not like we’d be speaking utter gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/67 "2009-09-27T15:38:34Z")
I’m going to move this from The BBQ Pit to Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/68 "2009-09-27T16:08:48Z")
You wait until an actual expert-type shows up in the thread and _then_ move it? ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/69 "2009-09-27T16:15:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You wait until an actual expert-type shows up in the thread and _then_ move it? 'Twas a coincidence. And I didn’t \*close \*it, I \*moved \*it. Folks can still post and all. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/70 "2009-09-27T16:16:44Z")
> [@Estilicon](#): > > Me? I would learn french, that way I would be able to understand the genius that is “Matrix reloaded” And all I do with it is read cereal boxes! > [@Manduck](#): > > My deficiency in Latin was badly exposed during my recent vacation in Latinia. The cab drivers really took me to the cleaners. That’s _Latium_. I know someone who was born there. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/71 "2009-09-27T16:50:46Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > 'Twas a coincidence. And I didn’t \*close \*it, I \*moved \*it. Folks can still post and all. > > **Gfactor** > Pit Moderator Oh, sure. We all know the prejudice classicists face. Never mean enough for the Pit. Hmph. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/72 "2009-09-27T18:20:04Z")
> [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](#): > > Oh, sure. We all know the prejudice classicists face. Never mean enough for the Pit. Hmph. Does this mean we can use the forbidden words and do the forbidden things if we make it sound “latiney”? I kid, I kid. I am sure the answer to that is neverous everous. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/73 "2009-09-27T18:34:26Z")
[QUOTE=billfish678] If you know the name of a bird or plant or something in latin, somehow thats “smart”. [/quote] It’s not even this sort of thing I’m complaining about. If you’re not in biology it’s just a matter of trivia that might amuse you. What I’m complaining about is the notion you get in TV shows that people would just know how to translate Latin from a cold reading or hearing. This is just tossed in as a quick way to show off how smart a character is, but in real life you don’t get that from just being smart. You have to spend a great deal of time studying the language. [QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] And it has become fashionable to say mea cupla where normal people would just say “sorry about that, chief”. It lies at the elitist end of the apology spectrum: [/quote] _Mea culpa_ by you is pretentious? It’s common coin, and has been for a good while. [QUOTE=Musicat] Is it still a good idea to learn such an obsolete and unspoken language unless you are planning on entering the medical profession? [/quote] You don’t need to learn Latin for medical school. You just memorize the terms. Hell, I had a friend who studied veterinary medicine and memorized that the right eye was called “O.D.” and the left eye was called “O.S.” She didn’t know or care why. [QUOTE=Musicat] Aren’t there better and more practical uses for your limited classtime? Like, maybe, basket weaving? [/quote] It depends on what you want out of life. Do you want to be able to weave baskets? Would you like to better appreciate baskets woven by others, opening up a world of perspective into not only ancient baskets, but present and even emerging baskets? And then of course there are the analytical skills you can develop from a study of basket weaving, and the effect it’s known to have on your SAT scores. [QUOTE=Mighty\_Girl] Or however you say the above in Latin. [/quote] Quisquis olfēcit effēcit. [QUOTE=susan] Oh, shit, yeah. (Rendered, I believe, in Sebastiane as “Oh, excrementum!”) Latin is for pansies–it’s Sanskrit you want for that deep-down Indo-European erudition. [/quote] Yep. It starts with learning the Latin names for birds. Then you’re doing a few conjugations just for kicks. Next thing you know you’re mainlining I-E. [QUOTE=Ro0sh] Habeone Cheezbrger? [/quote] Birota invīsibilis! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/74 "2009-09-27T18:36:46Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > That’s really sad- Victorian English is very colourful and conveys a great many subtleties and nuances that modern, informal English cannot manage so… elegantly, IMHO. One of the beauties of Victorian novels (for me) is that they say exactly what they mean to say. (ok, sometimes they’re wordier than hell, but still). I am not fluent in Latin and therefore cannot claim any intelligence at all. This saddens me, as I had hoped to someday be able to fend for myself and eke out some kind of mundane albeit wretched existence. Or not. \ ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/75 "2009-09-27T18:41:02Z")
**Johnny Angel** , your last post makes your point far more clear than the OP did. I thought you were arguing that Latin was irrelevant (which I somewhat agree with), but it seems you are saying Latin is hard (which I agree with fervently). Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/76 "2009-09-27T20:00:20Z")
> [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](#): > > **Johnny Angel** , your last post makes your point far more clear than the OP did. I thought you were arguing that Latin was irrelevant (which I somewhat agree with), but it seems you are saying Latin is hard (which I agree with fervently). > > Carry on. Well, of course that’s always the danger in being ironic. But yeah, my point is that they treat it as though actually being able to sight read the language is something you just pick up in your education while you’re studying something completely different. But it’s not something that will ever turn out to be a surprising flash of depth in someone’s character. By the time you know the stuff that well, it will have had a very noticeable effect on who you are, how you think and how you express yourself every day of your life. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/77 "2009-09-27T20:07:25Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I am not fluent in Latin and therefore cannot claim any intelligence at all. This saddens me, as I had hoped to someday be able to fend for myself and eke out some kind of mundane albeit wretched existence. Or not. \ Don’t worry. I’ll keep you company. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/78 "2009-09-27T20:13:40Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Pog mo thon. Tiocfaidh ar la! Fág an bealach! You know how people say, “The only \_\_\_\_ words I know are swear words”? The only Irish I know could also get me in trouble in the wrong circumstances. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/79 "2009-09-27T20:31:52Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Like many members of this board, I was born fluent in Latin, as was my son, an Indigo Child who recently became the first preschooler to win a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. Yabbut, does he sing opera whilst banging on the bongos? ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619/80 "2009-09-27T21:42:31Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > What’s interesting is that I’ve read a few Adventure Stories from the late 19th and Early 20th centuries where our Intrepid Explorers discover some ancient monument or Important Find with an inscription in Latin- and there’s no translation provided, the author having assumed (not entirely unreasonably) that if you can read the story, you went to school. And if you went to school, you learned Latin. Therefore, you know what the inscription the Intrepid Explorers found would translate to in English and no “in-text” translation was necessary. :smack: I wonder if this is why the English translation of Asterix has no footnotes for the Latin quotes (Cesar’s Aleia iacta est and similar), while the German translation does? But they were done in the 1960s and 70s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obviously-any-intelligent-person-is-fluent-in-latin/511619.md?page=5)