Many years back, Latin was a spoken language. So, it should come as no surprise that it’s also the root of most major languages. Learning Latin helps you have a good grasp of languages such as English, German, Italian, French, Greek, and Spanish. As you may already know, these are some of the commonly spoken languages all over the world. That said, there are numerous benefits for you to gain from learning a seemingly dead language. One of which is that it helps you learn other languages more easily. Here’s how it does so:

1. Many Latin Phrases Are Used Universally

Apart from the English language, Latin is one of the languages that unite people across the globe. There are numerous Latin phrases still in use today across countries and industries.

So, learning the language will make it easier for you to know other languages when you’re able to decipher those Latin phrases. This gives you lesser phrases to memorize, learn, and analyze. You can also better communicate and use these terms without confusion if you’re in a foreign land that uses Latin as well.

You can also benefit from learning Latin, especially if you plan to learn a new language to be more globally competitive in your job. Latin phrases that are in use in your own country today will still have the same meaning when translated into another language. When you already know its essence, this is an advantage that you already have.

Examples of common Latin phrases still in use today include:

• Alter ego, meaning the other you
• Carpe diem, which means seize the day
• Exempli Gratia (e.g.), which means for example
• Requiescat in pace (R.I.P.), which means rest in peace

2. Many Languages Are Made Up Of Latin Root Words

Latin root words comprise a majority of the languages today. When you learn Latin first, it makes it easier for you to learn another language. Doing so makes you memorize lesser and analyze more. You can learn other languages better when you don’t have to memorize so much.

Comprehension and analysis should weigh a bulk of the effort in learning a foreign language. That way, it’s easier for you to correlate specific terminologies with their meaning. When you know what the root word means, you can better translate a foreign language.

For instance:

• Words containing “pater” or “patris” will always be related to a father. Hence, as a correlation, it can also be used to mean fatherland and other related concepts.
• Words containing the roots “mor” or “mortis” will always be related to life or death.

3. Many Languages Have Evolved From Latin 

While the world is divided into many countries and native languages, some languages stand out as the major languages of the world. These are languages that have been passed from one continent to another through colonization and inter-marriage. For instance, in Africa, you’ll still see many countries speaking French such as Morrocco.  In Asia, you’ll still see many countries having Spanish influence, especially in many parts of the Philippines.

When you know the primary language rules in Latin, it’s effortless for you to apply these in foreign languages, too. Hence, sentence construction and speaking, for instance, will be more effortless. 

The rules in Latin that you can also apply to major languages include:

• • Grammatical rules and concepts
  • Gender rules and concepts
  • Word agreement, such as subject and verb agreement
  • Use of conjugated verbs
  • Use and expansion of root words
  • Application of inflected nouns 

4. Latin Words Still Govern Many Saturated Careers

Wherever you are, Latin very much governs specific careers. If you have to communicate with co-workers from another language or attend career-related seminars in other countries, it’s easier for you to grasp and understand their local language. It also creates a lesser language division. Hence, this takes away the need for you to have to memorize many words in another language when there are common phrases in Latin that unite you.

The Latin language also governs some careers, which is used in science, medicine, governance, humanities, and law. A lawyer in England, therefore, can easily communicate with a French lawyer when they can both speak in Latin.

Conclusion

Many significant languages in the world are derived from Latin. It has become the root of all these languages. If you know a couple of terms, phrases, or grammatical and sentence construction rules in Latin, you’ll be surprised to know that many of these are also very much applicable to the other major languages.

If you’re looking to learn another language, it might be a good move even to learn Latin on the side. You may not become an expert, as it is no longer spoken. But, it helps you learn many of the major languages in the world more concisely, effortlessly, and with greater accuracy.