博主评论：美国的许多高中中，拉丁语仍然是外语的一个选修的语言。近几年来，许多中国学生也选修拉丁语。由于中国的学校中很少有开拉丁语课程的，所以中国学生对拉丁语的了解比较少。下面这篇文章解释了学习拉丁语的好处。

Half of our English vocabulary is made up of Latin words and roots.一半英文词来自拉丁或源于拉丁词根。越高级的词汇越能看到拉丁的影子。

Latin provides the root words for all of the modern sciences.所有现代科学用语，其词皆根源于拉丁。A new science means a whole new set of words, a whole new vocabulary. Think of all the new words that came with computer science. Think of all of the big words in biology, chemistry, astronomy, psychology, sociology, and economics. The first task in learning a new subject is to learn the vocabulary.

Learning the vocabulary is half the battle.对于英文科学课程来说，掌握专有词汇是成功的一半.

Latin is the language of law, government, logic: 拉丁是法律，政府，逻辑学的语言。 While a large number of words in science come from Greek, law is the exclusive domain of the Latin language. All legal terms are Latin.很大一部分科学词汇源于希腊语，但是法学是拉丁语的天下。所有的法律术语皆为拉丁。The Romans excelled in the practical arts of law and government, and it is from them that we derive our legal and political language. Latin is invaluable for the business and law student.

Latin is the most efficient way to learn English grammar: 拉丁是学习英文语法的利器。Latin grammar

is concrete and visible because of its structure and inflection.

Latin is the best preparation for learning any language.学过拉丁语，学啥语言都容易。

Latin effectively develops and trains the mind: 拉丁是大脑体操。Your mind takes on the qualities of the subjects that it dwells on. The formative aspect of subjects is as important, if not more important, than the information they provide. For instance, the subject of literature teaches insight, perception, and compassion for the human condition. The subject of history develops judgment, discernment, acumen, and wisdom; The subject of math teaches accuracy and logic. Those qualities of mind are priceless and what differentiates the educated person from the uneducated. Likewise, thethe mind of the student that has been educated in Latin takes on the qualities of Latin: logic, order, discipline, structure.Latin requires and teaches attention to detail, accuracy, patience, precision, and thorough, honest work. Latin is a mental workout, and Latin is your mental trainer.

Latin effectively：拉丁之于文科，恰似数学之于理科。Latin does for the language side of the curriculum what math does for science. It provides the mental discipline and structure that the humanities side of the curriculum desperately needs. Both subjects are necessarily cumulative. Everything must be remembered; nothing can be forgotten.

Latin is not dead; it’s immortal.

转载自 Ester的博客