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Dead languages don't change

created by s_alanet

(idea) by s_alanet (2.5 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri Jun 02 2000 at 21:28:44

Dead languages don't change. This is why they can be useful, as is the case with Latin.

Latin is a very, very useful language because it doesn't change. That means it will be the same five hundred years from now. Because of this, scientists can say things in Latin, and have them be understood in the distant future.

Living Languages evolve, though.

See below for interesting points.

(idea) by Zulu One (6.7 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri Jun 02 2000 at 21:46:33

That's not strictly true. Every year, there is a conference in the Vatican City State (where Latin is still the official national language) to determine what the Latin words for new words and ideas, like Coca-Cola or jet engine, are. Some of the results are quite amusing, but that's another story...

(idea) by Andromache01 (1.9 wk) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 1 C! Fri Jun 02 2000 at 21:52:48

The only truly dead language is one which can't be understood anymore. All other languages are in various states of evolution.

There are various states to evolution, of course. Latin, and other languages people consider to be dead, such as Ancient Greek, have reached inertia. Any language, once its rules (grammar, spelling, etc.) are written down, will reach inertia. Any change in the language formed afterwards becomes a new form of the language that continues to evolve until it, too, reaches inertia.

Case in point: Victorian English.

printable version
chaos

English: a language with (almost) no negative verbs Incorrect grammar which might be an improvement Mixing English Assignments and Sex Talk English may be a "living language," but Latin is not -- so get it right.
Che sarà, sarà semper ubi sub ubi Forgive me, my English is version 0.0 The Arabian contribution to Cryptology
getting into a fight in high school Xenoglossy Ranting in Various Languages Indian English
Latin Redundant expressions in English Language of the dead The Ernie/Bert Dichotomy
Thai Old English another amusing
Latin for All Occasions Little Sleep's-Head Sprouting Hair in the Moonlight Shortest distance from a point to a plane post hoc ergo propter hoc
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