Definitions

Dead Language: noun A language that is no longer learned as a native tounge.

Clear and cut, by this simple definition, Latin is a dead language. It is no longer learned as a native tongue. End of story. Right?

Wrong. If that were that, and it was an "end of story" situation, there wouldn't be so much controversy as to whether or not Latin was a dead language. So another origin of this dispute should be researched, the definition of a dead language. Of the large contingency of "pro-living" Latin believers, I would dare say many, through their blogs, academic journals and videos, have contrasting definitions from this finite one. Through various claims and proposals of those whom I have researched in previous writings, several points have been made as to what qualities of Latin should prove it to be "alive".

So who is to say that all the facts and strong arguments made cannot override this constricting definition? What's to say that under someone else's definition of a dead language, Latin wouldn't fit into the criteria for a "living" language?

So I ask you, looking back upon all the valid claims that have been made, and all the research that has been done, who has the right to define Latin's state as a language. Moreover, do you think that this definition of a dead language is fitting/fair?


Dead Language. (n.d.). WordNet® 3.0. Retrieved May 13, 2012, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dead language