Voices in the wilderness.

[Reggaedoc]

It was refreshing to see that I am not the only one calling for Latin to be returned to the school curricula in Jamaica. Prominent educator Dr. Winsome Gordon said the same thing in a piece I read in the Gleaner today. It makes sense. Why are people resisting it so vehemently. We need to improve English in our schools. We are on a dangerous slope as far as English is concerned in Jamaica. We need to start from scratch, lest we end up producing a generation of people only fit to become foul-mouthed DJs for spewing filth and violent lyrics through the ears of future generations, even those still in wombs. After all a large portion of their fan base is drawn from half- naked dance hall queens, many of whom show up to hear their "teachers" even when they are themselves pregnant.

[Muadib]

Makes sense.. we need to build more linkages to Latin American...

[Reggaedoc]

Well look, Latin as a linkage to English. It is the foundation of all romance languages, English, French, Romanian, Italian, Spanish etc. There is nothing Latin American-specific about Latin.

[Gamma]

[myYout]

Right!!

[Za]

Well look, Latin as a linkage to English. It is the foundation of all romance languages, English, French, Romanian, Italian, Spanish etc. There is nothing Latin American-specific about Latin.

Uhmmmm English is Germanic

[Don1]

Makes sense.. we need to build more linkages to Latin American...

lol

[MissLondon]

Uhmmmm English is Germanic

LOL! Yeah I was gonna say, English isn't a romance language.

[MissLondon]

Sorry I don't see the point of this. Learning latin will not help with learning english, it may be useful if you pursue a legal career, but in every day life? No. Stick with the basics.

[Muadib]

Yuh nevah hear bout Latin Lovers ?

[myYout]

ah nuff % ah word inna English hab Latin translation, suh it ah ongle Germanic by origin, but ah wah odah role it play in di determination ah di language itself

[Reggaedoc]

Thats exactly correct myyout. In the 5th century AD English was a Germanic language. Over the last 15oo years English has undergone such drastic romance modification, including much French injection that for all practical purposes it should not be any longer considered a Germanic language, and should be considered a Romance language, that despite England never being a part of the Roman empire. Also understand that Latin was the language of the educated educated elite 1500 years ago, and Germanic based languages were considered the language of the lower classes, therein lies the reason why the English wanted to move their language away from Germanic roots to a Latin/Romance root. The vocabulary of middle- and modern-English is more than 70% Latin/French roots and lesss than 30% Germanic. This makes English essentially a Romance language as far as I, and many linguists are concerned. To suggest that Latin is only useful in studying law is a serious error. No one is suggesting learning Latin with the intention of conversing in Latin. One would be an idiot to suggest that. What myself, and the good doctor are suggesting, is that learning Latin, and even some Greek classics at an early age will give students, especially in Jamaica, and Britain for that matter, where children are having a difficult time with what should be their mother tongue, a better understanding of English and would drastically expand their lexicon, and overall language skills.

[Muadib]

yuh smoke weed ?

[Gamma]

"should" .... are you saying the etymology of the English language should now be revised? INNERESTING!!!

[Exile]

It's interesting Sir! Yu likkle American.