Originally posted by AgergYou might be a bit surprised when they give you a potato instead of an apple, though! 😉 (And it's "une pomme".)
Course they can: Je voudrais un pomme de terre see?, I learnt that at school...I can now boldly stride into France empowered with the knowledge of how to ask for apples and count to twenty! Had I have had another 5 years who knows what other phrases I could speak as well!
Originally posted by spruce112358Govt rather than people.
Why would the French in particular oppose making Latin the EU common language?
Well, it wouldn't only be the French, but I bet they'd be the first to veto it.
Look at the mess involving the EU parliament because the French insist on having the paliament meet in Strasbourg part of every month.
(admittedly John Major has to take some of the blame for that, but it could easily be changed if the French would agree)
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ian_black/2006/06/stop_the_travelling_circus.html
Originally posted by aging blitzerBut look at the hassles over where the captial of the US would be. Finally, DC was created so none of the states could lay claim to it -- not so different.
Govt rather than people.
Well, it wouldn't only be the French, but I bet they'd be the first to veto it.
Look at the mess involving the EU parliament because the French insist on having the paliament meet in Strasbourg part of every month.
(admittedly John Major has to take some of the blame for that, but it could easily be changed if the French ...[text shortened]... agree)
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ian_black/2006/06/stop_the_travelling_circus.html
I think the French would go for Latin -- at least it wouldn't be Anglais, quand meme!
3 edits
Originally posted by aging blitzerLatin's not the easiest of languages to learn. Getting your head round the noun declensions is not straightforward but those who have learnt German would not find that aspect of the language too difficult.
Quite a few have trouble with English, let alone other languages.
I was taught Latin and French at school, but pretty much all of it is now forgotten due to lack of use.
I did two years of Latin at school (it was not compulsory) and loved it. It gave me a better understanding of how my mother tongue and other languages work. Some knowledge of Latin (and Greek) is useful in life, the English language is full of Latin derivatives and words with Latin (or Greek) roots. Latin is also still used widely in such fields as botany, law, linguistics et cetera. . . so, to conclude, it's still very much alive!
Post scriptum: Vivat Latin!