What extinct languages can teach us

These days, many of us learn languages for pragmatic purposes and our choice of language might consider factors such as which languages are most widely spoken, or which will provide the greatest number of opportunities for work or further study. In light of this, less widely-spoken languages often tend to get overlooked, while extinct languages are often dismissed as not being worthy of study at all because they’re not deemed to fulfill any practical purposes.

Although this mindset is understandable when we all have so many competing demands on our time, it should be emphasised that there are many less obvious benefits to studying extinct languages, from an improved ability to learn other living languages to an insight into how people in previous centuries lived. In the rest of our article, we’ll be thinking about some of the benefits of exploring extinct languages and arguing in favour of their continued study.

For some reason, commentary around extinct languages tends to focus mainly on Latin, which is arguably the most widely-studied extinct language, at least in Western countries. Many of the arguments in favour of learning Latin can be easily applied to any other language, but if you know of any other extinct languages that bring an additional set of benefits then please don’t hesitate to write about them in the comments.

In no particular order, here are some reasons why studying any extinct language can be helpful.

To learn how to speak related languages

Latin is the precursor to what are now some of the world’s most widely-spoken languages, as well as a whole host of other less commonly-spoken but no less interesting languages, from Aragonese to Sardinian. It therefore follows that having a base knowledge of Latin will make the study of all of those other languages easier. Over and above this, many of the words and phrases that are still used daily in English have their ultimate origins in Latin, from ‘ad hoc’ to ‘carpe diem’, while over 60% of academic vocabulary in English reportedly comes from Greek, as does a lot of the terminology relating to science, politics and philosophy. This means that having some basic knowledge of Latin and Ancient Greek can help foster a better understanding and appreciation of many of the words that we use in contemporary contexts today.

To help get a feel for learning languages in general

One of the arguments made in favour of learning the constructed language Esperanto by linguist Jakub Marian is that it’s a good way to experience the process of language learning. And the same argument can be made for the study of any living or extinct language. If you already speak at least one additional language which you learned in an educational setting then you’re probably already used to the process, but if not then studying an ancient language can help you in the same way as studying a modern language from the point of view of teaching you about grammar, sparking your natural curiosity, and also fostering the sense of discipline required for learning a language or for studying any other topic.

To see how other people lived

Every language is a window into another culture, but extinct languages give us an insight into a different time period as well as a different place. Being able to read and understand texts in an extinct language, without being filtered through the lens of translation, can be one of the most reliable ways of understanding how people many generations before us lived, and what their unique challenges and preoccupations were. Understanding written content from previous time periods can also highlight ways in which we are similar to generations that went before us, and can therefore reinforce a sense of common humanity.

To use your free time wisely

Many of the benefits of learning a living language also apply to learning an extinct language. Learning a language takes discipline but the cognitive benefits are worthwhile, such as improved short and long term memory, an enhanced ability to focus, and better creative skills. Learning any language can also help us to keep our minds active and can therefore boost our ability to think and learn about non-language-related tasks, while also inspiring us to think more about the world and other people, enhancing our sense of empathy and helping us to feel more connected.

To better appreciate the importance of language survival

We tend to think of extinct languages as being archaic but it’s important to remember that at one point they too were used in everyday interactions in places like markets and taverns. Nobody alive today will ever have the option of asking for their coffee in Latin, but learning an extinct language can help us to reflect on the vulnerability of language and therefore better appreciate how great it is to be able to converse in our own language, or in other living languages that we know.

To pursue something you enjoy

If you enjoy learning an ancient language and it gives you satisfaction, there’s no reason not to pursue it. Lots of people learn living languages because there’s some element of that culture that they admire, even if they don’t have a specific intention to use the language for practical purposes. Your free time is yours, and if you prefer to set your sights on an ancient language rather than feeling pressured to study one of the world’s most widely-spoken living languages then that’s totally fine. The fact that a language brings you pleasure is reason enough to study it.

And with that, we round off this month’s translation industry updates, but if you’d like to share your own experiences with learning ancient or extinct languages, please don’t hesitate to write more in the comments.

Happy translating, and see you again next month for April’s updates!