In today’s society, the belief that Latin is a “dead language” has been ingrained into our heads constantly. However, more people have been taking interest in the language. In addition, Latin has been a heavy influence in how we communicate with each other today. These observations lead to my conclusion: Latin is not a dead language (as many say).

While Latin classes have had a low enrollment rate in the past, statistics show that the language is beginning to rebound in the classroom setting. Nationwide, the enrollment in Latin courses have increased along with the number of students taking the Latin AP exam. With the sudden spike in students interested in Latin, it clearly shows that Latin isn’t dying out.

Latin is used in daily life, whether we’re aware of using it or not. Latin prefixes/suffixes are commonly used in the field of science. Even everyday English tends to incorporate Latin words. Without the creation of Latin, words/phrases like “impromptu” and “per se” wouldn’t be part of our vocabulary. It’s likely that a good chunk of many languages wouldn’t exist without the influence of Latin.

While some may say that Latin is just a part of our history that we’ve passed completely, it still continues to influence us today. Historical figures like Marie Antoinette and Genghis Khan existed far back in the history of mankind. However, we continue to learn about them today because of their huge influence and contribution to our world (even today). Latin has been an influence on not only America, but the entire planet. If Latin wasn’t such an influential language, why would it be taught in the classroom?

In the future, we should realize how heavily Latin influences how we are and stop referring to it as a “dead language”.