Latin / Levels 9 and 10 / Understanding / The powerful influence of language and culture
Content description
Understand that Latin became the official language of the Roman empire and facilitated the spread of Roman civilisation and culture, and that Latin continues to enrich English through specialist vocabulary and abstract concepts embodied in the language
Elaborations
recognising that, as the Roman world expanded, Latin became the language of communication, trade, administration, education and law throughout its sphere of influence
exploring the role of Latin in the process of Romanisation, and its influence on local languages
discussing the impact on people and their lives in Roman provinces, with Latin as the common language, and Roman infrastructure such as aqueducts, sewers, roads and shipping, safe trade routes, standardised currency and weights and measures
recognising the spread of ancient Greek ideas through Latin, such as the use of Greek vocabulary and concepts in literature and philosophy, for example, stadium, rhetor, theatrum, poeta, stoica, philosophia
exploring abstract concepts derived from Latin, such as justice, liberty, republic, fraternity, charity, genius, piety
recognising terms in English that are hybrids of Classical Greek and Latin, for example, metalanguage, quantum physics, teleconference
discussing Latin words and expressions that are used in fields such as law, business and education, for example, de facto, non sequitur, agenda, forum, curriculum
examining the Latin roots of English words in subjects across the school curriculum, for example, technical vocabulary related to reporting research, such as ibid and stet
identifying Latin roots in English scientific, technical and medical terminology, for example, genus, species; computer, data, accumulator, super conductor, cellular differentiation, quantum teleportation; cancer, cannula, defibrillator, incision, amputation
exploring how Latin is used to coin terms for new technology and new discoveries in science and medicine in the modern world, such as internet, Trojan (horse), forum, virus
applying knowledge of Latin to form and explain plurals of English words borrowed from Latin, for example, indices, media, vertebrae, curricula, alumni
exploring mottoes and inscriptions, such as per ardua ad astra or menssana in corporesano, and discussing their relevance in the modern world
investigating the enduring nature and use of Latin in academic and religious ceremonies, for example, summa cum laude, honoris causa, gaudeamusigitur or pater noster
