Picking on Brits a Bit

[cosmicfolklore]

Actually, I can explain, but it may be less fun, but... we founded our nation on the principles of a representative democracy as modelled by the Romans. We were a young nation, so we wanted to set an air of authority, tradition, and intellectual prestige. So, naturally we turned to the language of the civilization in which we were continuing the legacy. Many scholars would say that the US is a continuation of Western Civilization as established by the Greco/Roman Empires. Also, Latin was an important language for the educated, and our country's principles were established by the educated. So... we get Latin intermixed with our symbols of our government.

No, no, no, I'm just pulling your leg... actually, our founding fathers knew that using Latin would piss off the limeys 250 years later.

 

[mawnansmiff]

but I'm struggling to understand your point about Latin in the U.S. in particular, and what that has to do with anything, in general

It was in response to Americans bringing up oddities of us Brits. I just mentioned the peculiar habit of some Americans using Latin as mottoes etc when in actuality it is not and never has been a spoken language there.

Simple as that

Jay.

 

[Infantry23]

Medical fields, Legal system, Botany, etc all use non-liturgical, albeit specific, Latin phrases. I'm just not understanding the point.

Edit: explained above

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Our apologies to all of the native Latin speakers.

And, for the more dense readers, there are no more native Latin speakers. No one on British soils speaks Latin, and hasn't for over a thousand years.

 

[Infantry23]

Also, does pig Latin count? I've never raised pigs but I'm fluent nonetheless.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Volume 1. A-Bazouki. That’s magnificent

Far better is volume 7, Hat-Intervacuum. This is the OED informing us what lurks underneath a Stetson

Jay.

 

[fireground_piper]

Actually, I can explain, but it may be less fun, but...

 

[warren]

actuality it is not and never has been a spoken language there.

As a matter of routine? That's true. I you grew up in the Catholic Church then Latin was spoken and well understood by more than a few parishioners. Never spoken in the US? Simply too general a statement in my opinion.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Never spoken in the US? Simply too general a statement in my opinion.

What I meant Warren was it was never used as an everyday language outside of church. That is why I specifically stated it was never lingua franca in America.

Did you ever walk into your local grocery store and ask for a packet of biscuits in Latin? Did the grocer reply to you in Latin?

Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Latin was also taught here long before we gained independence. And, the founding fathers were educated in Latin. Although, it would have been cooler if we had of used Viking mottos instead.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Did you ever walk into your local grocery store and ask for a packet of wafers in Latin? Did the grocer reply to you in Latin?

Wait a minute. When was the last time you walked into a grocers and spoke Latin to anyone?

T'was over a thousand years ago. ha ha. You guys seem pretty proud of your conquerors. That Stockholm syndrome must have been some pretty powerful stuff.

 

[MisterBadger]

Wait a minute. When was the last time you walked into a grocers and spoke Latin to anyone?

T'was over a thousand years ago. ha ha. You guys seem pretty proud of your conquerors. That Stockholm syndrome must have been some pretty powerful stuff.

Cosmic, while those of us who consider themselves indigenous Brits because they're Welsh (such as Mrs. Badger) might feel the sting of that insult (and it was a really good one, even for you), do remind yourself that the English as such, are descended from the 'Angel-cynne' or 'Aenglisc', a bunch of Germanic pirates and mercenaries who landed here while the Roman province of Britannia was falling to bits (as, in fact, was the rest of the Roman Empire in the West). Meanwhile, no Cymro is proud of being able to speak Saesneg.

 

[BingBong]

It would be such an easily-made error use a Latin chat up line on a Latina.

 

[MisterBadger]

It would be such an easily-made error use a Latin chat up line on a Latina.

Estne volumen in toga sua, an solum tibi libet me videre?
(Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?)

 

[mawnansmiff]

Wait a minute. When was the last time you walked into a grocers and spoke Latin to anyone?

Tell me when I ever said that I did use Latin, simple answer is that I didn't, not once. All I said was that I had Latic classes at school.

You are clearly quickly reading up on British history as the sporadic bursts of data you are spouting clearly prove which I find both humorous and sad at the same time. You should know these things already without having to search on Wiki

Jay.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Also, does pig Latin count?

Wow, I remember that. Also called dog Latin. We had great fun with that as kids. Much easier to learn than proper Latin and once you understand the basics, you can communicate pretty well very quickly.

Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My given surname at birth was Wales, and my natural father who died in Vietnam was of Welsh decent, and I've actually visited Wales in the early 90's. My great Grandfather (mother's side) was a Menefee who immigrated from England after marrying a French girl before WW1, and he became a sheriff in Alabama during a difficult time in this state, Calvinists they were. So... while I don't put much stock in ancestry or heritage, I do appreciate English History, and while I am more read in more ancient English history, I am still rather ignorant of the British Empirical history.

That said... do go on... I am enjoying the conversation. I've always been fascinated with how the British have long held grudges that go back thousands of years. It all seems rather fairytale-like to us Americans.

 

[mawnansmiff]

I've always been fascinated with how the British have long held grudges

I bear no grudges at all, well I do but only to certain family members who are stitching me up but hey ho.

Many of my ancestors were Calvinists too, particularly on my paternal side.

Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I bear no grudges at all

I was referring to Mr. Badger, but maybe badgers are just disgruntled creatures. Maybe it is something more unique to his species.

 

[MisterBadger]

do go on... I am enjoying the conversation. I've always been fascinated with how the British have long held grudges that go back thousands of years. It all seems rather fairytale-like to us Americans.

You're only jealous because your grudges can be no more than about 300 years old. But given time, you'll be as crusty as some of us are.