By Charlotte Eades
Quid Pro Quo
Whenever I do my homework in my family room, my parents turn on the news. The only thing the news has been talking about recently is Donald Trump’s impeachment scandal with Ukraine. The phrase “quid pro quo” comes up a lot on the news and my parents assumed I did not know what it means. However, they forgot to consider that I take Latin and I can translate it. Quid pro quo means “which thing for which,” but Americans use it as “something for something.” Using my latin knowledge, I could listen to and understand the political commentary while procrastinating on my homework.
On Instagram
The Instagram algorithm usually recommends me posts that Instagram thinks I will like. For example, during Christmas Break, a funny picture came up on my explore page. I was able to understand this image because I did a project on the Arch of Titus. I knew about Titus conquered Jewish societies because there are images of menorahs on his arch. Thanks to my presentation on the Arch of Titus, I was able to enjoy the wittiness behind a picture.
In Japan
This summer Sophie was in Japan and found a latin moment. She sent it to me and we figured out it derives from the word votum. According to Latin Lexicon, votum means “a promise to a god, solemn pledge, religious engagement, vow.” Using my knowledge on latin and my knowledge from global cultures, I figured out that Sophie was at a Shinto Shrine. A Shinto Shrine is a place where people place their wishes and to pay respects to people of higher authority/gods. It was cool to use our Latin knowledge when we are half way across the world from each other. (Sorry for the bad quality)
Instagram Comments
Latin helps me out smart people online. For example, there's this Instagram account that always posts bad Latin translations and Sophie and I like to make fun of it. One day she dared me to write a comment correcting the account, and so I did. When I wrote this comment, we were learning about subjunctives and indirect commands and I was able to incorporate what I was learning in class into my social media life.
Vocabulary Tests
Mr. Mazzella tests us on vocab from each book we read. By aligning the words with their latin prefixes, roots, suffixes, and derivatives, it help me memorise the word. This strategy helped me memorise the following words:
Theosophist - “One who professes or believes in any system of speculation which bases the knowledge of nature upon that of the divine nature." This comes from the root “theo” which means “God” and the suffix “-ist” which means “person.”
Transient - “Not lasting; temporary; brief, fleeting." This comes from the prefix “trans” which means “across, beyond."
Prodigiously - “To a great extent or degree; extremely, immensely; prolifically, copiously.” This comes from the prefix “pro” which means “big, much.”
Dictum - “An authoritative utterance or pronouncement attributed to a particular person or source." Dictum is a derivitive from the latin word “dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus” which means “to say.”
Monolith - “Solidly uniform; resembling a pillar or monument.” This comes from the prefix “mono” which means “one.”
Bacchanal - “Indulging in, or in a manner characteristic of drunken revelry; riotously drunken, roystering." This derives from the word for the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. Also, it can be connected to Bacchanalia, an ancient holiday filled drinking and indulgence. I presented on Bacchanalia for Latin Club.
Sources:
Definitions provided by Mr. Mazzella’s worksheet (OED)
Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes provided by Dr. Morgan’s worksheet
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