History Main / SmartPeopleKnowLatin

Of course, use of [[CanisLatinicus Dog Latin]], or worse, PigLatin, betrays a classical sort of DelusionsOfEloquence. Compare GratuitousLatin for situations where snippets of Latin (correct or otherwise) are tossed in to convey an aura of arcane wisdom.

* Until early 19th century, educated people all around the Western world could communicate with each other in writing via Latin, even if they could not actually speak each other's languages.

Supposedly, this demonstrates that the character is of magnified intelligence, or at least education, because Smart People Know Latin. A reason for this is that Latin's remaining uses, as it’s a "dead language" (i.e., a language no longer used in everyday conversation) include an extended proportion of "intellectual" and "scholarly" applications, including but not limited to etymology, science, medicine, legal jargon, the arts, deciphering ancient texts, mere quotation, ''et cetera''. This inclination for intellectuals to comprehend Latin [[AncientGrome combines frequently]] with GratuitousGreek, especially in science. While other modern languages may also have utility in these areas, their primary use - as living common languages for plebeians - obscures out alternative uses, so they are not considered as "scholarly."

* Given the number of {{Oxbridge}} sorts and Anglican and Roman Catholic clergymen in the ''Literature/VillageTales'' novels, there is a critical, er, [[MultipleReferencePun mass]] of Clever Characters who do in fact Know Latin. Including FarmBoy and [[FarmersDaughter Farm Girl]] students at the Free School, parish choristers, and the country-boy headstone carver at the local undertakers' ("I'm all right with Church Latin as I've seen a hundred times").

* ObstructiveBureaucrat Sir Humphrey Appleby of ''Series/YesMinister'' is often fond of flaunting his {{Oxbridge}} education in front of his LSE-educated boss with Latin. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeF_o1Ss1NQ#t=1m8s Here]] is an example.

Supposedly, this demonstrates that the character is of magnified intelligence, or at least education, because Smart People Know Latin. A reason for this is that Latin's remaining uses (as it’s a “dead language”, i.e. a language no longer used in everyday conversation) include an extended proportion of "intellectual" and "scholarly" applications, including but not limited to etymology, science, medicine, legal jargon, the arts, deciphering ancient texts, mere quotation, ''et cetera''. This inclination for intellectuals to comprehend Latin [[AncientGrome combines frequently]] with GratuitousGreek, especially in science. While other modern languages may also have utility in these areas, their primary use - as living common languages for plebeians - obscures out alternative uses, so they are not considered as "scholarly."

The names of several secondary types of school, such as Lyceum and Gymnasium, is an evidence of the Classical influence in the education and, moreover, "grammar schools" were schools who, when created, taught the Latin and Ancient Greek [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ''grammar'']].

Of course, use of [[CanisLatinicus Dog Latin]], or worse, PigLatin betrays a classical sort of DelusionsOfEloquence. Compare GratuitousLatin for situations where snippets of Latin (correct or otherwise) are tossed in to convey an aura of arcane wisdom.

A perfect way to introduce that a character is not only smart, but [[GentlemanAndAScholar refined, well- (formally) educated, and upper-class, even aristocratic]]: have him be able to recite a Latin quotation eloquently or read the moribund language of the Romans as if it were his native tongue.

Supposedly, this demonstrates that the character is of magnified intelligence or at least education, because Smart People Know Latin. A reason for this is that Latin's remaining uses include an extended proportion of "intellectual" and "scholarly" applications, including but not limited to etymology, science, medicine, legal jargon, the arts, deciphering ancient texts, mere quotation, ''et cetera''. This inclination for intellectuals to comprehend Latin [[AncientGrome combines frequently]] with GratuitousGreek, especially in science. While other modern languages may also have utility in these areas, their primary use - as living common languages for plebeians - obscures out alternative uses, so they are not considered as "scholarly."

This has a fundamental basis on TruthInTelevision, as back during the Renaissance when classical Greek and Roman texts were rediscovered by Europeans, the ability to translate the original literature was considered a necessity. Even earlier during the Medieval Era, most literate Europeans were members of the clergy or nobles who were educated via clerical universities that preserved Latin as the legitimate ecclesiastical language, and ergo, had Latin as a Lingua Franca that neglects nationality. Given the above, Latin became the primary language of scholarship, and literature on science, the arts and such subjects of intellectual material were often inscribed in Latin. This is one of the reasons science's opted language for terminologies (especially in taxonomy) is Latin ([[AncientGrome combined with]] GratuitousGreek). The norm only received reduction during the 19th century, when more and more scientists began to use their own languages. But for instance the English vocabulary still uses many Latin and Greek words, some imported via French.

Of course, use of [[CanisLatinicus Dog Latin]], or worse, PigLatin betrays a classical sort of DelusionsOfEloquence. Compare AltumVidetur for situations where snippets of Latin (correct or otherwise) are tossed in to convey an aura of arcane wisdom.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Latin is the formal language of the White Council and so any wizard who's a member is of course expected to know it. (Harry's own notably poor grasp of the language -- [[RunningGag "Stupid Latin correspondence course"]] -- has come up to bite him here before.) Justified in that the Council as an organization really does go back that far.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Latin is the formal language of the White Council and so any wizard who's a member is of course expected to know it. (Harry's own notably poor grasp of the language -- "damned correspondence course" -- has come up to bite him here before.) Justified in that the Council as an organization really does go back that far.

* Despite otherwise being an evil overlord manipulating events from the shadows, Coil from ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' averts this by not knowing Latin when it comes up in Prey 14.9. This is lampshaded by the person talking, since she's using it to pass a message along to a powerful enemy of Coil's. Had he known it, he'd have realized Skitter was in danger and that a very dangerous piece of information was just given to the person who least needed to know it.

* Phase (Ayla Goodkind) of the WhateleyUniverse reads Latin, ancient Greek, and Middle English, all part of his classism and upper-upper-class upbringing in private schools. He also speaks several modern languages, and is a snob about it.

* In Creator/SpikeMilligan's ''Puckoon'' (set in partition-era Ireland) the Catholic Father Rudden laments the lack of Latin education amongst his flock. On one occasion, we are told, he recited a dirty joke that he had translated into Latin, eliciting a solemn "Amen" from his congregation.

* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' your player can use Latin phrases in certain trees provided their intelligence is 8 out of 10 or higher. The lower ranks of Caesar's Legion seem only to know "vale" and "ave", while a centurion POW you meet seems to be fluent.

* Eric Sweet from ''HouseOfAnubis'' is versed in Latin and routinely spouts Latin phrases, presumably to demonstrate how smart he is.

* A category title from ''WinBenSteinsMoney'': "I speak Latin, ''ergo'' I am annoying."

* An episode of ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' had the protagonists end up in a world where being smart and well-educated is cool (they pass a punk on the street with a boombox blasting classical music and see a rap video about how cool it is to hang out at the library). Sports are all a mix of physical endurance and knowledge (kinda lends a whole new meaning to the term "mathlete"). Quinn in this world is a well-known athlete and a slider (although, [[spoiler:Quinn-prime finds out that this Quinn never discovered sliding and was just faking]]). He's also involved with some unsavory types. The episode's BigBad is a mobster who constantly likes to quote phrases in Latin and gets annoyed when the others have no idea what he said. Of course, it's entirely possible that many people know at least some Latin in this world, given the obsession with intelligence. At the end of the episode, right before sliding, Quinn departs with a Latin quip: ''Via Corinas Inundum.'' It's actually an ''amazingly'' good quip, well-suited to demonstrating Quinn's intellect - as Latin is actually a very flexible language this can be translated as either;
** "[I have to follow] the way [leadings] of my heart, you wash-outs [i.e. losers]!" AKA "So long, suckers!"(The mobster only gets this one.)
** [My] heart's pathways are flooded [with tears at how stupid you are]" as in "Cry me a river" or "You're breaking my heart."
*** Response: If "via corinas inundum" is an accurate quote, it's pure gibberish, and calling it Dog-Latin would be an undeserved compliment. "Via" does mean "path". "Corinas" isn't a word at all. The word for "heart" is "Cor, cordis". Thus "Way of my heart" is "via cordis". As for "inundum"...dear god...they took the verb for "flooded" - "inundo, inundare" and added a ''noun'' ending to it. Verbs don't end in "-um" like that. The gerundive form is "inund''an''dum ("are about to be flooded"), but you can't drop out the "-an-" from the middle like that. It cannot possibly mean "washouts". It...''appears'' that he meant to say "my heart's pathways are about to be flooded" (with tears are how stupid you are, i.e. "cry me a river")...but this would ''accurately'' be said as "via cordibus inundandum". [[Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian Now write it out 100 times, or I'll cut your balls off]].

* A bumper sticker coined by the famous classcist Henry Beard reads, "si hoc adfixum legere potes, et liberaliter educatus et nimis propinquus ades" (If you can read this sticker, you are both very well educated and much too close).

* In seminary (studying to be a priest), learning Koine Greek or Hebrew is usually compulsory, so that one can read ''Literature/TheBible'' in its original languages.

* In ''Film/{{Braveheart}}'', young Wallace is asked about the benediction. When he tells his uncle he doesn't speak Latin, the response is "That's something we shall have to remedy." It's one of many lessons in manhood he learns, and of course, this later becomes a ChekovsSkill.

** In the "TreehouseOfHorror" parody of ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', {{Nerd}} and TVGenius Martin is seen AsleepInClass dreaming about conjugating Latin verbs.

*** Response: If "via corinas inundum" is an accurate quote, it's pure gibberish, and calling it Dog-Latin would be an undeserved compliment. "Via" does mean "path". "Corinas" isn't a word at all. The word for "heart" is "Cor, cordis". Thus "Way of my heart" is "via cordis". As for "inundum"...dear god...they took the verb for "flooded" - "inundo, inundare" and added a ''noun'' ending to it. Verbs don't end in "-um" like that. The gerundive form is "inund''an''dum ("are about to be flooded"), but you can't drop out the "-an-" from the middle like that. It cannot possibly mean "washouts". It...''appears'' that he meant to say "my heart's pathways are about to be flooded" (with tears are how stupid you are, i.e. "cry me a river")...but this would ''accurately'' be said as "via cordibus inundandum". [[MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian Now write it out 100 times, or I'll cut your balls off]].

* Richard von Krafft-Ebing wrote the more lurid passages (and [[ForeignLanguageTitle title]]) of his book ''Psycopathia Sexualis'' in Latin in the apparent belief it would keep the merely salaciously curious away.