in Latinum et linguis
a Nebraska Latinist
My claim to the pseudonym Nebraska Latinist is intended to be at once a rather modest one and yet somewhat expansive.
I certainly do not claim to be the best Latin scholar even in the sparse state of Nebraska. While I did well in all my language classes, my Latin masters / professors at the University of Nebraska such as Dr. Neil Adkin will always exceed me.
The self-applied alias, however, does indicate interest in the language, and others as well (Greek, German, Hebrew). This interest, in turn, has led to much hard work in and enjoyment of these languages since before 1990.
While there is a general emphasis in education upon the study of “practical” languages, like Spanish, the general state of classical studies, including Greek and Latin, in our age is not so good. This, in turn, affects the church (see the news article above - even the Vatican can not keep Latin alive among the priests) and its ability to access its ancient heritage, available in part, and in its fullness, only in languages like Greek and Latin and others even more obscure. Such cycles have come and gone in Western history and it will eventually change again. But looking about in our mini-dark age, fascinated as it is with its own superiority based upon progress in engineering and technology, there is not much hope that change will come soon. In the meantime, one can only do what one is able and be an interpres, while we await our Alcuin or Einhard.
