Latin: A to Z, and visiting MSU prof

Researchers in Munich, Germany, have been working on the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae (T.L.L.) since the 1890s. They hope to finish the dictionary in 2050, but that may be optimistic. They originally thought they’d be finished in 20 years. They’re up to the letter ‘R’, although the letters ‘Q’ and ‘N’ were set aside because they begin too many difficult words (like “non” meaning “no”). This dictionary aims to show every single way anyone ever used a word from 6th century (BC) Latin inscriptions to around A.D. 600. Latin is spoken mostly at the Vatican and by a handful of enthusiasts, who promote it as an educational tool. In the U.S., about 210,000 public school students are currently learning Latin compared to 7.3M in Spanish classes. Some 50 percent of English words are derived from Latin. Visiting researchers often come to look into particular words. Joseph Ratzinger, better known as Pope Benedict XVI, came to consult the boxes for “populus,” which means “masses” or “people.” It’s also difficult to use, and expensive ($379 for annual access online). Many universities have subscriptions. In 2019, the T.L.L. posted PDFs of entries through the letter ‘P’ for free online. Many researchers at the dictionary say they don’t expect to live to see it finished. But Christian Flow, a visiting assistant professor from Mississippi State University, who wrote a dissertation about the T.L.L., said its duration is also its strength. “The irony is that the timelessness of the thesaurus” lay “in its inability to finish itself.” (Source: NY Times 11/30/19) https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/arts/latin-dictionary.html