Joanna Zammit Falzon, general secretary, Malta Classics Association, Safi
Why law students ought to study Latin
With reference to the letter by Rodianne Caruana, academic officer of the Law Students’ Association (October 16), the Malta Classics Association would to like to suggest that Latin be included in the list of six subjects in which a student must acquire certification so that he may be eligible to read law at the University.
That it did not occur to the Law Students’ Association that Latin should be on this list reveals a lacuna in the education of this contemporary generation of law students. Given the overwhelming weight of legal literature in Latin and the Roman root of so many legal and related concepts, Latin should be recommended at some level, even a basic one, to a law student or to a student intending to study law. That our law students are graduating without even a basic knowledge of Latin is much akin to a student of English graduating without knowledge of English literature older than that of the 1950s.
There are issues of human resources but the Malta Classics Association is collaborating with the University of Malta to increase the number of students studying Latin and Greek at degree level. If the Law Students’ Association were to include Latin in this list of subjects, there may come a time when the teaching of Latin and Greek at pre-tertiary level in Malta would be restored as a respectable and practical option. Naturally, all University courses benefiting from knowledge of Latin will find that the existence of such an option does much to prepare their undergraduates for the rigour of academic study.
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D.Bonanno
Oct 27th 2010, 22:06
Again someone speaking from an observer's point of view.. very well said K.Mifsud. I am a law student myself and I confirm that throughout my past years of study I have used Latin only for legal maxims that is to say "set expressions which encapsulate principles". Personally I would suggest Italian more than Latin.. but again what annoys me most is why do we have to study outside subjects - wide widen our study rather than deepen?? one problem which runs through the years in the law course is, if taken seriously, not having enough time to do all the necessary reading and research... let alone with subsidiary area, optional credits and now Latin!!
Edric Micallef Figallo
Oct 27th 2010, 21:31
Latin is a worthwile language for a broader cultural base. I wish to study it as soon as possible. It would definitely help a legal professional in his professional culture, however having a student acquire knowledge of such language as a "must" is inappropriate.
Rather, I suggest reintroducting Italian as a compulsory subject, together with Maltese and English. It is incredible that many people are becoming "dutturi tad-dritt" and they can barely string a decent sentence in Maltese, whether written or spoken. So Maltese should be the starting point. Then, the "Malti ġuridiku" is basically over 90% (I'm going on personal observation here) from Italian origins for obvious historical and cultural reasons related to Malta in general and to our legal tradition in particular (especially in fields like civil law et cetera). English is a must for obvious reasons, while French would definitely be a worthwile added bonus.
Returning to Latin, I have a great book which should do for the legal professional. It is called Salvis iuribus - Il latino degli avvocati by Italo Bellina and I bought it from one of the bookshops near the campus. Obviously, knowledge of Italian is needed for that.
dorianne cutajar
Oct 26th 2010, 14:16
My son is a student who sat for the 'A' levels and wants to be lawyer.We are very disappointed about the system at the university because he passed from the 'A' levels and got a C and including the other intermediates he got 40 grades.He is supposed to have started university as a narrow failure but because he doesn't have a science subject he has to repeat another year at the Junior College.He also has to repeat all his exams because they must be on the same certificate.All his work has gone in vain.More over he received his results three days before starting school and now he is waiting for the result of the revision of paper for three weeks.I hope that appropriate action is taken so that the students are rewarded for their efforts.
Salvu Sciberras
Oct 26th 2010, 11:47
Those who want to study Latin can do so but to impose it on anyone as is being proposed is dictatorial especially when it is a dead language used only by the Church. Joanna, you have it straight from the horse's mouth that it is not used and only expressions are needed by lawyers.
K. Mifsud
Oct 26th 2010, 10:48
As a lawyer, I can confirm that I did not even once need to use Latin (other than the few expressions taught in university) over my entire career. It is simply not true that there is some "weight of legal literature in Latin" relevant to the modern practice of law in Malta. Before the Maltese Courts operated in Maltese, they operated in Italian, not Latin. The vast majority of legal literature relevant to the practice of law in Malta is in English, Maltese, Italian and French.
I undertsand many legal concepts in Latin, but I make it a point not to use them as latin expressions make legal writing inaccessible. There is always a way to convey the meaning in English or Maltese. Writing peppered with latin expressions does not help clients and just makes lawyers look like pompous farts.
It would be much more useful if lawyers studied economics (since much of the practice of modern law relates to economic regulation) or another modern language.
That is not to take anything away from the beauty of Latin---it is just exponentially less useful than other things in the practice of law.