The spells that Harry Potter, his mates at Hogwarts, and their rivals flung at each have an antediluvian ring to them.
Their charm, in fact, is in being vaguely familiar and strangely exotic at the same time.
In conjuring up such coinages as ‘Waingardium Laviosa’ and ‘Avra Kedavra’, J K Rowling had called on the power of Latin to connect with the vast English speaking population of the world.
It also served to bring the limelight back on a language that enjoyed extensive patronage in ancient Europe but fell out of favour with the changes in political and socio-cultural equations.
The collection of academic essays, titled ‘Latin Language and World Cultures’ edited by V Y Dasappan S J, examines the dynamics of this classical language which continues to exert its influence on almost every aspect of modern civilization.
The essays are based on papers presented at an international conference on the same subject held by the Department of Latin, St Xavier’s College, Thumba.
One of the aspects highlighted in the book is the intermittent engagement of popular culture with Latin.
Sonya J Nair examines the ‘Subversion of power through language in Asterix and Harry Potter series with reference to the use of Latin’.
Kukku Xavier, in her paper on the use of Latin in classic Hollywood movies, says: “the West cannot but have a continuing engagement with Latin as this language together with its myth forms the basis of Western civilization”.
In his introductory remarks the editor further elaborates on the relevance of the book.
He says, “It is interesting to note that this ancient classical language has made its debut in the world of popular entertainment and fiction.
The free and creative use of Latin in popular films and fiction is a clear sign of this.
In a popular Malayalam film ‘Marykkundoru Kunjadu’,…one of the song sequences begins with the first stanza of a famous Latin song: Veni, creator Spiritus….”
The paper ‘Latin: The Universal Language of the Church’ by Soosai Pakiam, Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram, provides an overview of the development and eventual decline of Latin.
It makes a thorough study of the language through history with specific reference to ecclesiastical Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church which is the largest religious group of the world.
He also touches upon the period in history known as The Golden Age of Latin with poets like Virgil, Horace, Ovid, and Cicero making the most creative use of the language.
Dr Ignacimuthu’s paper looks at the ‘contribution of Latin to scientific language’ and says that the language has maintained its foothold in scientific parlance owing to its immunity to change.
Jacob Prasad’s essay draws parallels between the three Indo-European languages - Greek, Sanskrit, and Latin.
Yet another paper that helps to set the book in its context is James W Earl’s essay which dwells on the advantages that a knowledge of Latin will impart to students of English language and literature.
Illustrating his point, the professor of English at the University of Oregon, describes how learning Sanskrit influenced his study of the Upanishads, the Ramayana, and the Mahabhrata.
Composer Jerry Amaldev writes on the reverberating echoes of Latin choral music tradition while former MP and lawyer Sebastain Paul discusses the use of Latin in legal parlance.
The range of topics dealt with in relation to Latin language makes the book an exhaustive compendium that can serve as premise to further research. The author is associate professor of Latin at St Xavier’s College.