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Article: Roman rebound; Latin today.
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- December 20, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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So you thought that irksome language was dead?
TO SCARY music, a furtive Jewish nationalist of the first century paints on a wall the words Romanes Eunt Domus. A centurion enters:
Centurion: What's this, then? Romanes Eunt Domus? 'People called Romanes they go the house?'
Nationalist: It--it says, 'Romans, go home.'
Centurion: No, it doesn't. 'Go home'? This is motion towards. Isn't it, boy?
Nationalist (being savagely beaten): Ah. Ah, dative, sir! Ahh! No, not dative! Not the dative, sir! No! Ah! Oh, the...accusative! Domum, sir! Ah! Oooh! Ah!
Centurion: Except that domus takes the..?