Pro lingua Latina in Jyväskylä

The Section for Latin and Romance Languages at the University of Jyväskylä is internationally renowned and has over the years hosted or contributed to a number of high profile international collaborative research project. Finland would seriously endanger this outstanding research environment if Latin were to be aboslished as a curricular subject at the University of Jyväskylä.

Apart from all 'high' reasons, of which we are all well aware, I would point out two other, perhaps more convincing for those, who claim to be worried about competititvity and financial condition of our university: 1) the Section for Latin and Romance Languages has been highly successful in raising external funds over last years, as proved by the projects financed the Academy of Finland; 2) the English classes in Ancient and Medieval Latin culture offered by the Section attracted not only Finnish students but also foreign students, who were either sincerely interested in the subject, or simply needed credits, since Latin, Latin Literature, Ancient History and Medieval Studies are curricular subjects at most European universities.

Abolisching Latin as a curricular subject from the University of Jyväskylä would mean to remove a key tool for the study of language history, for language learning and for several research fields that deal with the history of mind in Europe in general. Seeing such multilingually versed and experienced students and staff members here at the University (and in particular at the Department of Languages) does the idea of abolisching Latin seem nothing but a paradox. Latin is an important and fundamental subject for every University that maintains an international status and a multilingual programme.

Latinaa tarvitsevat muutkin kuin kielten ja historian opiskelijat. Matemaattis-luonnontieteellisessä tiedekunnassa ekologian alan opiskelijoille kuuluu pakollisena osana opintoja kasvien latinankielisten nimien opettelu. Nimien opettelussa latinan osaamisesta on apua. Myös muilla lajintuntemuskursseilla latinan osaamisesta on hyötyä.

For several years, I have been teaching critical edition in Rome (http://fidemweb.org/deem/). I often had students from the University of Jyväskylä. They were generally very good ones and it would be a pity to put to an end such a flourishing field of knowledge at Jyväskylä. Latin language and classical humanities are not only about "dead" languages: it is about the common roots of European civilization and universal humanism: that is what it is so urgent to preserve in the hard times we know now.

Le latin a été la « langue véhiculaire européenne » – voire universelle – par excellence dans la diffusion des savoirs et des cultures à l’échelle du Moyen Âge et de la Renaissance. Il appartient au patrimoine de l'ensemble de l'Europe et, à ce titre, est indispensable à la formation des générations futures de cette Europe.

Well, while we're at it, shooting at your own foot should become the new University sport. 

...Oh, wait, is 'University' too latin? Might as well change that name too to the "Economic Crisis Lab" of Jyväskylä. Open call for all utilitarian project proposals! Cuts on culture and welfare preferred, not mandatory.