/lit/ - Literature

I know Latin, Chinese, and German and I'm learning Italian now.

I am similar to OP in that I am usually attracted to languages based on what I can read in the language once I have come to a proficient level.

Latin stuff is important to me mostly because I am a Roman Catholic. There are some cool things to read from ancient Rome (Tacitus, Horace, Seneca, Virgil), but I am much more interested in medieval stuff (Scholastic philosophy, Hildegard von Bingen etc.). I personally think ancient Greek stuff is way cooler, but I don't know any Greek yet. Obviously I would like to read the Bible, but also the Church Fathers. I think anyone that picks up Latin or Greek is kind of destined to learn the other, because most likely your interests overlap into literature written in both languages. Another cool ancient language to learn would be Syriac.

I started learning Chinese because I wanted to learn a non-Indo European language. Speaking it is very interesting, but I am also a hobbyist China watcher, and it helps being able to read Chinese news to do that. Modern Chinese history especially since Deng Xiaoping is an interest of mine. I don't know any ancient Chinese but I have heard it's quite rewarding for someone who studies modern mandarin.

I actually only am learning German in case I need to read some academic article that happens to be in German. I guess it would be cool to read Goethe or Kafka idk.

I'm learning Italian because my family is Italian and I feel like I owe it to my ancestors. Dante might be cool to read too.

I often fantasize about the languages that might be worthwhile for me to learn. Really, it comes down to your own ambitions and interest.

I would love to learn Shanghaiese or Levantine Arabic. I think those languages sound wonderful.

I really don't care for French, but alot of things I like are in French sadly (Lacan and Pascal in particular).

O TEMPORA O MORES! DIXI
I'm the man with the plan and my friends call me "chickpea"
I used to fool around with Arpinum broads
But now I've got Terentia and I'm living large
Like her dowry,
but that's not all so open up your AVRIS
POETAE NOVI churn out verse that's lousy
Hortensius flopped because his speech was flow'ry
And I can see an easy target--you're sniveling and cowardly
MOS MAIORVM are important to real men
And that's how I distinguish between foes and friends
My buddy Atticus has got my back
And helps me sway the pediarii when things get wack
Once in a while I'll send him a letter or two
And in the OTIVM I catch wreck with my crew
PATRES CONSCRIPTI the man before you is shifty
He'll sell you out for but a couple ASSIS
So get out of my face with your Catilinarian flow
They say all roads lead to Rome, but you should take the road home.

(did you record that one Tiro?)

Who is the greatest rhetorician?

What does /lit/ think about rhetoric? Anyone interested in the art of speech. Is modern rhetoric dying. It seems nowadays the only great speeches are done by American presidential candidates.

What does /lit/ think about oratory?