Current Events > How do we know what dead languages like Latin sounded like?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I can get translation of ancient text and all but how do we know exactly what the pronunciation of the characters and words were?
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Because we know which modern languages evolved from Latin, so it's kind of like reverse engineering
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eston posted...

Because we know which modern languages evolved from Latin, so it's kind of like reverse engineering

How can you reverse engineer a language?
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did latin ever completely die? weren't all catholic church services spoken in latin until the 2nd Vatican council?
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a "dead language" is one that's no longer used regularly.

it doesn't mean that there aren't people that know how to speak it, like in an academic setting, for example.
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KILBOTz posted...

did latin ever completely die? weren't all catholic church services spoken in latin until the 2nd Vatican council?

It's not completely dead. Most scientific names of animals and such are in Latin, no?

I think dead refers to how there are no native speakers around left
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bump
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People still speak it, you could learn it at my college. Just a direct line of teachers keeping it alive I guess.

I learned Latin in high school.
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ArchiePeck posted...

People still speak it, you could learn it at my college. Just a direct line of teachers keeping it alive I guess.

How do we know how words were pronounced if all native speakers have been dead for centuries?
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There's the Dawkins 'meme' concept (not exactly the same in this situation, but you get my meaning), where the knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. That's one way it has been kept alive.

Also, I'm sure plenty of records have been kept over the years.

Here's one for Latin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_enn7NIo-S0
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