Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle as they welcome “spoken Latin guru” Dr. Patrick Owens. Discover why “Living Latin” is a misnomer, how to properly say “vacuum cleaner” in Latin, and why eating apple seeds might be a bad idea.
Introduction: Pizza, Politics, and the Vomitorium
Welcome back to the “vomitorium,” listeners! In Episode 156 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, hosts Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle are broadcasting from “Vomitorium South”—the basement of the RHB bookstore and coffee shop.
The episode begins with the hosts reconnecting after Dr. Winkle’s vacation to the woods (or rather, the “woods adjacent” beach) of Northern Michigan. The intellectual fire is stoked by a culinary debate involving pizza: specifically, whether one should shred their own mozzarella. Dr. Winkl’s conclusion? Freshly shredded is better, leading to his new slogan for the masses: “Make America Grate Again”
Once the “classic rock deep cuts” and pizza puns are out of the way, the hosts turn their attention to a serious topic: the state of Active Latin Pedagogy.
The Guest: Dr. Patrick M. Owens
To discuss this, the hosts bring on a heavyweight champion of the movement: Dr. Patrick M. Owens. Owens is described as a “spoken Latin guru” and “classicist extraordinaire”.
His pedigree is impressive, having studied under some of the giants of the field:
- Father Reginald Foster: The “Pope’s Latinist,” known for his larger-than-life persona.
- Terence Tunberg: An expert in Active Latin at the University of Kentucky.
- Luigi Miraglia: A proponent of Renaissance Latin at the Vivarium Novum in Rome.
Latinitas Viva: Why “Dead” is Better
The conversation centers on Owens’ 2016 article, “Barbarisms at the Gate,” published in Classical World. One of his provocative opening claims is that the term “Living Latin” is misleading.
Owens argues that Latin is a dead language—and that is a good thing.
- Fossilization: Unlike living languages, Latin does not evolve or fracture into regional dialects.
- The Standard: It is “set in stone” with Cicero as the touchstone4. This immutability allows a student to read authors from different centuries and geographies without a language barrier.
As Dr. Noe notes, this is similar to the language of numbers: the tools remain fixed even as the application expands.
Latin Language Spotlight: Hauritorium Pulveris & The Syntax Trap
A major focus of the episode is how to avoid “barbarisms”—lazy errors in spoken Latin.
The Vocabulary Trap:
When modern speakers need a word for a new invention, they often just Latinize the English word (e.g., vacuumus cleanerus). Owens calls this “lazy”. Instead, he suggests rooting new terms in ancient definitions.
- The Fix: For “vacuum cleaner,” Owens uses hauritorium pulveris—literally “the machine sucker of dust”. This ensures clarity for international speakers who might not know the English word “vacuum”.
The Syntax Trap:
Owens also highlights a common error in word order. Textbooks often teach that Latin follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure. However, computer analysis shows this accounts for only about 35% of classical constructions. To truly master Active Latin, students must move beyond rigid rules and embrace the dynamic word order of authors like Cicero.
Conclusion: A Tipping Point
Is the movement succeeding? Owens believes we are at a “tipping point” where the first generation of students raised on Active Latin are now taking leadership roles in education. While he once believed speaking Latin was solely for improving reading, he now sees a “plurality of goods”—if a pizza party or a casual chat keeps the language alive for students, it is worth doing.
Gustatory Parting Shot
Dr. Noe ends the episode with a personal confession regarding apples. For years, he ate one apple a day—seeds, core, and all—believing the trace amounts of cyanide in the seeds would build up his immunity to poison.
However, after learning that 40 seeds in one sitting could be lethal, he has abandoned the practice. He leaves us with a quote from Amy Bender’s The Color Master:
“It’s unsettling to meet people who don’t eat apples.”
Valete! (And watch out for the chupacabra at the top of the stairs!)
Resources for the Latin Learner
- Hackett Publishing: Looking for affordable texts? Use code AN2024 for 20% off and free shipping at hackettpublishing.com.
- Ratio Coffee: Want to be “precocious” about your coffee? Use code ANCOP8 for 15% off at ratiocoffee.com.
- Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata (LLPSI): Dr. Noe recommends this “natural method” text for beginners. Check out his courses at latinperdiem.com.
Moss Method: Want to learn Greek? Dr. Noe’s course takes you from “neophyte to erudite” at mossmethod.com.
