Uses of Latin in Political Discourse
What does it mean to speak or write in Latin? The Latin language has long ceased to be spoken as a native language, it is no longer the shared language of European scholars and intellectuals, and even its role within the Catholic church is now comparatively minor. This means that using Latin now represents a particular choice, a choice which can be meaningful and significant. The very use of the language is able to convey particular ideas about the speaker, the group they belong to, or the content which is communicated. This holds true for those few who understand or can read Latin, but also for those who are able to recognise that something is in Latin, without being able to understand it precisely or at all.
The messages which the use of Latin can convey can be extremely varied: for example, Latin is able to convey a sense of general intellectual authority (as in legal or medical discourse), or underline the claim to a prestigious (and exclusionary) western intellectual heritage (e.g. the Latin motto on a new biography by FOX-host Tucker Carlson). Latin can also suggest military might and imperial ambitions through its evocation of the Roman empire, or create a link to mythical medieval societies among extreme-right groups (e.g. the use of crusader motto ‘Deus Vult’ by white supremacists in the US). Latin has even been used by perpetrators of political violence: the killer of 77 people in Norway in 2011 used Latin to dedicate his entire manifesto.
In this project, we investigate the use of the Latin language in current political discourse. Specifically, we look at (1) the use of Latin words, phrases and whole sentences by politicians and political intellectuals, (2) the use of Latin in public culture (inscriptions, dedications, mottos, etc), and (3) its use in ‘unofficial’ arenas – for example in in online fora and on twitter.
The novelty of this approach lies in the focus on the Latin language specifically as a communicative tool and symbol, and in the inclusion in our investigation of the kinds of political discourse that are not usually taken seriously or studied by scholars. When we hear ‘political discourse’ we normally think about things like statements by politicians. However, we know that apparently trivial things, such as internet forums and memes or Facebook posts, are crucial in spreading (potentially extreme) political ideas. By looking at the use of Latin in this type of messages, we want to take them seriously as political discourses and investigate their significance for modern politics.
Uses of Latin 