<p>For those of you who took one (or preferably both) of these languages- why did you choose to take that language? Have you found it easy/hard? I'm having to decide between the two. Latin pops up a lot in science, but I'm not sure how it compares to Greek, which I'm vaguely familiar with.</p>
<p>I had the option between Greek and Latin too, and I choice Latin. Depending on the career track you take, Latin can be very helpful, especially in the medical field, with terms and what not. Though, putting aside academic utility, Greek is a much cooler language than Latin :P take what you think will appeal to you more</p>
<p>I would take Latin, I am taking Latin right now and I really enjoy. I heard that Greek is much harder than latin though. Although, at least Greek is spoken.</p>
<p>im taking latin in high school. its alrite. it could be challenging at times, but if u study and memorize the vocabulary and stuff you'll do fine. greek might be harder because u have to learn a whole new alphabet which may take a while getting used to. latin uses the same alphabet as english. Also many words derive from latin words so that might be helpful as well. If you know spanish, french, italian, and the other romance languages that might also help a bit in studying latin.</p>
<p>I do not know. I am going to do New Testament Greek for the Spring, Fall and Summer because one can audit a Biblical Language at my University for free and I already speak Spanish and stuff. </p>
<p>I think that New Testament Greek looks really neat if you have a lit/theology major likle myself. But, for anything else, I would go with Latin unless you have the time to learn a language from a new alphabet on up.</p>
<p>Or, if you can audit it for free:) Latin is just hard enough where it will not trip you out, I took it from grade 6 to 9 and really dug it.</p>
<p>But, warblersrule86 does your major seem to warrant Greek? What is your major?</p>
<p>Latin Pros:
-Makes you seem smart
-Helps you with vocabulary immensely
-Medical fields upper hand</p>
<p>Greek Pros:
-Cool language
-Girls like it</p>
<p>Both have seemingly no applicable use in daily living (unless your in Greece) in terms of daily speech. Go Latin. I learned French and I regret it because it serves me no purpose for my own persuits</p>
<p>I take latin and would recommend taking Latin. Especially if youre like me and really bad at spoken languages...</p>
<p>Latin
- helps with vocab
- sounds cool
- there's a lot of good latin prose out there</p>
<p>
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Although, at least Greek is spoken.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not ancient greek, buddy.</p>
<p>presumably, if the OP is choosing between Latin and Greek, he means ancient greek.</p>
<p>I took both (Latin for 6 years, Greek for 3) and I had much, much more trouble with Greek, although it could be just that I put less effort into it. I think Greek probably is a bit more challenging just because it's syntax is less rigid than Latin's, and it's verb morphology is much more complex and less "regular" than latin. Both are equally useful in biology. You could take into account what you want to read. Latin will open up Caesar, Cicero, Catullus, Horace, Ovid, etc. Greek opens up Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Euripides, Aristophanes, etc. I don't think you can really go wrong with either one, although from what I've seen/heard, Latin will be easier, especially if you havent done either.</p>
<p>I prefer Greek, only because the Greek classics are so enojyable.</p>
<p>Don't get overly stuck on the importance of latin in medicine - there are a lot of greek stems that get used too.</p>
<p>Chol = Bile
Hepat=liver
nephri=kidney
cyst = bladder or sac</p>
<p>Just a couple of examples of greek stems that are very common. What do you think the secretion of Cholecystokinin (CCK) in the intestine does?</p>
<p>it's like hte main stimulus for the release of pancreatic enzymes and bile into the intestine, as well as a major neuropeptide in the brain. :P</p>
<p>Latin pops up everywhere, not just science. Law (logic) also has a lot of latin phrases.</p>
<p>I meant you could figure it out by using the stems...it causes contraction of the gall bladder too...which is what I was going for.</p>
<p>oh...my bad. didn't catch that memo -_-</p>
<p>
[quote]
But, warblersrule86 does your major seem to warrant Greek? What is your major?
[/quote]
I'm double majoring in Biology and Classical Civilization, which requires at least a year of either Greek or Latin. </p>
<p>Thanks for the input, all. I'm leaning toward Greek, mostly because I like their lit better.</p>
<p>if you're only doing a year, you probably won't be reading their "good lit"</p>
<p>and sweet double, I'm doing the same.</p>