Stoicism in a time of pandemic: how Marcus Aurelius can help

English does have Anglo-Saxon elements, but it is essentially a polyglot of other sources.

Do you remember the series "The Story of English"? It ran many years ago (1986) and it was hosted by Robert MacNeil and Robert McCrum.

Here is a link to streaming episodes (9). If you haven't seen this classic series, it is well worth the time to view it, especially while we're basically sequestered at home:

 

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Haven’t watched since it came out.

I actually had a few very good English teachers growing up, who impressed on my early education about the English language, origins, extremely versatile incorporating elements of other languages, whole semesters focusing on Greek and Latin roots of the language, etc. This actually helped me read and listen with some comprehension of several Western languages in my business travels.

However, comprehending EASTERN languages took brute force. What enabled me to eventually comprehend those languages was to observe behavior, body language, inflections, and human condition. Once I empathized, even though I did not speak them, I was able to communicate on a rudimentary level. Fun.

 

Although a dictionary would reveal that about 60% of words in an English language dictionary derive from a classical language our most common words are from a West Germanic source. Don't believe that? Take a look at Grimm's Law (the same guys as the fairy tale tellers). Once you learn that law, and some basic modern German, you can figure out the meaning of many, many German words you may have never seen before. Let me give you an example. The German word, Dieb. In Grimm's law initial D in German becomes TH in English whereas a final or internal B becomes a V or F in English. Apply the law and what is a Dieb? Someone who steals a lot and notice that in the plural the F becomes a V. Look up Grimm's law and you will see how closely modern English and German are related and come from an ancient common source.

 

I have two young friends, kids actually, who have been learning Mandarin since grade school. They are also fluent in German, and, of course, English. The daughter now is taking Spanish - so impressive!

 

Yes, the basic elements of English are Anglo-Saxon, but over the centuries, especially following the Norman invasion, other influences were added.

Here's a link that you might find interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_of_French_on_English

 

Yes, and I wonder if words taken from French that are themselves based on Latin would be considered as Latin derived or French derived or would note the word as from Latin through French. e.g. chant from Latin cantare or French chanter or something like, from Latin cantare through French chanter.

 

Great post! I have yet to read Meditations but it’s on my list.

I figured instead of lurking, I would finally jump in and add to a post. Here’s my coin:


Marcus Aurelius AE As 26.5mm 11.5g
obv: Bust right, IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG PM
rev: Salus standing left feeding serpent rising from alter, SALVTI AVGVSTOR TRP XVII COS III S-C
RIC 850 Rome AD 174

 

Yes, provided that we are thoughtful caretakers of the coins in our possession. I think this standard should also be applied to world at large, as we leave it for future generations - a high bar, indeed, with the challenges before us.