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Latin, Greek or German?

I want to study law at Cambridge or LSE. So far I have chosen maths, history and English Literature. Which one of Latin, Greek and German will be the most useful?
Latin is an academically rigorous subject blah blah blah blah. The usual spiel. Take German. Yes, Latin is all well and good but you're not overly likely to start needing to pick up dozens of languages. German at least might have some direct application.
Reply 2
Original post by The Lyceum
Latin is an academically rigorous subject blah blah blah blah. The usual spiel. Take German. Yes, Latin is all well and good but you're not overly likely to start needing to pick up dozens of languages. German at least might have some direct application.


Thanks. What about Greek though? Greek might have some direct application too.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Plasticine
Thanks? What about Greek though? Greek might have some direct application too.


Not really, no. I'm a Classicist specialising in early Greek stuff and, honestly, it has very little application to anything really. Latin is useful in the sense that, beyond the usual stuff about the mental exercise of its grammar and its contribution to English vocabulary, it serves as a wonderful bridge to medieval and renaissance traditions of thought. Plus the link to modern European languages.

Greek can't boast of any that. German of course directly puts a modern European language in your hands. It depends on what you want to go for really.
Reply 4
Latin. Don't know why but my Latin teacher said you needed to have an analytic skill to do well in the subject and seeming as Law requires the same thing...
Latin is a stand out as very few people do it.
Reply 5
Original post by The Lyceum
Not really, no. I'm a Classicist specialising in early Greek stuff and, honestly, it has very little application to anything really. Latin is useful in the sense that, beyond the usual stuff about the mental exercise of its grammar and its contribution to English vocabulary, it serves as a wonderful bridge to medieval and renaissance traditions of thought. Plus the link to modern European languages.

Greek can't boast of any that. German of course directly puts a modern European language in your hands. It depends on what you want to go for really.


Thanks! It sounds like German would be better to take if Greek doesn't have much application. I could always do some Greek in my spare time if I wanted to extend on GCSE :smile:
Depends on if you want too learn any more languages after, and if so which ones. After German, the door is opened to Danish, Swedish, Afrikaans and Norwegian. As someone that's done both German and Latin, I can say that Latin is useful in terms of etymologies, and that's pretty much it. It's also very complex and involves a lot of grammatical work. German is more straightforward and applicable both career and travel wise, so I'd say go for that.


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Reply 7
Original post by Plasticine
I want to study law at Cambridge or LSE. So far I have chosen maths, history and English Literature. Which one of Latin, Greek and German will be the most useful?


I would choose either Latin or German. Latin because it is very well regarded and can be useful for legal terminology. German because many law firms like multiple language speakers and it leaves the possibility to go abroad open.

If you didn't enjoy the literature side of latin at gcse, there will be more at a-level, so that's something to consider. Tbh all of your subjects are well regarded so that would stand you in good stead.

If you're better at one subject pick that, Cambridge look for top UMS and if you're more likely to get that in a certain subject, do that :biggrin:
Reply 8
German! :biggrin:
Reply 9
Definitely German. There are far more resources available for German and it has more real-life uses. The Wort für Wort vocab book (£6) is a must if you're doing it to A-level.
Reply 10
Original post by alastair505
Definitely German. There are far more resources available for German and it has more real-life uses. The Wort für Wort vocab book (£6) is a must if you're doing it to A-level.


Thanks! I'll start looking for that book :smile:

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