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What language is commonly used in original secondary source documents? I know this is a vague (and probably weird) question, but what is the most common used language of the good historians of the past and present? I imagine a lot of stuff was translated into Latin during Medieval times. Is French used often as well? A lot of stuff cited in Greek history is French.
Medieval documents are mostly written in Latin but after about the middle of the sixteenth century the vernacular of the country of origin was increasingly used. For example, Gibbon's “Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire” was written and published in English.
I ask because many post grad programs I'm looking at require a language. Just wondering which one would be most beneficial for history.
I think it's going to depend a lot on the area of your concentration. In my field, it seems there was a lot of secondary literature/research done in German on ancient topics. However, if I were to investigate a topic from the Renaissance/Baroque eras in Italy, Italian would the be language of choice. If you're into American history, English is obviously going to be the language of choice for secondary literature and the specific foreign language won't be as significant.So the question is - what area of history are you interested in?
Not sure yet, leaning towards Classical or European. Sounds like I really don't need to be concerned with this. Besides, even if some source is in French originally, I'm sure one can find an English translation of it.Many programs (of the ones I'm looking at) require the ability to speak and write in French, German, or Italian. Unless absolutely sure I'm going to pursue Irish History (where I'd need to know Irish for admittance to Boston Coll. anyway), my best bet would be one of the 3 mentioned.
If you pick Europe you will need a language. Latin, at least. There are many books available but most primary research will not be translated. Even if you study American History a language is useful. The National Archives have more Nazi documents than the Germans do. Anybody who does any serious research on Nazi germany ends up in Washington at least once. There are very few primary documents that have been translated. Clerical documents and war diaries are almost always only available in full in their native language. I have learned bith Latin(in high school) and German(since I married a German), and I am not convinced I will not lead to learn at least one or two more languages. I am guessing that for my specialty of Prussian history, I will need familiarity with Russian, Polish, and maybe Czech at a minimum.
Not sure yet, leaning towards Classical or European. Sounds like I really don't need to be concerned with this. Besides, even if some source is in French originally, I'm sure one can find an English translation of it.
You mean classical as in ancient? And which period in European history? I think it will definitely depend on the time period and geographic location, since the amount of primary and secondary documents/research covering it will hinge on those kinds of factors. I would say that the two most important foreign languages for European history are German and French, though this would change, say, if you're doing a topic in Portuguese history.
Classics as in Greece or Rome. Pretty much what interests me now in European history is colonialism, the British Empire, or modern history after the 18th century.I'm surprised that not many things are translated into English. Why's that, copyright issues? I'd love to learn Latin. Even ancient Greek, but I think it's too late for that, plus it's probably just as if not more difficult than Arabic and would take years to be proficient in it. Wish I stuck with school in my 20's. Language is my first roadblock so far and I need to do something about it soon.
Try the Rosetta Stone software. It really works but it is expensive and you have to devote time to it every day until it starts to take. The complete set of German ran me almost $500.
I think I have heard good things about Rosetta Stone as well.Ski, if it lessens the blow at all, you don't need to learn how to speak the foreign language; only to read it.
I have the Arabic series (which wasn't cheap). I started the first disk but couldn't commit enough time to it. I'll have to check out the French or Italian, but I'd rather take a “live” course in foreign language. Maybe even a tutor. The only problem with a tutor is if the graduate program is looking at credits taken rather than what was learned.
I think most graduate programs require that you demonstrate proficiency or take non-credit courses to meet a language requirement. I know the school I looked at in Texas required demonstrated proficiency and a test was required to prove it. They also required the language to be appropriate to the major. I could not have been fluent in Tongan and taken European history for example.
I ask because many post grad programs I'm looking at require a language. Just wondering which one would be most beneficial for history.
If you are going for ancient history, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin are your primary choices. If you are going for modern European, then Spanish, German, and French....and to a lesser extent Italian are a must.
I ask because many post grad programs I'm looking at require a language. Just wondering which one would be most beneficial for history.
If you are going for ancient history, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin are your primary choices.
Yeah, I'm leaning towards Latin, but I wouldn't mind getting familiar with Greek because that, along with Latin, would help in studying Rome.
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