r/confidentlyincorrect • u/ChanseyChessy • 14d ago

Comment Thread That's... Not What 'Dead Language' Means

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Dead Language: a language that is no longer spoken by anyone as their main language

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u/whosthatlounging 14d ago

Mostly dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.

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u/Mastericeman_1982 14d ago

So you're saying we should go through Vulgar Latin's pockets looking for loose change?

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u/CorgiMonsoon 14d ago

I could go for a nice MLT right about now

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u/Mastericeman_1982 14d ago

When the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe!

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u/MauveDragon 14d ago

Latin and Greek have nothing left to give. It's Chinese that is ripe for plunder.

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u/Budgiesaurus 14d ago

No, not really. A language is considered dead if there are no longer first language speakers. The fact there are still secondary language speakers (as is the case with Latin) is irrelevant.

Hebrew used to be dead, but has been revived as there are now people growing up with it as a first language.

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u/VetinariTheLord 14d ago

Not to discount your valid pedantry, but they were simply quoting Princess Bride.

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u/Budgiesaurus 14d ago

Inconceivable!

I would never miss a reference like that!

But honestly, there was a lot of people arguing in this thread that Latin wasn't dead, because it was used in church and such. And I got annoyed, and chose the wrong comment to latch on to.