Greek or Latin?
I’m only 13, and I want to learn a bit of a language on my own.
Which is more popular also?
Hi, and welcome to Textkit! You’ll find great help here.
It is probably presumptuous for me to answer, since I only know some Greek, but I’ve seen debates here before about which is easier, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus, among Textkit members at least. I think the traditional thought is that Greek is harder than Latin, but they are probably similar enough in difficulty that you should choose based on which books you would most like to read. Learning the Greek alphabet can be intimidating, but you’ll get over that pretty quickly.
I would guess that Latin is more popular, at least in terms of the number of people studying it. But I’ve always assumed that was because Greek is said to be harder, seeing that Greek literature is so much more interesting 
(Just kidding of course, for all you swole Latinists out there…)
Good luck pjj1020!
I fail to see how a language whose authors are almost entirely composed of just a few old Athenian men can compare with the variety, sagacity, and romance of the almost universally non-Roman Romanized authors.
I recommend that whatever you do, learn the Greek script anyway. You’re still young and the earlier exposure you have, the better in the long run. At least that’s my opinion. I don’t know any Greek wither except for the script which I picked up some years back.
Luce, what about Sappho? 
But I too am very heavily biased towards Latin. Especially if you know a Romance language, Latin’s the way to go to begin (but don’t trust me, pjj1020!)
And Homer, and Hesiod, and Pindar, and Alcaeus, and Theognis, and Herodotus, and Aristotle, and Theocritus, and… you get the idea.
It was a poor joke. 
More of a reverse-tease about how Rome possessed no Roman authors.
Except Julius Caesar. They were all immigrants or provincials — an interesting antecedent to the pluralistic society.
Thanks guys!
I’m still decideding what to learn, might need some more opinions. Is there any very helpful books Ishould look for on this site or in a library? For either language?
I belive right now where at Greek-- 2 Latin-- 2
Thanks!
PS: I need to know by Thursday morning if possible so I can learn the aplphabet and a few simple words to impress my family on Easter. (Leaning towards latin.)
I second Nick on this - pick the language with the more interesting literature. And the Greek alphabet is nothing … you can master it in a day or two, and be completely comfortable with it after a month of studying the language itself.
As I have suggested before to others, do a little research on Greek and Latin literature, possibly even sample a little literature in translation, and make a list of everything you would want to read in Ancient Greek and a list of everything you would want to read in Latin. Pick the list which you like better
Point for Latin : As Lucus pointed out, it was used by many people at many times. Point for Greek : It’s literature is older, and most Classical Latin authors assumed their audience was familiar with Greek literature. Point for Latin : If you already know a Romance language, it’s much easier. Point for Greek : I have heard that some of the beginning authors (especially Homer) is easier to read than some of the beggining authors for Latin. Point for Latin : It had a stronger vocabulary impact on English. Point for Greek : It’s more unusual (people are more impressed to hear that you know Greek than that you know Latin since Greek isn’t as widely taught in the USA). Point for Latin : It’s awesome. Point for Greek : It’s awesome.
My bias as to which language you should learn is consistent with my username. But still, as the years go by you’ll have the opportunity to learn both langauges, and since you don’t have any strong tendencies you might be equally happy with either language, just as long as you start one of them when you’re young.
G3 brings up some very true points. a latin (and greek, too, I think) professor once said that greek is a bit tougher at the onset, owing somewhat to the strangeness of it’s appearance (but G3 is right in saying that this is nothing too hard), but grows, or seems to grow, easier further on down the road. Latin, on the other hand, is usually taught in such a way that it is fairly easy in the beginning, but becomes harder as your learning progresses.
personally, I like latin, but then again, I don’t know much greek.
-Jon
I"m gonna go with Latin most likely. I had advice from other people too. BUT I’m gonna come back after I get sort of decent with Latin and learn some greek.
And sugestions for a book for beginners on Latin?
Thanks guys!
I would say that, with a possible exception given below, the case for trying Latin first is very strong.
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Latin is easier at first. This is not just because its alphabet is familiar. There are other things about Latin that are easier, too, at least initially, including, e.g., the verbal system, accents. (The Greek noun system is probably easier than Latin, however, partly because the article helps.)
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Even if you don’t get all that far in Latin, even the bits and pieces you will pick up in the early stages will be “useful” because Latin has had such a big effect on English. Greek will not be so illuminating.
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Latin is therefore a relatively painless way to find out quite quickly whether the whole idea of learning an ancient inflected language appeals to you, and whether you have the aptitude and energy to do it on your own. If you find you do have, then adding or switching to Greek is always possible. If not, you’ll have lost nothing and gained quite a lot.
If you do find yourself getting strongly bitten by the classics bug, having learned Latin will help with Greek (inflected languages, etc). This is not to say that learning Greek first would not help with Latin; but it is at least a neutral factor.
The exception I would make is if you were very strongly motivated to read a particular text or set of texts, then I would go with the relevant language. But, absent a strong initial preference, I would not make the texts written in each language the deciding factor. I say this because, being realistic about it, most people who start learning either language never get to the point of being able to read “real” texts with any fluency, and those who learn without a teacher are even less likely to get to that point. That’s not to say no-one does. But most don’t. That is absolutely not a reason not to learn: but it’s a good idea to work on the assumption that you are doing something to get an interesting “taste” of the language, and to make sure you will have got something out of it even if you never achieve fluency. On the whole, I think Latin is slightly better than Greek for that.
Sorry, while I was writing that (too long) reply, you posted to say you had decided on Latin, and looking for book recommendations.
A lot depends on what you like, and your background. You will get more useful recommendations if people know:
What experience of learning languages in general do you have? Are you already an experienced linguist?
In particular, have you ever learned an inflected language?
How much time do you have/expect to spend on this? How quickly do you want “results”?
How serious are you about the project long-term? Are you really looking to become fluent (e.g., a foundation for serious study later)? Or do you really just want a quick taste of the language?
There you go.
Also, are there any dictionaries I should look out for when I learn the sounds and alphabet etc.
PS: Right now I"m reading LAtin For beginners by BLD.
I would say then, unless you dislike it strongly, stick with “Latin for Beginners”. At least for a bit. It’s free. You will get help here with it.
You won’t need a dictionary for a bit. When you do need one, a tiny pocket dictionary will be quite adequate at first: the Oxford is fine. And, as a reference grammar, I think the Oxford Lating Grammar (Morwood) is nice, modern, perfectly adequate.
Thanks!
Yea I started LAtin For Beginners before, and will read a lot of it tommorrow because I dont have school for the rest of the week and monday.
You’ll never do it! You are 13! You will just read a couple of pages, become bored and a pansy then run away to your school and learn tourist italian phrases calling it a qualification! You will never do it you bloody pansy!
~E
Episcopus, is that really necessary?
And how old were you when you first encountered D’Ooge?
Don’t be such a Prophet of Doom. Epi !! 
Seriously, if you do Latin then you will find Greek very easy and vice versa. Once you have done the hard work once, the method of learning a new language will help you learn any other language much faster.
Don’t forget that Episcopus was also 13 once, long, long ago!! So was I, but that was back in prehistoric times. We had to inscribe our Latin homework on stone tablets … OK I’m joking, but it seems like a long time ago.
What happened to learning a language at a young age?
And did you get all your 2400 posts flaming people?
Well, I know a thirteen year old who learns modern Greek for fun (and learning modern Greek maybe easier than ancient in many ways but it’s far from easy; nor can it be considered useful knowledge for someone who wants to become a vet in GB) and he is more commited to it than I am in refreshing either my Latin or my French.
I can’t see what age has to do with commitment to learn anything. Plus, I know that learning foreign languages was far easier for me when I was 13 than it is at 31.
(Oh, and I completely agree with your decision to start with Latin strange as it may seem pjj020 )