Prompt Cast
Remembering Reginald Foster: The World's Foremost Latinist
TLDR Reginald Foster, the world's foremost Latinist, passed away at the age of 81. Known for his unique dress and sleeping habits, Foster was a brilliant individual who dedicated his life to the study and teaching of Latin, leaving an unparalleled impact on the language and its instruction.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Reginald Foster, the world's foremost Latinist, passed away at the age of 81, but this episode is about his unique life and career.
01:30
Reginald Foster, a friar in the discoused Carmelite order, was known for his unique dress and sleeping habits, but he was also a brilliant individual who entered the seminary at the age of 13.
02:51
At the age of 30, Father Reginald Foster became the head of the Latin letters office at the Vatican, a position that involves being in charge of the Latin language, which is still the official language of the Catholic Church.
04:15
Father Reginald Foster not only translated documents into Latin as the head of the Latin letters office at the Vatican, but he also had to create words for modern things that didn't exist in the ancient language, and in 2003, the Vatican published a dictionary of Latin words for new terms because of the high demand for Latin words for modern objects.
05:37
Reginald Foster was not only a master of Latin, but also a dedicated teacher who offered summer Latin programs outside of his university work starting in 1985.
07:02
Reginald Foster's summer Latin programs were unique and successful, with a heavy workload and trips to historic sites, and he believed that anyone could learn Latin because "every bum and prostitute in ancient Rome spoke Latin."
08:27
Reginald Foster's impact on the Latin language and its instruction is unparalleled, with his influence reaching Latin instructors worldwide and his publications contributing to the preservation and continued use of Latin.
