latin roots

Here is an excellent recording of the Passion in Latin. The singers have perfect diction and trill their r’s beautifully. Every Sunday I get to listen to Latin, which has inherent rhyme and stateliness.

Over 60 percent of English words have Greek or Latin roots, and in the sciences and technology the figure rises to over 90 percent. Some test prep books for national exams list the roots, which is why I ask students to memorize them.

As of 2016, English vocabulary is 29% French, 29% Latin, 26% Germanic, 6% Greek, and the remaining 10% is either other languages or proper names. Two Latin words frequently sung in this recording are dixit (he said) and respondit (he responded).

The singer who sings the role of Pontius Pilate has a slightly higher voice than the narrator. Listen long enough to hear them all: narrator, Pontius Pilate, Jesus [bass voice], and crowd.

My favorite Latin phrase is, Quod scripsi, scripsi. In English, What I have written, I have written. Pilate said that in response to the objection to the sign that he ordered to be nailed on the cross above Jesus's head: Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).

It was written in three languages: Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. We see it abbreviated to INRI.

For the Passion libretto in Latin and English, copy and paste the following into your search engine...
https://www.scribd.com/document/258090504/Arvo-Pa-rt-Passio-Texts-and-Translations