A tongue for Europe
From Victoria Elliott Sir: I was surprised when reading Peter Jones's column (Ancient and modern, 6 January) that he did not mention an obvious candidate for a common European language: Latin. It has the advantage of being equally unknown in all countries, so that no one state may gain an advantage or political capital by having its own language adopted. Yet it is a language whose constructs we are all reasonably familiar with through our own native tongues.
Perhaps those wishing to achieve a 'profitable, high-status military career' in the European Army should, like their Roman forebears, have to learn Latin. What better way for the European Union to model itself completely on its greatest role model, the Roman Empire?
Victoria Elliott
Cambridge
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