17.04.25 / Lecture “Latin and Greek: Living Languages?” (FR)
How can Latin and Greek remain living languages?
Illuminated title page of the *Speculum humanae salvationis*,
anonymous French translation titled *Miroir d’humaine salvation*,
15th century, Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Manuscripts Department (French 188, fol. 18r).
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Christine Bénévent presents Erasmus’s work, *Dialogue on the Correct Pronunciation of Latin and Greek*, which she recently co-edited.
De recta pronuntiatione
“Ah, if only all of humanity could speak just two languages!” sigh the two interlocutors in *De recta pronuntiatione*, a learned lion and bear.
Under the guise of an animal dialogue, Erasmus addresses crucial issues: how can Latin and Greek remain living languages, languages of communication between people?
First and foremost, they must be pronounced correctly!
The dialogue between Leo and Ursus serves as a pretext for reflection on education, as well as an overview of contemporary national pronunciations.
Beyond ethical issues, this text offers an exceptional testimony to oral practices during the Renaissance.
Christine Bénévent
Professor of the History of the Book at the École des chartes (Paris), Christine Bénévent is a specialist in humanism and the Renaissance. Her work focuses notably on Erasmus and Guillaume Budé. She will present Erasmus’s work, *Dialogue on the Correct Pronunciation of Latin and Greek*, which she recently co-edited.
