Latin in Layman’s-A Rhetoric Revolution is hosted by grammarian and classicist Liam Connerly. This isn't a dry lecture series, but a practical exploration of how Latin actively shapes the way we communicate and think. Each episode digs into the roots of words, unpacking etymology and the specialized terminology of fields like law, medicine, and botany to build a more powerful vocabulary. The discussion goes beyond memorization, connecting grammatical structures to clearer thinking and more persuasive speech. Liam also uses the podcast as a space for broader reflections on linguistic power and his advocacy for a "Language Revival," arguing for a deeper engagement with our words. Tuning in offers a surprising look at the ancient language's modern pulse, demonstrating how a grasp of Latin fundamentals can refine your command of English and alter your respect for language itself. You'll find the conversation in this education-focused podcast is both accessible and intellectually ambitious, making historical linguistics feel immediately relevant.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 388

Latin in Layman’s - A Rhetoric Revolution
Podcast Episodes
Etymologizing - "trans-" & "dia-" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:23
This episode I first dive into "dia-" in Greek and all the counterparts associated. Then, I pit the Greek prefix to its Latin counterpart, "trans-," which is both a preposition (carrying across a direct action) and prefi…
Etymologizing - "Inter", "Bios", "Mikros" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:19
inter+national inter+vene inter+lude inter+ject ... Bio+logy bio+graphy auto+bio+graphy micro+be micro+biome ... micro+scope micro+cosm micro+biota micro+be micro+organism micro+wave micro+meter micro+filament
More etymologizing - Phone, Curro, and Verto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:43
Here, I take a different approach and talk about root words, in both Latin and Greek, and dive into the many English derivatives we derive from said root words. Lots of great info to take away from this episode! Language…
Irregular Comparison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:17
There are two important rules to remember in this chapter: (1) There are six third-declension adjectives with irregular superlatives. Their positive forms end -lis in the masculine/feminine nominative singular, and their…
Participles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:19
(1) Latin has four participles: the present active, the future active; the perfect passive and the future passive. It lacks, however, a present passive participle (“being [verb]-ed”) and a perfect active participle (“hav…