Earlier in November, Yle announced plans to take Nuntii Latini, which has been running for several decades, off the air due to dwindling audiences increasingly resorting to the Internet.
However, following a public outcry and an international petition to stop the cancellation of the world's only surviving news broadcast in the classic language, Nuntii Latini was granted a two-year deferment, much anticipated by Latinists across the world.
In the petition, the news program was described as a testament to the vitality and flexibility of Latin, uniting language enthusiasts throughout the world, as well as an invaluable teaching tool.
"Yle has come to an understanding with the makers of the program that it will continue until spring 2019. We have received a great deal of praise for Nuntii Latini and many listeners have also lamented its termination. We can now fulfill the wishes of Latin aficionados and perhaps inspire others abroad to continue the program," Yle creative content director Ville Vilén said, adding that the program has survived all these years as a result of the staff's high-quality work and personal engagement.
#NuntiiLatini jatkaa. Hieno päätös Yleltä. Ylen Nuntii Latini jatkaa keväälle 2019 https://t.co/qNHUoLKIOD
— Henri Virtanen (@Virtanen_Henri) December 21, 2017
Nuntii Latini has been offering listeners weekly reviews of recent world news and human interest stories since 1989. It is aired on Fridays by Yle Radio.
#nuntiilatini only in #Yle #Finland! https://t.co/T4J75B0tPD
— KatariinaMustakallio (@KataMustakallio) December 22, 2017
Latin, the dominant language of the Roman Empire, belongs to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family and has given rise to Romance languages such as Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Romanian. Over the centuries Latin was widely used as the lingua franca across the world, as well as the language of international communication, scholarship and science well into the 18th century. As of today, Latin remains the official language of the Holy See and the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.
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Si Domini Nativitatis vere festum agere volumus hoc signum contemplemur: parvulum modo natum inermem ac debilem. Ibi est Deus.
— Papa Franciscus (@Pontifex_ln) December 23, 2017
Today, many countries, cities and organizations have Latin mottos, such as Semper Fidelis (always loyal), the motto of the US Marine Corps, or Per Ardua ad Astra ("through the struggle to the stars"), the motto of the UK Royal Air Force.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps @18thSMMC and I visited Marines training in Norway today. Disciplined, fit, and well-led Marines and Sailors who are representing our Corps and Nation with honor. Stay ready! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Semper Fidelis pic.twitter.com/F4QrTtQ8Zm
— Robert B. Neller (@GenRobertNeller) December 20, 2017
