Ladinakeelsed nimed taasiseseisvunud Eestis: Tartu Ülikooli ja Tallinna Ülikooli õppehoonete näide
Latin names in re-independent Estonia: Example of the names of buildings at the University of Tartu and the Tallinn University

Summary/Abstract: Although the knowledge and use of Latin have diminished during the last centuries in Estonia as well as elsewhere in the world, Latin names are still popular. In Estonia several enterprises, choirs, book series and periodicals have got a Latin name during the period since the country regained its independence or shortly before that. The present article deals mainly with the Latin names of buildings at the University of Tartu and Tallinn University. Most of these names originate from the 21st century and at both universities there are 6 buildings with Latin names. At the University of Tartu the example for Latin name forms of buildings are drawn from the 19th-century Theatrum anatomicum. Therefore these names are derived from neuter adjectives with the ending -um. The Latin names of the buildings at the University of Tartu accordingly are: Iuridicum, Biomeedikum (Biomedicum),Oeconomicum, Chemicum, Philosophicum and Physicum. The names are densely connected with the function of the buildings and the disciplines practised inside them. Latin names which did not reflect the buildings’ function very clearly, have been rejected. There have been several discussions at the University of Tartu in order to find a proper name for a new building of the university. At Tallinn University the Latin names of buildings are the following: Astra,Mare, Nova, Silva, Terra and Ursa. The interpretation of these names can be found on the website of the university. However, the meaning of the names does not correspond to the function of the buildings. In order to get an idea about the reception of the Latin names of buildings at Tallinn University, 39 master students of humanities at Tallinn University were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the meaning of these names. The results of the questionnaire revealed that the master students of humanities were very well aware of the meaning of the names Mare,Nova and Terra, whereas less than 50% of the students knew the meaning of the names Astra, Silva and Ursa. The conclusions of the article are that Latin names are often used in Estonia at the universities as well as elsewhere for prestige, international intelligibility, attractiveness, reliability, as well as in order to grant a name neutrality, when no modern language is preferred. But in the case of the universities one can also draw a conclusion that the use of Latin names probably sets a requirement for proper courses and knowledge of Latin as well.

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