Discipula quaedam rogat cur haec lingua tam antiqua adhuc a multis legatur.

Because discipula is in the nominative singular, which is the normal case for the subject.

• discipula = female student / schoolgirl
• It matches the singular verb rogat = asks

So Discipula quaedam rogat means A certain female student asks.

quaedam is the feminine nominative singular of quidam, quaedam, quoddam, meaning a certain or sometimes a certain ... / some ...

Here it agrees with discipula:

• discipula = feminine, nominative, singular
• quaedam = feminine, nominative, singular

So together they mean:

• discipula quaedam = a certain student

It often comes after the noun in Latin, so this word order is very normal.

Because haec is the feminine nominative singular form of hic, haec, hoc = this.

It has to agree with lingua, which is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So:

• haec lingua = this language

If the noun were masculine or neuter, the form would be different.

tam means so or so very, and it strengthens the adjective antiqua.

• antiqua = ancient, old
• tam antiqua = so ancient

Again, antiqua agrees with lingua:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So haec lingua tam antiqua means this so ancient language or more naturally this language, so ancient.

adhuc usually means still, up to now, or even now.

Here it adds the idea that the language continues to be read even though it is very old.

So the sense is:

• adhuc legatur = is still read

cur means why.

After a verb like rogat (asks), it introduces an indirect question:

• rogat cur ... = she asks why ...

So this is not a direct question like Cur haec lingua legitur? Instead, it is embedded inside the sentence:

• Discipula quaedam rogat cur ... legatur.
• A certain student asks why ... is read.

Because cur haec lingua ... legatur is an indirect question, and Latin normally uses the subjunctive in indirect questions.

So:

• direct question: Cur haec lingua legitur? = Why is this language read?
• indirect question: rogat cur haec lingua legatur = she asks why this language is read

The subjunctive here does not mean may be read in translation. In this construction, it is simply the normal grammar of indirect questions.

It is present subjunctive because the main verb is rogat, a present tense verb. Latin commonly follows sequence of tenses here.

• main verb in a primary tense: rogat
• subjunctive in indirect question: often present for action happening at the same time

So rogat cur ... legatur means:

• she asks why ... is read

If the main verb were past, you might expect something like rogavit cur ... legeretur.

Because the idea is the language is read, not someone reads the language.

The verb lego, legere means to read. Its passive means to be read.

So:

• legit = he/she reads
• legitur = it is read
• legatur = it is read in an indirect-question subjunctive construction

The subject of legatur is haec lingua.

a multis means by many people.

With a passive verb, Latin uses a/ab + ablative to express the personal agent:

• a or ab = by
• multis = ablative plural of multi = many

So:

• a multis legatur = is read by many

Here multis is being used substantively, meaning many people.

By itself, multis just means many in the ablative plural, and the noun is not stated. But in this sentence, because it follows a with a passive verb, it naturally means by many people.

So although the noun is understood rather than written, the meaning is very clear.

Latin word order is more flexible than English word order, because the endings show the grammatical roles.

This sentence is arranged quite naturally:

• Discipula quaedam = subject
• rogat = main verb
• cur ... legatur = indirect question
• haec lingua tam antiqua adhuc = the main idea inside that question
• a multis = agent with the passive
• legatur = verb at the end, a very common Latin position

So the order helps emphasis and flow, but the case endings are what really show how the sentence works.

Because rogare can be used either:

• with a person asked, as in magistrum rogat = she asks the teacher
• or simply with the question itself, as here

So rogat cur ... is perfectly normal and means she asks why ...

The person being asked is just not expressed.

A direct question would be something like:

• Cur haec lingua tam antiqua adhuc a multis legitur?

Notice the change:

• legitur in the direct question
• legatur in the indirect question after rogat

So:

• direct: Why is this very ancient language still read by many?
• indirect: A certain student asks why this very ancient language is still read by many.