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Learning Latin

JMartinez

Registered User
I've recently picked up an interest in latin. I'm spanish and a catholic so I figured why not, my college doesn't offer a latin course. Any tips, advice, comments, recommendations?
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/latin-101-learning-a-classical-language.html

I've done a few Great Courses products and they are all good.

Or as Latin is mostly a written language rarely used spoken outside of churches go to the library and ask a librarians to point you to a book on learning written Latin.

The common assignment I remember from high school friends is they were given small sections of Latin to translate into English and smaller sections of English to translate into Latin. Translate parts of Tacitus Germania or Ceasar Commentaries then compare against the Penguin or Everyman Classics editions. Translate Pater Noster into a modern form.

If you get really advanced consider the later sections of History of the Danes by Saxo Grammaticus. I've only ever seen the early sections in English. How cool a name is that? Saxo is a type of big knife. Grammaticus means the guy who conquered grammar or the guy who murdered grammar. Nice pun that almost makes me think of Jim Bowie talking like Yoda.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
Try Rosetta Stone:

http://www.rosettastone.com/learn-latin

I have always had an interest in Latin.

There was a science fiction movie one time, where two aliens were in a hock shop up in Queens. The one alien showed the new alien a dollar bill. He asked him "What is this E pluribus Unum?" And the experienced alien answered him' That is Latin, it is a dead language that Earth people use to impress each other.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I learned Latin at school for a couple of years. I think the priests hoped to get us into the priesthood. At the time the Mass was still in Latin and we would sing Latin hymns.

The only song in Latin I ever learned was in German class. "Gaudeamus Igatur" is a Latin drinking song that roughly translates to "In Heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here".
 

otherstar

Registered User
I minored in classical languages (philosophy major, and an MA in philosophy specializing in Medieval Philosophy), and my Latin reading ability is still quite strong. I recommend getting a copy of Wheelock's Latin, it will provide you with an excellent introduction to the grammar and vocabulary of the language.
 

otherstar

Registered User
Question: What about a pronunciation guide?

Wheelock's Latin has a pronunciation guide within for the Classical pronunciation. I use the Medieval/Ecclesiastical/Italianate pronunciation (same pronunciations with a different name).

There are a number of places to learn the different pronunciations for Latin. Here are some links:

http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Introductio/Pronunciatio.html -- Ecclesiastical Pronunciation

http://wheelockslatin.com/chapters/introduction/introduction.html -- Audio to go along with Wheelock (classical pronunciation)
 
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