Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

Latinese

Gendudehashadenough

03:48 / 15.04.04

I've been interested in learning some practical latin with hopes of translating known works, and dipping my foot into the ancient language pool to see what color it becomes. Seeing as how i known practically nothing about the language other than some key phrases, is there any beggining-type latin book in print. Something which simply gives a general overview of such basic grammar rules, alphabet, verbs, etc.

i saw the thread in the Gathering concerning laid-back group (council) learning. i'd assume though that the one mentioned in the aforementioned thread would not be in the so cal sea food.

So. Suggestions? Anyone actually learned the language for these purpose(s), as i'm certain this has been covered before? Even an entertaining useful textbook would be acceptable.

Contribution is good.

ONLY NICE THINGS

08:12 / 15.04.04

I learned many many years back using the Cambridge Latin Course, although that is designed as a classroom textbook rather than a one-person teach-yo' delf book. I enjoyed Peter Jones' column when I read it, the collected version of which can be found here. It's basic, but its style should be light and easy to follow, and the BCP deserves your support (in fact, might buy it myself...)

Latin's a great language, and not actually that difficult at all. However, modern teaching styles tend to veer more towards studying texts than learning grammar and vocab by rote, which is probably a useful thing - I'm not sure what you mean by "practical Latin", but if you have any questions or queries, I'm sure H.I.R or one of the other Barbelith Latinists woudl be happy to help out...

08:41 / 15.04.04

A school-teaching textbook like Tann recommends - Cambridge Latin Course, Oxford Latin Course (I learned with the latter so cannot compare the two) might be a good start. But they'll only take you so far. To actually be able to translate "known works" you'll need some serious ability. So let's just stick to basics, now. In the end, you'll probably want a seperate dictionary and grammar. But not for now.

As Tann asks: what do you mean by "practical Latin"? In many ways, Latin is an impractical language, but that does not stop it being wonderful, and you'll be able to read some wonderful literature and history.

Secondly: what market do you see for translating "known texts"? Or is it just for personal pleasure?

And finally, and probably my most important question: what other languages have you studied - and to what level? Latin, essentially, isn't that difficult, but you might find it a little easier if you've studied other modern foreign languages. Also, it'll take a good while before you can read original Latin texts if you're starting from scratch, especially the poetry - which is why school-teaching books, with their purpose-written prose, might be a good place to start.

13:26 / 15.04.04

Farily basic Latin reading comprehension quiz. I think there are more goodies on this site if you want to have a nose about.

Gendudehashadenough

04:39 / 16.04.04

I've just recently begun to study chaos magick, occult teachings, etc. and as i understand it many noteworthy works were written in such a way as to place importance on the different perceptions one may gain from reading an un-translated work.

Linguistics is a facinating subject and the nature of language, i believe would give me a solid foundation for forthcoming occult knowledge. I am aware of some of the basic principles of verb conjugation and root latin words/phrases and how they relate to the english and spanish languages, though i am by no means fluent in the latter. I've never agreed with the cirriculum of foreign language courses, as they seem to demphasize verb concepts and parts up speach in order to focus on nouns, which are important, but not for something that will (hopefully) become serioius study.

thanks for the Jone's title, haus. that's just what i had in mind. i like the fact that it covers greek too.

Reall, i just want to know what all the cool latin phrases, that are always used 'round these parts, mean

06:56 / 17.04.04

There are some good basic Latin phrase books around (I have a jokey but accurate one - Nil Desperandum). But you're on the money with reading texts in the original. Theology students at Uni were always made to read the Bible in the original Greek - when you do you realise that the translators took some, er, liberties with how they represented things. Considering that a large amount of western morality is based on the work of said translators, it's illuminating to read what the Greeks actually said.

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:43 / 17.04.04

Well, what the people writing in Greek actually said - I think only one of the gospels was likely written by a Greek, but I see what you mean.