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Author Topic: So what is needed to learn Latin  (Read 1524 times)

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Offline Nylndech

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So what is needed to learn Latin
« on: April 29, 2012, 05:18:29 PM »
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  • Is this all?

    Pronunciation
    The five declensions and their cases
    Vocabulary

    Is there something missing?
    can't tell if ninja

    or cryptotrad


    Offline Capt McQuigg

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #1 on: April 29, 2012, 05:56:21 PM »
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  • I'm hoping someone with a lot of knowledge of Latin will respond.

    I'd also like to add:  Do you guys think Rosetta Stone would be a good way to learn Latin?


    Offline Nylndech

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #2 on: April 29, 2012, 06:27:40 PM »
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  • Rosetta Stone doesn't have Ecclesiastical Latin.

    I have Scanlon and Scanlon's Ecclesiastical Latin books.  They are straightforward but I have little motivation for such things.

    If Ecclesiastical Latin learning is simplified like in my first post, it is easier to be motivated.
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    Offline Nylndech

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #4 on: April 29, 2012, 06:37:51 PM »
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  • A link to a book does not answer my question.

    Pronunciation, declensions and cases, and vocabulary.  Are these all that one will have to learn?

    Yes/no.

    If no then what else?
    can't tell if ninja

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    Offline Jitpring

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #5 on: April 29, 2012, 08:53:20 PM »
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  • Age, thou art shamed.*
    O shame, where is thy blush?**

    -Shakespeare, Julius Caesar,* Hamlet**

    Offline Jitpring

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #6 on: April 29, 2012, 09:02:22 PM »
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  • Quote from: Capt McQuigg
    I'm hoping someone with a lot of knowledge of Latin will respond.

    I'd also like to add:  Do you guys think Rosetta Stone would be a good way to learn Latin?


    Do they teach Latin? I know that for other languages Fluenz is vastly superior to RS. See fluenz.com
    Age, thou art shamed.*
    O shame, where is thy blush?**

    -Shakespeare, Julius Caesar,* Hamlet**

    Offline Vladimir

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #7 on: April 29, 2012, 10:18:09 PM »
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  • Quote from: Nylndech
    A link to a book does not answer my question.

    Pronunciation, declensions and cases, and vocabulary.  Are these all that one will have to learn?

    Yes/no.

    If no then what else?


    You should have to worry too much about pronunciation.

    Grammar and vocabulary seem to be the most important things.

    It will help a lot to have reading material. See the books in the Loeb Classical Library series.





    Offline Nylndech

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #8 on: April 29, 2012, 10:20:58 PM »
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  • Quote from: Vladimir
    Quote from: Nylndech
    A link to a book does not answer my question.

    Pronunciation, declensions and cases, and vocabulary.  Are these all that one will have to learn?

    Yes/no.

    If no then what else?


    You should have to worry too much about pronunciation.

    Grammar and vocabulary seem to be the most important things.

    It will help a lot to have reading material. See the books in the Loeb Classical Library series.



    I would like an answer to my question, please.
    can't tell if ninja

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    Offline brainglitch

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #9 on: April 29, 2012, 10:30:47 PM »
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  • Memorization really is the key.

    I took Latin for 7 years, including high school and college, so I know what I' talking about.

    Memorize the five declension so that you can literally rattle them off in your sleep. That's just nouns.

    Then, memorize the conjugations. 4 conjugations, with different forms active and passive, indicative and subjunctive, for present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect, future perfect.

    OK, that's a little extreme. I would start of by just learning the first three declensions, since they are the most common, and the following conjugations:

    Active Indicative, present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect, future perfect.

    Once you have that down, you'll be able to read short and simple Latin stories and phrases, and a decent amount of the Common parts of the Mass. You should also be able to at least get the gist of the four Gospels in the Vulgate.

    I would also try reading some Classical authors. Naso is the easiest, IMO.

    For Latin books....I recommend Henle, just because that is what I'm most familiar with.

    I doubt that an "immersion" program would be good for Latin, simply because grammar and syntax is a lot more complex than most modern languages. It is however more logical, so that's a plus.

    The most important thing, after memorization, is to get a feel for the sentence structure; it is very different than English.

    English: Subject-Verb-Object. For example: Rome is in Italy.

    Latin: Subject-Objecct-Verb. E.G.: Roma in Italia est.

    There is a lot more to this subject.....I may add more if time allows.


    Offline brainglitch

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #10 on: April 29, 2012, 10:32:10 PM »
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  • Quote
    Pronunciation, declensions and cases, and vocabulary.  Are these all that one will have to learn?


    You really have to get a feel for sentence and paragraph construction. I can elaborate more on that tomorrow, if you want.


    Offline Jaynek

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #11 on: May 01, 2012, 08:34:54 PM »
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  • Quote from: Nylndech
    Is this all?

    Pronunciation
    The five declensions and their cases
    Vocabulary

    Is there something missing?


    This is just scratching the surface.  You did not mention verbs.  You need to understand the subjunctive mood.  This involves learning the forms for the various tenses and learning how to use them.  While subjunctive is not much used in English, it is important in Latin, especially Ecclesiastical Latin.  

    Offline Nylndech

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #12 on: May 01, 2012, 08:54:45 PM »
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  • Pronunciation
    The five declensions and their cases
    Verbs
    Subjunctives
    Vocabulary

    Anything else?

    Simplifying things into basic lists of tasks make them less intimidating.
    can't tell if ninja

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    Offline brainglitch

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    So what is needed to learn Latin
    « Reply #13 on: May 01, 2012, 09:21:37 PM »
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  • [quotePronunciation
    The five declensions and their cases
    Verbs
    Subjunctives
    Vocabulary [/quote]

    Sentence and paragraph construction......Subjunctives are simply a subtype of the conjugations.