THE CASE FOR LATIN.

ROLCAM · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: THE CASE FOR LATIN.

INTRODUCTION

THE CASE FOR LATIN

Latin is the language of the ancient Romans. They spoke the language of the district in which they lived, namely Latium in Italy. Therefore their language was called Latin.

At the age of sixteen Queen Elizabeth I could talk Latin with her tutors. Today, unfortunately very few wish to emulate that English monarch.

The Latin language has been the main vehicle of Western culture for overt two thousand years. The family group to which Latin belongs is called Indo-European. The imperial power of Rome made the Latin language the general speech of South and Western Europe. From it derived the Romance languages – Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Rumanian. To obtain a first hand knowledge of the creeds, codes, laws, literature, philosophy and science of Western Europe a good knowledge of Latin is both indispensable and an asset. Latin is a necessary element in western culture. Without it our civilization is losing its breath, depth, richness and stability.

Why learn Latin? Apart from all this there are many arguments for the study of Latin. Dorothy Sayers writing in the National Review said:

“ I will say at once, quite firmly, that the best grounding for education is the Latin grammar. I say this not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labour and pains of learning almost any other subject by at least 50 percent.”

In the same vein the Classical Association aptly pointed out that:

“Not only is a knowledge of Latin indispensable as a scientific basis of European language studies, but we believe the training that it involves to be of unrivalled assistance towards the subsequent study of almost any new subject.”

Professor Emeritus William Harris wrote:

“ From another point of view, the study of Latin does foster precision in the use of words. Since one reads Latin closely and careful, often word by word, this focuses the student’s mind on individual words and their usage. It has been noticed that people who have studied Latin in school usually write quite good English prose. There may be a certain amount of stylistic imitation involved, but more important is the habit of reading closely and following important texts with accuracy.”

A statement issued by the Council of the Classical Association some years ago pointed out amongst other things:

“ The linguistic training of Latin, emphasizing as it does constant processes of analysis and synthesis, teaches clarity and precision of thought, lucidity of expression in English, and in particular the ability to distinguish the thought and the form in which it is expressed. The position of Latin is unique in this respect because, more than any other language likely to be studied, it involves the translation not of single words but of ideas.”

A sound knowledge of Latin is not only indispensable for most of the professions. For a thorough grasp of western civilization, culture and the appreciation of our European heritage the study of Latin is a sine qua non.

We are indebted to the Romans not only for a great part of our modern civilisation but also for a still greater part of the English language. At least half of the words in the English language are derived from Latin.

The importance of Latin in the modern world is perhaps; even greater than it was in ancient times. It is the foundation of what are called the Romance languages – French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, etc. It is the language of' Catholic Church (Roman), the language of scientists for the names of plants, animals and drugs, and the language of the legal profession for many of the principles of our law. Ihering wrote:

"Rome conquered the world three times: first by her armies, secondly by her religion, thirdly by her law. This third conquest, most pacific of all, is perhaps the most surpassing of all."

You may have only a small knowledge of science and of law, and you may, therefore, not be able to appreciate from the outset the importance of Latin in these two spheres. Since, however, so many English words are derived from Latin, it is obvious, that, to understand English thoroughly, a knowledge of Latin is essential. As you study the language, you will recognise many Latin words that have had an influence on English, and it will add to your interest in the subject if you deliberately look for these. You will find that by so doing you will increase your English as well as your Latin vocabulary.

Latin is an interesting language, but it is also a language which requires close study and great care in following the rules. It cannot be 'picked up’.
Latin must be thoroughly learnt; it is the only way.
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COURSES

TUITION IN TRADITIONAL COURSES

This website offers four courses in the TRADITIONAL approach to learning Latin without using any particular textbook:

1. LATIN FROM BASICS: This course covers the study of Latin from basics and includes accidence and syntax, translating of simple sentences from English to Latin and viceversa, as well translating short easy passages from Latin to English. This course, also, gives a brief introduction to the writing of continuous Latin prose composition. It deals also with aspects of Roman culture and civilisation, and the use of Latin today in law, the Roman Catholic Church, medicine, and the sciences. (31 units)(Tuition Fees: 15 Euros per unit).

2. ADVANCED LATIN COURSE: This Course in 18 Units covers the language, composition and unseen materials for "A" Level Latin (Tuition Fees: 35 Euros per Unit). Students following this course must have previously covered all the material in Latin From Basics Course.

3. CONTINUOUS LATIN PROSE COMPOSITION: This course is intended for students who have followed the Latin from Basics Course. Learn how to translate English passages into good idiomatic Classical Latin. (8 Units) (Tuition Fees: 25 Euros per unit).

4. LATIN UNSEEN: This course covers the translating of original Latin texts into English and other topics. It is intended for students who have already completed course 1. (11 Units) (Tuition Fees: 25 Euros per unit).

Individualised tuition through correspondence or through privite tuition in person.

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TUITION IN TEXTBOOK COURSES

TEXTBOOKS ON LATIN PROSE COMPOSITION.

None of the above four courses is based on any textbook in particular. We are willing to offer tuition assistance to students using any of the following Latin prose composition textbooks:

Hillard & Botting, Elementary Latin Exercises (Duckworth / Focus Publishing)*.

North & Hillard, Latin Prose Composition (Duckworth / Focus Publishing)*.

* Students using these books require Kennedy's Revised Latin Primer (ed. Mountford) (Longmans).

Colebourn, Latin Sentence & Idiom (Bristol Classical Press).

Bradley Arnold, Latin Prose Composition (Bristol Classical Press / Bolchazy-Carducci).

Nash-Williams, Advanced Latin Prose Composition (Bristol Classical Press).

Tuition fees depend on syllabus and academic level.
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UNDERSTANDING LATIN

An excellent course laying more emphasis on the understanding of Latin than the translating into Latin from English (although English into Latin sentences are also covered), and for which tuition assistance is available (tuition fees: 15 Euros per chapter, 40 chapters):

WHEELOCK’S LATIN:

Wheelock’s Latin (6Ed) (Harper Collins).

Grote, A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock's Latin (for 6 Ed textbook)(Bolchazy-Carducci).

Workbook to Wheelock’s Latin (3Ed) (Harper Collins).

Groton & May, 38 Latin Stories (designed to accompany Wheelock’s Latin (Bolchazy-Carducci).
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LEARNING LATIN IN A YEAR

An excellent book to study Latin in one year is:

Shelmerdine: Introduction to Latin (Focus Publishing).

This is an excellent textbook and is highly recommended. (32 Units at 15 Euros per unit).
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FULL LATIN COURSE

Full Latin Courses for students following a three to four years study of Latin a secondary schoool level are:

Balme & Morwood, Oxford Latin Course Parts I, II, and III. Part IV is Oxford Latin Reader (Oxford University Press).

Pearcy, Allen, Kent, Klaassen, Van Dyke Konopka & Pearson, New First, Second & Third Steps in Latin (Focus Publishing).
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ECCLESIATICAL LATIN

An excellent book to learn Ecclesiastical Latin, and for which assistence (tuition fees: 15 Euros per unit, 35 units, and 23 Further Reading Exercises, (8 Euros per corrected Futher Reading*) may be offered, is :

John F. Collins, A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin (Catholic University of America).

This textbook includes topics from St. Jerome's Bible, St. Ambrose hymns, canon law, the Latin liturgy, and scholastic philosophy.

(* N.B. Students studying for the priesthood there is a special fee of 120 Euros for the whole course, including the Further Readings, instalment payments accepted).

For a course in Latin in the Tridentine Mass go to latin-mass-society.org there is a course named Simplicissimus.
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OUT OF PRINT TEXTBOOKS

The are some excellent out of print textbooks which can be purchased on line through usedbooksearch.co.uk or from second hand bookshops. Tuition is offered for the following textbooks:

Nash-Williams, Introduction to Continuous Latin Prose for Upper Forms (Macmillan). (This is an excellent introduction to Nash-Williams, Advanced Latin Prose Composition).

Baker and Inglis, High School Course in Latin Composition ( Macmillan). This is perhaps the best traditional textbook with exrecises in syntax published in the U.S.A. Students following this textbook require Allen and Greenough, New Latin Grammar (ed Anne Mahoney) (Focus Publishing).

Other out of print textbooks for which tuition is provided are:

Belcher, Short Exercises in Latin Prose Composition (Macmillan).

Allcroft & Haydon, Latin Composition (U.T.P.).

Marchant & Watson, Latin Prose Composition (G. Bell and Sons).

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LITERATURE

Tuition available depending on set books and academic level. Quote syllabus, set texts, and supply past papers.
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TEXTBOOK COSTS ARE NOT INCLUDED

All tuition fees quoted are exclusive of textbooks, both in language and literature.

It is recommended that textbooks can be purchased online from Amazon books UK if you reside in Europe, or Amazon or Barnes & Noble (bn books) if you reside elsewhere.

N.B. 1.Some textbooks can be downloaded free of any costs from textkit.com.

2. Most well known textbooks have American editions published by Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers and/or Focus Publishing.

3. It is highly recommended to purchase editions of books recommended in the syllabus.

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THE POPES ON THE LATIN LANGUAGE.

Pope PIUS XI, Officiorum Omnium, 1922:.

“For the Church, precisely because it embraces all nations and is destined to endure until the end of time ... of its very nature requires a language which is universal, immutable, and non- vernacular.”

Pope PIUS XII, Mediator Dei, 1947:

“The use of the Latin language prevailing in a great part of the Church affords at once an imposing sign of unity and an effective safeguard against the corruption of true doctrine.” (

Pope JOHN XXIII, Veterum Sapientia, 1962:

“The Catholic Church has a dignity far surpassing that of every merely human society, for it was founded by Christ the Lord. It is altogether fitting, therefore, that the language it uses should be noble, majestic and non-vernacular.”

Pope PAUL VI, Sacrificium Laudis, 1966:

“The Latin language is assuredly worthy of being defended with great care instead of being scorned; for the Latin Church it is the most abundant source of Christian civilization and the richest treasury of piety... we must not hold in low esteem these traditions of your fathers which were your glory for centuries.”

Pope JOHN PAUL II praised Latin as an expression of the unity of the Church which, through its dignified character, elicited a profound sense of the Eucharistic mystery. He said it was necessary to show understanding and full respect towards those Catholics who missed the use of the old Latin liturgy, and to accommodate their desires as far as possible. He said the Roman Church has special obligations towards Latin and she must manifest them whenever the occasion presents itself (Pope JOHN PAUL II in a 1980 letter on the mystery and worship of the Eucharist).

and....

"We strongly encourage you all that, by diligent study and effective teaching, you may pass on like a torch the understanding, love and use of this immortal language (LATIN) in your own countries." (Pope JOHN PAUL II said these words to an international group of pilgrims in Rome on July 28, 1999).

Pope BENEDICT XVI (as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) , in 2002, before becoming Pope, "On Sacred Music and Liturgy”:

“I would be in favour of a new openness toward the use of Latin. Latin in the Mass has come meanwhile to look to us like a fall from grace. So that, in any case, communication is ruled out that is very necessary in areas of mixed culture... Let's think of tourist centres, where it would be lovely for people to recognize each other in something they have in common. So we ought to keep such things alive and present. If even in the great liturgical celebrations in Rome, no one can sing the Kyrie or the Sanctus any more, no one knows what Gloria means, then a cultural loss has become a loss of what we share in common. To that extent I should say that the Liturgy of the Word should always be in the mother tongue, but there ought nonetheless to be a basic stock of Latin elements that would bind us together.“

Pope BENEDICT XVI Sacramentum Caritatis, apostolic exhortation (13th March, 2007):

"None of the above observations should cast doubt upon the importance of such large-scale liturgies. I am thinking here particularly of celebrations at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency. The most should be made of these occasions. In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, such liturgies could be celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant."

Pope BENEDICT XVI in his letter to the Bishops on the publication of his Motu Proprio SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM (7th July, 2007):

“As for the use of the 1962 Missal (Tridentine Latin Mass) as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted.”
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Roland Camilleri

Moderator

Sydney , Australia.