Learning Latin

In the back of my mind, I have become a bit more curious about learning Latin. Not for heading to Rome, but I see more mixed works like Ussher and I suspect there are many more that might be more accessible if one knew some Latin.

Any suggestions on trying to at least picking up some basics for this ancient language. Inside or outside Logos. This is still a back burner item for me, but I'd like to at least get some basic skill learning on the calendar for study.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

George Somsel

You probably already have

Nunn, H. P. V. An Introduction to Ecclesiastical Latin. Cambridge: University Press, 1922.

It's not the best tool for learning Latin, but it's there. There is also

Collins Latin Dictionary Plus Grammar

. Glasgow: HarperCollins, 1997.

which has a very basic grammar and dictionary. Also, there is

Lewis, Charlton T., and Charles Short. Harpers’ Latin Dictionary. New York; Oxford: Harper & Brothers; Clarendon Press, 1891.

which is simply (??) a dictionary.

Ben Amundgaard (Faithlife)

This is a great set for learning Latin: https://noet.com/products/36369/lingua-latina-familia-romana-collection

It's part of the Latin Classics Research Library: https://noet.com/products/47110/latin-classics-research-library

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/674942#Comment_674942

I found Nunn in my library. The first Noet set looks good and I'll keep that in mind. Need to pay off my current load first.Thank you so much!

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675079#Comment_675079

Ben - you are being mean to me [:'(] The link offers no way for me to put it on my wishlist.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675095#Comment_675095

Ben - you are being mean to me The link offers no way for me to put it on my wishlist.

Save it in Pocket for now.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675102#Comment_675102

This is the resource that I have been slowly working my way through. - https://www.logos.com/product/34080/introduction-to-latin-collection

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675140#Comment_675140

This is the resource that I have been slowly working my way through. - https://www.logos.com/product/34080/introduction-to-latin-collection

That looks good, Bruce. Right on my wishlist and very affordable.Thanks!

James Hiddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675140#Comment_675140

This is the resource that I have been slowly working my way through. - https://www.logos.com/product/34080/introduction-to-latin-collection

Thanks for the resource.

God Bless you always my Brother in Christ!

James

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675151#Comment_675151

New Steps in Latin Collection (3 vols.) This is a far cheaper option albeit probably not as good as the one Ben mentioned.

-Dan

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675160#Comment_675160

The focus seems to vary. The Latin used in the Vulgate, Church Fathers, Classical writers, seems to differ from what I can tell so far. Not necessarily one better than the other, just different. Hopefully it's more on the vocabulary side of things that they differ.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675175#Comment_675175

I do not read latin only occasionally decipher it. It has for english readers a very unusual grammar... I did purchase the above set but have yet to dive into it... It's approach seemed to be the best for my desires.

-Dan

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675095#Comment_675095

Ben - you are being mean to me The link offers no way for me to put it on my wishlist.

You should be able to add it to a wish list from https://www.logos.com/product/36369/lingua-latina-familia-romana-collection

Jan Krohn

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675175#Comment_675175

I took Latin classes for 6 years at high school a long time ago. I wish I could remember a bit more of it...

The fact that there's a difference between classical Latin and ecclesiastical Latin is very much true. The vocabulary and grammar both overlap of course, but the choice of words and grammatical constructs to use, and above all the writing style is different.

The first year text book we used back then was focused on classical Latin. Most classical writers used to have a lot of images in their text, and put a lot of effort to have a stylish text flow. I would even say, especially the poets, valued the text flow (number and length of syllables etc) above the content.

Ecclesiastical Latin on the other hand is pragmatic. The writers cared about their readers, and wanted them to understand the content easily. They avoided complex constructs. Ecclesiastical Latin is easier to understand, but not as nice to read.

I did prefer ecclesiastical Latin (after all I'm male ;-)

Looking back to that time now, 20 years later, the classical poets (Ovid, Aesop, Petronius...) left a more lasting memory and impression on me.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675145#Comment_675145

This is the resource that I have been slowly working my way through. - https://www.logos.com/product/34080/introduction-to-latin-collection

That looks good, Bruce. Right on my wishlist and very affordable.Thanks!

For those same reasons I ended up choosing this resource.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675244#Comment_675244

Also, since we are on the topic of learning Latin some of you might be interested in a thread that I started about learning Latin vocabulary - https://community.logos.com/forums/t/96832.aspx

Rick Carmickle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675245#Comment_675245

If you want help learning Latin, try:

The Teaching Company: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/latin-101-learning-a-classical-language.html

Or Latin Via Ovid: http://www.amazon.com/Latin-Via-Ovid-Course-Edition/dp/0814317324 with accompanying CDs.

You would want to learn basic grammar and proper pronunciation as well and this will help.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675483#Comment_675483

Lots of great replies. Going to churn this through and make a decision. I'm getting a head start for the new year which means putting all my study intentions on the calendar.

SineNomine

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675513#Comment_675513

For a systematic study of classical Latin, nothing beats Wheelock's Latin, now in its 7th edition (although the 6th edition revised works just fine).

For ecclesiastical Latin, the most common text in Catholic universities and seminaries that teach Latin is Collins' Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin.

Unfortunately, Faithlife has neither in its collection thus far. Because they are both (comparatively) very popular, there are online resources for them.

If you want a lousy experience of learning classical Latin that will be just about useless for reading real texts, I heartily recommend the Cambridge Latin series.

I have used all three of the above options. If you'd like the opinions of a well-regarded Catholic layman (and canon law professor) whose professional work relies heavily on Latin, click here.

Ben Amundgaard (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675601#Comment_675601

Wheelock's Latin

I would really like us to get Wheelock's!

Collins' Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin.

I'm going to add this to my list (if it's not already there).

If I remember correctly (and it's been a while), doesn't Wheelock's offer guidance on Ecclesiastical Latin as well as Classical Latin (I may just be remembering that they go over differences in pronunciation ...)?

SineNomine

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/675669#Comment_675669

Wheelock's Latin

I would really like us to get Wheelock's!

Me too! It would be excellent for Noet in particular.

Collins' Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin.

I'm going to add this to my list (if it's not already there).

Thank you!

If I remember correctly (and it's been a while), doesn't Wheelock's offer guidance on Ecclesiastical Latin as well as Classical Latin (I may just be remembering that they go over differences in pronunciation ...)?

It does talk a bit about ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation, and occasionally uses texts of some interest to Christians, but it really is a tool aimed only to help with classical Latin.

This link will give novices all of the ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation one usually needs. (Sidenote: Unfortunately, Faithlife mispronounces Verbum in every video I've ever seen.)

Thomas Ball

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/674942#Comment_674942

This is a great set for learning Latin: https://noet.com/products/36369/lingua-latina-familia-romana-collection

I've been using Lingua Latina to brush up on my latin and have really been liking it. the Latin sub reddit (www.reddit.com/r/latin) turned me on to it before I knew we had it and when I found out I picked it up right away. The great thing about it is it trains you to NOT translate, but to read Latin in its own context. This helps comprehension significantly. I minored in Latin so I don't know how much I am recalling rather than learning new, but memorizing the declensions by writing them out over and over will be helpful in order to figure out which word is doing what.