Introduction to Latin Language and Linguistics

1. Welcome to CLAS 1105Introductory Latin September 13th, 2011

2. The Latin Language:A General Background • Language of the ancient Latins and Romans. • Spread to Europe together with the Roman Empire; foundation of “Romance” languages (i.e. French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian); Profound influence on the evolution of English. • Language of literacy and scholarship in Europe down to 16th century (emergence of vernacular literature, esp. Scripture). • Language of science and international diplomacy well into the 19th century. • Indo-European language (i.e. One of a group of related languages sharing a common parent language and so common syntax, structure, morphology etc.). • Indo-European languages include: Latin, Greek, Germanic (i.e. German, Dutch, Danish, English etc.), Slavonic (i.e. Russian, Polish, Ukrainian etc.), Gaelic (i.e. Irish, Welsh etc.), Persian (i.e. Pharsi), and Indic (i.e. Sanskrit et. al.).

3. Indo-European Migrations:ca. 4000-1000 BCE

4. Related Morphology:cf. Wheelock, pp. xxviii-xxix Mother Is • Latin = mater. • Sanskrit = matar. • Greek = meter. • Anglo-Saxon = modor. • Old Irish = mathir. • German = mütter. • Russian = mat’. • English = mother. • Latin = est. • Sanskrit = asti. • Greek = esti. • Anglo-Saxon = is. • Old Irish = is. • German = ist. • Russian = jest’. • English = is.

5. Critical Distinctions between Latin and English • Latin = an inflected language; English no longer inflected. • Inflected Language – the role of a word in a sentence is determined by the form of the word and NOT by word order. • English relies on word order to convey the role played by a word in a sentence.

6. The Importance of Word Order in English “The dog bites the boy.” • Dog = subject. • Bites = verb. • Boy = object. • The dog is the one who is biting the boy. “The man bites the dog.” • Boy = subject. • Bites = verb. • Dog = object. • The boy is now the one who is doing the biting.

7. Latin Inflection • Role of a word in a sentence determined by its form (i.e. Its inflection). “The dog bites (is biting) the boy.” • Canis (dog) mordetpuerum (boy). • Puerumcanismordet. • Puerummordetcanis. “The boy bites (is biting) the dog.” • Puermordetcanem. • Canempuermordet. • Canemmordetpuer. • Role of word in a sentence is determined by case ending for nouns, pronouns, adjectives, participles etc. (Nominative, Genitive, Accusative, Dative, Ablative, Vocative, Locative); Declensions. • Person (1st, 2nd, 3rd, singular or plural), Tense (present, imperfect, perfect, pluperfect, future, future perfect), Voice (active, passive), Mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative) determined by form of the verb; Conjugation. • Change in word order results in change in emphasis, not change in meaning. • Typical Latin word order places the main verb at the end of the sentence.

8. Some Basic Grammatical Terms Common to Latin and English Syntax. • Noun = Person, place, or thing. • Adjective = Word describing a noun. • Pronoun = Word standing in place of a noun. • Verb = Action word; can be active or passive. • Adverb = Word describing the manner in which an action is performed. • Subject = the one performing the action of the main verb. • Direct Object = the one receiving the action of the main verb. • Indirect Object = the one with an interest in the action of the sentence (i.e. For whose benefit, advantage, or disadvantage the action of a verb is performed). • Predicate = Word or phrase linked to the subject by the copulative verb “to be” (i.e. am, are, is etc.).

9. Examples • The handsome poet gave roses to the pretty woman. • The cowardly soldier quickly abandoned his post to the enemy. • Julius Caesar was a remarkable Roman General.

10. Why Study Latin? • Crucial for research for any period of European history, culture, literature, religion etc. pre-sixteenth century. • Deeper understanding of the nuances of Latin literature. • Improves your understanding of English. • Improves your understanding of other modern European languages.

11. Required Texts • Frederic Wheelock, Wheelock's Latin. 6th Edition. Harper Resource ISBN: 0060783710 • James May, Thirty-eight Latin Stories Ancilla to Wheelock's Latin: An Introductory Course Based on Latin Authors. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers.ISBN: 0865162891 • D.P. Simpson, Cassell's Latin and English Dictionary. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN: 0020133405

12. Grade Distribution • In Class Test 1: 5% • In Class Test 2: 5% • In Class Test 3: 5% • In Class Test 4: 5% • Midterm Exam: 30% • Final Exam: 40% • Participation: 10% • Tests based on readings from James May, Thirty-eight Latin Stories Ancilla to Wheelock's Latin: An Introductory Course Based on Latin Authors. • Participation based on 1. attendance. 2. preparation of assigned exercises taken up in class.

13. H0w to Succeed in CLAS 1105 • Be familiar with the syllabus: http://www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/richardw/ • Always prepare assignments to be taken up in class before class; make note of any difficulties, problems, and questions and bring them to class. • Put in the effort in the beginning to memorize declensions, conjugations etc. • DO A LITTLE EACH DAY. LANGUAGE BUILDS ON PREVIOUS LESSONS SO DON’T LEAVE ASSIGNMENTS UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT. USE IT OR LOSE IT. • Try to read a little Latin every day (i.e. 15 minutes). • Start studying early; bring questions/problems immediately. • Have fun – Don’t make it a chore – Make mistakes in class not on tests and exams.