Does anyone else know/is learning Latin?

[loopy]

I'm learning some Latin from this site here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000476496832530&rtmo=343c2f5b&atmo=343c2f5b&pg=/et/97/3/8/elqed08.html), and so I was wondering if anyone else knew the language. I'm having some pronunciation issues. I get the whole general, "this sounds like this when this blah blah blah," but I'm still a little fuzzy on applying it.

Would "amamus" sound like Ah-mah-miss, with emphasis on "mah"? And would "amat" be AH-maht, or ah-MAHT, or what?

If anyone could help, it'd be greatly appreciated. :D

Oh, and if I wanted to say, "We love to serve here and now" would it be...

Nunc et hic ministrare amamus.

And why is it that asking "Who's riding?" it's translated as "Quis equitat"? like in the third person singular? Why not "Quis equitare?" Oh, wait, would it be because the equitat can be thought of as "is riding," and you're asking about the people.... uh, now I confused myself.

Uf. Anyone? I'm only on lesson two, trying to get a handle on it all.

Oh, and are the third and fifth conjugations the same? They both use -i- as the key, -unt as 3pl, and -ere as the infinitive, right? So what makes them different?

[Xois]

thanks, I needed that!

[loopy]

you're welcome... needed what? :D

[Niamh]

It's been a few years *flips through old text book*

[Emerald Sky]

I took two years of required Latin in HS, but unfortunately, that was a loooong time ago. I was also more concerned with partying than getting good grades at the time, so I didn't pay much attention. Sorry.

[loopy]

Emerald-- hee. That's what my Spanish class was like. <shakes head> Never learned the words, had trouble all throughout class. Whoda thunk?

[Xois]

loopy --- a learn latin website

[Xois]

Loopy it is my understanding that there is no way to pronounce latin...

Since we don't really have pronuncuation guides to the language...a german person learning latin will speak it a little differently than an american learning latin...

At least I think that is how it works...

[Niamh]

We do have some understanding of pronounciations in Latin. Vernacular Latin died with the people, but generally the more ceremonial Latin pronounciations are applied to any vernacular that is uncovered, be it in a rare journal or some other writing. They've found some on catacom walls, etc.

The more ceremonial Latin, the Latin of the Emperor and the Latin important documents, etc, were written in was kept alive by the Church. How close it is to the real thing, who knows! "C" is pronounced hard, and "V" sounds like our "W."

But at the same time, lots of people will pronounce it differently!

[MystyPines]

It's funny this Latin thread should come up. I was just thinking the other day that I would like to get a book on the Latin language. I took 2 years of Latin in high school and received straight A's in Latin, but I don't remember much of it. I thought it would be nice to do my spells in Latin.

Vita Mortus Calium! (I think that is a healing spell from Baldur's Gate II), he he he!

[Shy Hawk]

I took two years of Latin....though there isn't a way to see if pronounciation is right, my teacher had us pronounce things a certain way. Because they have a "Good Idea" how things were pronounced. So let's see what you're asking...
amamus.....Ah-ma-moos....amat would be ah-MAHT (lol)

We had to recite a few Catullus poems in Latin and English for our final exams. Here's the first line of my favorite one. I'll type it in Latin, then the pronounciations, then English.

"Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque memus." (Here's where it get's tricky....pronouciations of poetry...sometimes uh...smoosh words together. Hard to explain in text...hopefully you know what I mean. But hey, here's some practice for ya anyhow.)

Wee-Wah-Moos Mee-ah Les-bee-aht-que-may-moos.

This translates to "Let us live, and let us love, my Lesbia". Lesbia was the nickname of Catullus' lover...waaay back when.

In case you want to look up any more of this poem, it is called Catullus V (5).

Hope this helped some.

[loopy]

Thanks guys; muchly helpful.

Xois- ah, got it now.

:D:D

[EasternPriest]

Ubi caritas, et amore, ubi caritas Deus ebi est!

[Tanna]

hehehehehee

:Dit's dead:D

[Shy Hawk]

I beg to differ....Latin is very far from dead....just changed.
Modern aspects of latin include, Romanian, Spanish, French, Portugese, and Italian.
Yes, these are all Latin...just different forms of it....so saying Latin is dead, is far from the truth.

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Shy Hawk
"Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque memus." (Here's where it get's tricky....pronouciations of poetry...sometimes uh...smoosh words together. Hard to explain in text...hopefully you know what I mean. But hey, here's some practice for ya anyhow.)

Wee-Wah-Moos Mee-ah Les-bee-aht-que-may-moos.



Hmmm..in the Roman Church, they would pronouce this line:
" Vee Vah Moos May Les bee ah at Kay may moos"

[Tanna]

*sigh* ...suck all the fun out of a thing, why doncha?;)

i've heard it termed a dead language, which i take to mean, (sorry, but i can't find this in the dictionary,) that it is no longer being used as a birth-tongue and is now unchanging. its use by scholars and persons of faith shall remain constant that they might be secure in their interpretations of past works and maintain 'correctness'.

leastways, that's how i see it...

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Tanna
*sigh* ...suck all the fun out of a thing, why doncha?;)

i've heard it termed a dead language, which i take to mean, (sorry, but i can't find this in the dictionary,) that it is no longer being used as a birth-tongue and is now unchanging. its use by scholars and persons of faith shall remain constant that they might be secure in their interpretations of past works and maintain 'correctness'.

leastways, that's how i see it...


hehehe...carpe diem!!!!!!

[Lavender]

I like to use the latin names of plants & herbs. I find it much more useful. There are too many common names for the same plants and different plants.

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Wildchild
I like to use the latin names of plants & herbs. I find it much more useful. There are too many common names for the same plants and different plants.

exactly why science uses them!

[Shy Hawk]

lol...
Well EP we are taught that first of all, the V's change to W's. And, when you have an "a" at the end of a word, and another "a" at the begining of the next word, one of them is dropped....

[Niamh]

That's pretty much how I remember it, too, Shy Hawk

[Xois]

EP

Its CARNE diem...CARNE!!

argrhhhh....meat day....;)

[SunChild]

what would be so diff. that your spells are in Latin? i mean..... besides the way that they soound, do you think they will be more effective?

[savannahrose44]

It's funny this Latin thread should come up. I was just thinking the other day that I would like to get a book on the Latin language. I took 2 years of Latin in high school and received straight A's in Latin, but I don't remember much of it. I thought it would be nice to do my spells in Latin.

Vita Mortus Calium! (I think that is a healing spell from Baldur's Gate II), he he he!

I took two years of it in HS as well....I'm too rusty to be of much help though. :thumbsup:

[charmedkisses1]

latin- 3rd- 7th grade, private school.
I actually LIKED it (of course I AM obsessed with the roman times...)
:viking:

[carmenmaria]

ooo i never took latin as a class, but i've studied it, mostly for origin of words, and i think shy hawk is right... i'd pronounce it ah-MAHT

[Aurin]

Latin is Eeeeeeeeevil ... I took a year of latin in 8th grade and it made my head hurt... Three tenses with 8 forms of each word in each ... i.e. 18 forms of each word... BLECH!

[savannahrose44]

Yeah it confused me too..... 8O

[Mab]

YAY!! More Latin geeks!! WOOT!!

I took 2 years of Latin in high school, too--a Catholic HS for girls--kinda like a prep school. Anyhoo....I don't remember a lot of it, but I know if I had my old text book it'd come back to me. But....conjugating verbs.....ugh!

We translated part of Caesar's accounts of the Gallic wars, and some Plutarch & Pliny, but heck if I remember much. I do remember part of a poem we had to memorize, but don't remember what it means, and I remember the Ave Maria & part of the Pater Noster.....

man...now I want to dig out my old flash cards & refresh! LOL

And, actually, I believe Latin is considered a "dead" language b/c it is no longer used daily in it's classical or even vulgar original form by the whole or even majority of any civilization. My understanding is that being incorporated into other languages, or being the basis for other languages, does not constitute a language as "living".

[Morr]

im taking Latin...
since im a Classical Studies minor, I have to take a classical language (either Latin or Greek)... so I chose Latin! I'm done with Beginners' Latin... Next year I start Advanced Latin and I'm also taking another Course called "Cicaro's Writings in Latin"... Yup, should be fun!

[savannahrose44]

im taking Latin...
since im a Classical Studies minor, I have to take a classical language (either Latin or Greek)... so I chose Latin! I'm done with Beginners' Latin... Next year I start Advanced Latin and I'm also taking another Course called "Cicaro's Writings in Latin"... Yup, should be fun!
Given the choice I would have taken Greek. :hahugh:

[pawnman]

I took 4 years of it in high school. Unfortunately, much of it is now forgotten lore.

[Exloration_La]

I beg to differ....Latin is very far from dead....just changed.
Modern aspects of latin include, Romanian, Spanish, French, Portugese, and Italian.
Yes, these are all Latin...just different forms of it....so saying Latin is dead, is far from the truth.




Yeah I suppose if Latin was dead it wouldn’t be on the us dollar bill so obviously some people must speak it. Although since most people don’t’ know Latin and wouldn’t know the meaning makes me wonder what the point of writing something in another language in English speaking country?


Above the pyramid o the dollar bill it says in Latin , ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin below the pyramid says NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, "a new order has begun."

[MoonDragn]

I tried to take an afterschool class on it, but it interfered with Track so I gave up. I just didn't have a feel for it.

Only thing I still remember is Ti Amo.

[pawnman]

Yeah I suppose if Latin was dead it wouldn’t be on the us dollar bill so obviously some people must speak it. Although since most people don’t’ know Latin and wouldn’t know the meaning makes me wonder what the point of writing something in another language in English speaking country?


Above the pyramid o the dollar bill it says in Latin , ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin below the pyramid says NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, "a new order has begun."

I think your translations need some work. Annuit means "He allows, grants, or promises" and coeptis means "To begin or undertake". God may be implied. The second one simply says "new world order."

[Silvan]

I wouldn't sweat pronunciation. My Latin prof in college was some highly respected authority who got called upon to travel and speak widely, and she spoke Latin like someone off of Hee Haw.

[Tanya]

I learned it in Catholic HS (took 2 years). Since it's a dead language, pronunciation is kinda an unknown,

[Philosophia]

Love Latin! Though I never took it in school :( It wasn't offered...

[-Ember]

I took 4 years of Latin and Spanish in high school. So my Latin is rather accented.

I can still read it okay with a dictionary handy.

The main phrase I recall is "Rana dura est"... that was a class motto one year. Which probably says quite a bit about the teacher....

[pawnman]

I wouldn't sweat pronunciation. My Latin prof in college was some highly respected authority who got called upon to travel and speak widely, and she spoke Latin like someone off of Hee Haw.

Latin's one of those few languages where there aren't any native speakers to give you pronounciation cues.

[Wulfleaf]

I never took Latin (they did away with it two years before I got to the high school), but I have wanted to learn it. The only reason I don't like it is its 'unique' grammar. Now I can deal with cases. I learned russian, which has about 7 (depending on who you are talking to, reading, etc), as well as masc, fem, neuter, and plurals, so there were plenty of endings to learn. But I will tell you one thing...after you use them long enough, they will just 'click' and you can do it without thinking. It's just getting to that point...

They only thing that got to me, is that the grammar, although pretty free with russian, as long as the endings are right, pretty much have to be in a specific order in Latin, which is highly changeable, depending on what is said. (e.g. putting est at the end of a sentence)

Don't fret that you don't have a pronounciation guide. Although some churches are still using it in their form, for the most part vulgar latin is what is used for 'speaking'. And even if you use the church version, or a different version, someone educated in the language should be able to understand you. It's probably like someone from California talking to someone from the UK.

In regards to the stress of the words: Latin is pretty good about keeping the stress on the same syllable, but there, like any language, are exceptions. To my knowledge, its ah-MAHT. You just need to learn them. Most good latin books will have some kind of accent, or mark to show where the stress needs to be.

Anyway, I'm done boring you now.

[Leander]

I'm studying Latin for my A Level exam tomorrow at the moment, and as such we have had to do Vergil. We know many of the pronunciations of words as a result of rhymes, much as is the case with old English and Chaucer, and in general the pronunciations of vowels were quite hard, with lots of "att" rather than "aht" or "art", while the consonants varied from harsh things like hard cs, so they pronounced Cicero as "Kickero", to the softened v apparent in words like "volere", pronounced "wohlehre", without the awful anglicised "ay" diphthong which has been ascribed to it recently in place of "eh".

Church Latin is softer on the whole, with vowels being darker. However, the vs in church latin are fully pronounced, and whenever a J is written, it is pronounced I or Y.

Hope that helps some people on this five year old thread!