Goodbye Blogspot (Hello Ning!)

Dear all---if there still anyone out there!

Here is a message in the bottle, for those who want to follow up on the vagaries of Latin (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) taught by yours truly. I thought it was time for an upgrade, and the IT gods suggested I try Ning.

I have gone ahead and started a site, and I can't wait to see what everyone is up to this year. Latin or not, you know it's all about Rome in final analysis!

Check it out

http://mylatinexperience.ning.com/

If you cannot sign up for it, send me an e-mail at emanolar@cas.usf.edu and I will send you an invitation to join.

Latina Vivat! See you in cyberspace,

Vestra

Eleni

A question...

So... I sometimes pick random passages in Latin and try to decipher every bit of the grammar and how each word functions in the sentence, et cetera. (I promise, it's only when I'm bored and feeling quite geeky.)

Today, I'm stumped on this one...

"... quia fortis est ut mors dilectio
dura sicut inferus aemulatio..." (from the Vulgate translation of Song of Solomon)

"... Because love is as strong as death
Envy as hard as hell..."

Why are "mors" and "inferus" in the nominative? (They are in the nominative, aren't they?) I'm assuming that it has something to do with this being verse, but I'm still wondering if there's a particular reason.


~ Rachael

Spock says Latin is logical.

:D


Latin Club T-Shirt, EHS, 2002 by ~OminousBaltross on deviantART

~Rachael

Vale Latin 1 and 2...

I had originally taken some Latin in high school, though when it came for me to meet the language requirement in order to graduate, I felt that my Latin knowledge had faded over the five years since I had had Latin in high school. Thus I opted not to take the test that determines your foreign language aptitude and can give you your foreign language credit if you pass. I’m glad that I decided to take both Latin 1 and 2. The class reminded and reinforced many of the things that I had learned in high school and very quickly even taught me new things. It was a good feeling being able to translate increasingly difficult passages throughout the two semesters and exercising my Latin ability in this manner truly gave me a sense of acquiring aptitude in another language. Though there is still more that I can learn about the language, I now feel confident in my ability to understand Latin, and I plan to continue my study of the language so that my Latin knowledge does not fade again.

Chris Griesbach

Latin today

I think Latin faces peculiar challenges in terms the Latin user’s maintenance of the language when compared to other foreign language options available in American schools. Unlike Spanish, French, German, Chinese, or even sign language, Latin is not used in contemporary society. Speaking a language in everyday interactions or at least on a regular basis is one of the most valuable methods for a speaker to exercise and reinforce their knowledge of the language, either “use it or lose it”. Latin, however, does not have this advantage. The basic curriculum for teaching Latin in America reflects this as well, as most school Latin programs do not stress the speaking of Latin but instead focus on written translation. The Latin user, therefore, has limited options when it comes to practicing and reinforcing their Latin abilities. There are, however, many texts written in Latin that one may translate in order to do this, such as “Metamorphoses” by Ovid or Virgil’s “Aeneid”. I, on the other hand, in order to maintain my Latin knowledge, have decided start on a smaller scale and have purchased “Winnie the Pooh” in Latin, which I plan on working through sometime this summer.

Chris Griesbach

Latin and history

Latin and the culture it is derived from is the foundation of of many Western cultures and languages. Understand a culture's language is imperative in fully understand the culture. Latin helps us into understanding our past. Many famous documents, such as the Bible, were originally written in Latin. It is important to fully understand the language in order to accurately translate if from one language to another.

Cassdiy Camantigue

Latin and medicine

I have just completed my second semester of latin. I originally took latin in the hope it would help prepare me for medical school. I learned a lot in the class, however I don't feel that much of what I learned will help me in medical school. I do feel that if I decide to learn another language that I will be better prepared since latin is the basis of many languages. Latin is a very challenging language.

Cassidy Camantigue