Ok, so, if I want to learn Latin, where do I start?
Saturday, August 29th, 2009 at
10:51 pm
I want to learn Latin in order to have the foundations to ease the learning of the romance languages. If I learn Latin though, I would obviously want to read some great works in Latin (or at least try, lol). So, is there a distinction? I ask because im under the impression that vulgar Latin is the root of the romance languages, but that it differs from written Latin. So...I want to learn Latin: Where do I start?
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Tagged with: distinction • foundations • romance languages • vulgar latin
Filed under: Latin Language
There are many textbooks that will teach you Classical Latin – depends on where you live which titles are available.
In a way, a knowledge of Latin helps with the Romance languages, but jumping over a 10 ft wall (learning Latin) in order to make it easier to jump over a 3 foot hurdle (modern Romance) will require a lot of effort. Unless you have a lot of time to spare, I would suggest acquiring just a limited knowledge of Latin (I had to study it for 4 years at school!) and then immersing yourself in your chosen Romance language because, unless you are already something of a linguist, the transformation from Latin to Vulg. Latin to, say, French or Spanish, will dominate your thought processes which would be better aimed at learning the new language.
Latin has helped me understand quite a lot in French, Spanish, Italian, and even English. But that’s partly because my language is about 60% (if not more) based on Latin. So unless you are not native in one of the romance languages i suggest you start learning one of those (let’s say French) and once you get to intermediate level you could start learning another one. You will see how it is all related and you’ll find it easier with the second language. Latin could help you see the bigger picture ( search "romance languages" on wikipedia and you’ll see what i’m talking about) but it will not help you learn other languages faster.
If you do want to learn latin after all, get some good books and dictionaries and start with the basics – the noun and the verb should keep you busiy for months (not mention pronouns). I really don’t know if you can study further without someone to guide you. Latin can have a strange topic, so translating it can be very tricky. I’ve studied it for 5 years, was an olympic, but have never been able to read. We’d translate from some of the great works you’re talking about, but even that seemed very difficult sometimes.
But in the end it all depends on you, on how determined you are and on how much time you are willing to invest in learning latin/any other language. Good luck!