Latin is a dead language (i.e. not commonly spoken outside of lessons and certain religious ceremonies) of Indo-European origin. However, in reality it is not completely dead: among other languages, it has influenced Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and English, not to mention that it is fundamental for many literary studies. Learning it can help you better understand several modern languages, delve into classical literature and discover a millennial tradition.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Studying the Grammar
Step 1. Learn the verbs
In Latin, a verb can describe an action, a state or a change that affects a person, place or thing. It is made up of a stem (the base), a stem and an ending (the parts that make it functional), and is characterized by the following information:
- Person (first, second, third …).
- Tense (present, simple future, imperfect, perfect, more perfect, future future).
- Verbal form (active or passive).
- Verbal mode (indicative, subjunctive or imperative).
Step 2. Study the nouns
They are less complex than verbs, but they are still challenging. The ending of a noun describes its number (singular or plural), its gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and the case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, ablative).
Step 3. Study the adjectives
Just like in Italian, an adjective must agree with the noun it refers to. The first-class adjectives are declined according to the scheme of the nouns of the first declension (for the feminine) and of the second declension (for the masculine and the neuter). They have three exits. Example: magnus, magna, magnum (“large”). The second-class adjectives are declined according to the scheme of the nouns of the third declension. They encompass three groups: adjectives with three endings (example: acer, acris, acre, which means "acute" or "sour"), with two endings (example: fortis, forte, which means "strong") and one ending (example: fēlīx, which means "happy").. The degrees of comparison are similar to those of Italian:
- The comparative of equality is formed in this way: tam (“so much”) + adjective + quam (“how much”) + adjective. The comparative of minority is formed in this way: minus (“less”) + adjective + quam (“how much”) + adjective.
- To make the majority comparative, the adjective must be modified, that is, the suffix of the genitive singular of the adjective is removed and -ior (masculine and feminine) or -ius (neuter) is added to the root. Example: fortis becomes fortior or fortius. It is declined like the nouns of the first group of the third declension.
- The superlative is formed by adding -issimus, -issima or -issimum to the root of the word.
Step 4. Study adverbs, which, just like adjectives, have degrees of comparison
The comparative of an adverb corresponds to the neutral comparative of the adjective, so it ends in -ius (example: cupide, which means "greedily", becomes cupidius). The superlative is formed by replacing the -i of the singular genitive of the superlative adjective with -e (example: very famous, "very fast", becomes very fast, "very fast"). In general, adverbs are formed based on the adjective from which they derive. If an adverb derives from a first-class adjective, it is formed by adding -e to the root of the adjective (example: altus, alta, altum, that is "high", becomes high). If it derives from a second-class adjective with the root in -nt, it is formed by adding -er to the root of the adjective (example: diligens, diligentis, "diligent", it becomes diligenter). If the adjective does not have the root in -nt, -iter is added to the root of the adjective (example: suavis, "suave", becomes suaviter).
Step 5. Learn to use conjunctions, which are used to connect words and propositions, just like in Italian ("e", "ma", "se"
..). They are fairly easy to learn and use, so you shouldn't have any particular problems. There are two types:
- Coordinating conjunctions (connect words or phrases on the same level): et, ac, atque …
- Subordinating conjunctions (connect a subordinate clause to a regent): ut, quo, dum …
- The coordinating conjunctions are in turn divided into copulative, disjunctive, aversive, causal-declarative, conclusive, limiting, corrective, correlative, while the subordinating ones are divided into final, consecutive, causal, temporal, conditional, concessive, comparative.
Part 2 of 4: Grasping the Concepts of the Latin Language
Step 1. Study the cases and declensions
Chance gives a term a very specific role, in practice it explains to the reader or listener what its function is within the sentence. The case of a word does not change its meaning, it only changes the function of the word or the meaning that must be attributed to the sentence in which it is found. Declensions are endings added to nouns, pronouns and adjectives to form a given case. Latin has five declensions and six cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative and ablative.
- The name corresponds to the subject, so it indicates who or what carries out the action.
- The genitive indicates the possession of an object.
- The dative is the case used for the indirect object.
- The accusative indicates the direct object, that is the object of the action, then answers the question "who?" or "what?". It is occasionally used after a preposition.
- The vocative indicates the object that is invoked.
- The ablative indicates several indirect complements, so it assumes various functions. It is sometimes accompanied by a preposition.
Step 2. Study the verbal mood, which is one of the grammatical categories that determine the function of a verb, whose action can be described as real, possible, determined by certain conditions or imposed by someone
The most used ways in Latin are indicative and subjunctive, but sometimes the imperative is also used.
- If the indicative is used, this means that the action presented by the verb has actually occurred, is happening or will happen. For example, in the sentence "I went to the store", the verb "I went" describes an action that really happened.
- If the subjunctive is used, this means that the action is not certain. For example, an eventual fact or a series of hypothetical circumstances is imagined. Such circumstances are not currently present in reality and will not necessarily exist in the future, instead they are related to potential or theoretical events.
- The imperative indicates an order, a request, a wish or a prayer. It is also expressed in negative form, for example to order or request that a certain activity be stopped or avoided.
Step 3. Study the deponent verbs, one of the most difficult concepts in Latin grammar, as there is no equivalent in Italian
These are verbs that have a passive form but an active meaning. The closest example to Italian would be a sentence like: "The car was driven by Giulio". Giulio drove the car, so the action was carried out in an active way, but it was expressed in a passive form.
Deponent verbs cause a lot of confusion among Latin students. Once you have memorized the tables of regular verbs, you should dwell on the passive forms of each conjugation. By practicing and understanding passive conjugations thoroughly, you will understand how deponent verbs work
Part 3 of 4: Study and Practice Tools
Step 1. Invest in a Latin language manual
If you take a course, you will have already been recommended one. If, on the other hand, you don't know which one to buy or you want a second manual to integrate the notions of the first, buy a standard text for high school and university students, also useful for those who are self-taught. You can buy for example Il Tantucci. It allows you to gradually learn concepts, from the basics of grammar and vocabulary to increasingly complex sentences and short texts.
Step 2. Buy a Latin dictionary:
it will be of great help in acquiring the necessary vocabulary. Any good quality dictionary, such as Campanini Carboni, should do. If you have any doubts about it, you can also read online reviews or ask other people who study this language for advice.
- The choice largely depends on your personal preferences. On this page you can find a list of the 10 best Latin dictionaries.
- The Latin alphabet is the same as the Italian one and you will guess the meaning of many terms, so understanding a certain word or phrase will not be difficult. However, a dictionary is still necessary to distinguish between the various forms a word takes and can help you do quick checks.
Step 3. Prepare and use flashcards, an effective tool for learning the vocabulary of any language
To make them you will need white cards, preferably cardboard. Write the word or phrase in Latin on the front of the card and the Italian translation on the back, then test your knowledge. Set aside the cards with words or phrases that have given you a hard time, so you can review them after doing some practice.
You can find flashcards on the internet or in bookstores, but many experts recommend making them at home, because writing words and phrases in a foreign language is a great exercise in becoming better and learning to think in the language itself
Step 4. Make use of mnemonic tricks, or learning techniques that help you remember complex concepts by associating this information with another word, phrase or image
Acronyms (i.e. names formed with the initials of other words) and rhymes are just some of the most used mnemonic tricks. There are several to learn Latin: you can find them online or in books, but you can also invent them yourself to make it easier for you to study.
- For example, you can create nursery rhymes to learn various concepts, especially verbs, or associate certain words with similar terms in Italian (for example, domus, which means “home”, can be associated with the word “domestic”).
- Acronyms will help you remember especially lists of verbs, pronouns, or other irregular concepts.
- To learn in an alternative way, you can also use an application such as Ludus, which allows you to study while having fun.
Step 5. Make time to study
Balancing work and private life isn't easy, and sometimes finding time to study seems impossible. However, if you organize yourself correctly by following a regular schedule and taking time out every day, it will be more than doable.
- Study every day. If you study in an unfriendly or sporadic way, it will be difficult to find time to devote yourself to Latin and assimilate the concepts.
- Set a reminder to remind yourself to study every day. Make a list of the lessons you will dedicate to each time. It may be helpful to prepare a day-by-day list at the end of each lesson; in this way you will realize if you have addressed all the topics you have set for yourself, and the information will be fresh enough to know where to leave the next day.
Step 6. Determine your ideal conditions for studying
Some people are able to concentrate better at night, others prefer to study in the morning. Some prefer to study in the comfort of their own bedroom, others find that studying in the library distracts them less. With Latin, you need an environment that fosters quiet and contemplative study, so you need to figure out which way is right for you.
- Try to study in a quiet place and get rid of all potential distractions.
- If possible, try to study in the same place every day. This can help you get in the right light: when the time comes to study, you will sit down and get to work.
- If you are a morning person, you may prefer to study early. If you are a night owl, you may perform better in the evening. Any time of day will do, as long as it meets your needs. However, you don't want to lose hours of sleep to study, otherwise you will be too tired to assimilate the concepts.
- Take regular breaks. If you start feeling tired or frustrated, stop. Get up, stretch, walk a bit, have a nutritious snack (if you're hungry). When you break study sessions, it is more difficult for the brain to be overloaded.
Part 4 of 4: Understanding Latin
Step 1. Memorize the morphology
Generally, when studying a language, you don't have to memorize its morphology, but in Latin it is necessary to fully understand and use it. The easiest way to study morphology is to prepare a table every time you study a word, then keep writing and rewriting it until you memorize it. Practicing continuously is the most effective way to memorize something; unfortunately there is no easier way.
- Start with the declensions of the nouns and keep writing them until you remember them instantly, then move on to adjectives, regular and irregular verbs with their conjugations. If you do this, you will gradually memorize each word, and with constant exercise you will never forget it.
- Try repeating the declension or conjugation you are studying in your spare moments. This can help you speed up memorization.
Step 2. Look for related words and expressions in Italian
This can help you better understand the function and meaning of a word or expression.
It may happen that the related words in Italian do not have the exact same meaning as the original term, or the meaning is similar, but the word is a different part of the speech. For example, monitor in Latin means "prompter", but in Italian it is used to refer to a screen
Step 3. Read in Latin
The best way to concretely use the acquired knowledge is to learn to read a text completely in Latin. It sounds difficult, but it is the most effective way to master the language. For example, try reading Legend. Latin anthology by Angelo Diotti. It presents themes, writers and texts, giving you all the tools you need to read Latin fluently. When you have had some experience, move on to books translated into Italian with Latin text opposite. You could start with Phaedrus's fables.
- Read slowly. It is important to resist the temptation to throw yourself headlong into the text, otherwise, if you don't take all the time you need, you risk neglecting the grammatical functions of words. Examine the case of each noun, the tense and manner of each verb.
- The first time, try to read an entire passage without looking up the dictionary for words or shapes. At this stage it is useful to brainstorm, in order to try to grasp the words based on the context. Then, reread the passage a second time and underline the words you can't quite define. Look for them, prepare some flashcards and practice well. Reread the passage a third time, until you understand it completely.
Step 4. Use popular culture to learn Latin
It may be an ancient language, but that doesn't mean it's not fun. Many scholars have found ways to incorporate the learning and study of Latin into contemporary popular culture. This can help you solidify your knowledge by applying it in other contexts of daily life.
- If you have a study partner, you can play the version of the Latin Scarabeo online to deepen your knowledge of grammar and spelling.
- Read contemporary literature books in Latin. For example, Harry Potter has been translated into Latin. You can buy this version or read excerpts online for free. Also in Latin you can also read The Hobbit, or try your hand at complex word games by taking a look at The Cat in the Hat.
- Watch movies in Latin. On the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) you can find a list of films with Latin dialogue: search by typing “Movies in Latin Language”.
Advice
- If you have a hard time learning Latin, you may want to take repetitions. Look for tutors in your area in your city newspaper or online.
- One of the best ways to learn Latin quickly and effectively is to take a course.
- Whichever learning method you choose, it is important to study every day to assimilate the information.
