#latinitas

[quidam-vir]

WikiHow to the rescue with an insane way to practice Latin vocabulary:

'Ah unfortunately I have to care for my infans today'

'David was a real scelestus today'

[therepublicofletters]

27.12.2020 || 33/75 Days of Productivity

De unicorne et de leone apud (virtualiter) Museum Clunensem.  Translations from Isodorus Hispalensis and the Bestiarium Aberdoniense

[stickfiguregods]

There have been a number of incidents of racism and sexism that have made headlines in classics, but one of the persistent offenders seems to be the Paideia institute:  

https://classicssocialjustice.wordpress.com/2019/10/17/statements-on-the-paideia-institute/

I have personally got a couple of independent confirmations of their disrespect for women and minorities from women though some back channels.  If you search "sportula Paideia" in the latin facebook groups and on twitter more will come up.  

In response to these incidents and in the context of incidents of racism at major classics conferences many folks are boycotting the Paideia conference in Feb in NY and planning an alternative conference at the same time nearby.  I think this has a real chance to be an inclusive alternative, so I hope that folks here will consider coming and even better offer to give presentations.  If you go to the link ourvoicesinclassics.com you can suggest presentation ideas or nominate someone to present.  I am going to present on how and why I not only teach by speaking Latin but also ask my students to speak as well and how that opens the language up to a wider audience.  

[quidam-vir]

The Latin Collaborative & Creative Internet

Welcome to my little reference post! I love all the crowd sourced places and places of creative expression on the Internet. I especially love when small communities, like Latin speakers, come together and do cool things. I want to shout-out some of these Latin-specific projects and places just to spread possibilities for the wide-reaching īnsolitī hominēs around the globe. Grow community resources, express yourself or have something fun to do if you're bored.

1. Software Translations (Launchpad)

Over at launchpad they crowdsource translations for a bunch of open source software. Think of your favorite open source software and chances are it'll be on there and you could help make a Latin version. Applications range from Blender to Chromium to Ubuntu to a Dice Roller or Tetris clone

I have the dream of assembling a team of good Latin translators to complete the translation of Linux Mint and help create the first major operating system entirely in Latin.

2. Victionarium

Love Wiktionary? I know I do. How about Wiktionary in Latin? Create definitions and dictionary entries for Latin words, in Latin. The more it's built up, the better this resource would be for learning new words.

Helping add Latin words or forms to the English Wiktionary is also helpful, sed scīlicet the Latin one needs in more.

3. Vicipaedia

Another Wikimedia project, who could've guessed? The Latin Wikipedia, Vicipaedia, is another great resource and one that could use more contributors. If you are knowledgeable, willing to learn, and good at Latin writing, try it out!

4. LibriVox

Are you one of the few that enjoy and are confident speaking Latin? Even if you're not, practice makes perfect! LibriVox is well known for a host of free audiobooks, and this includes ones in Latin. They could certainly use more volunteers for the language, no matter which pronunciation system or cadence you prefer.

Places with a 'Latin' Post Setting

There are a few places you can write or post where you specifically can mark a post as being in Latin, and filter accordingly. Any I run across will be put below

1. AO3

Not a huge surprise—unlike the 99 currently existing Latin fics.

2. BlueSky

The Twitter clone from a while back has a language search and select with Latin (and some other old languages too)

If anyone has anymore places/projects to add, subtus narrā mihi!

[therepublicofletters]

Tantaene animis caelistibus irae?

Is there really such anger in celestial minds?

Aeneid 1.11

[therepublicofletters]

Where did you learn Latin? Are there any free sources?

I learned it at my college, and then I also studied in Rome last summer.  I tried to teach it to myself a long while ago and it found it very hard without someone to help me.  In any case, as for free sources, here are some things:

Duolingo (?) - I know their Latin program was rolled out but I haven’t tried it; a few of my friends that I studied with (ie. people who already know Latin) said it was promising but still had some things that needed to be worked out.  If anyone has tried it maybe please comment, I’d be interested to know what you think.

Wheelock’s Latin - this is an older edition I think but I really like this textbook because it actually explains grammar, and then gives a lot of good sentences to practice, both ancient and modern.  However I don’t particularly like the order that it teaches things in?

Lingua Latin per se illustrata - when I tutor this is the text I use.  It tries to teach Latin in a more immersive way than simply making you memorize forms, which can be very useful.  So I use this in conjunction with Wheelock’s.

The Latin Library Handouts - this page is really good!! It has handouts that summarize and explain all the important grammatical things, as well as some texts.

Magistrula - I love this website.  You can practice your charts both in and out of order, and it also will produce sentences for you to translate.  It’s great.

If you (or anyone) has any questions about Latin please feel free to ask!

[therepublicofletters]

For a language based on and used in cultures that are so hierarchical, it’s odd to me that there’s no formal you in Latin.  It feels wrong to read Augustine using te with God the same way Catullus uses it with his bros Furius and Aurelius.

[therepublicofletters]

Vetustatem novitas, Umbram fugat veritas, noctem lux eliminat. ~ Ancient forms new substance chaseth, typic shadows truth deplaceth, day dispels the gloom of night.

Sequence for the Feast of Corpus Christi, in The New Roman Missal.