INTRODUCTION TO LATIN PROSE (LAT 231)
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Markus, D., Ph.D
Lecturer II
Dept. of Classical Studies
2143 Angell Hall
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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Office hours:
TTh 2-3 W 11-12 (or by appointment)
tel. 734 615 3534 (office)
e-mail: markusdd@umich. edu
web-page:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/index.html
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This course, the third of four in the language requirement sequence, concentrates on the skills necessary for reading Latin prose texts with comprehension and ease. The course provides thorough review of the essentials of Latin grammar and syntax and encourages reading speed and vocabulary building. We will read Book I of Livy's Ab Urbe Condita with the aim to develop appreciation of Livy's writing style and narrative techniques. The course will also expose you to the basics of Roman history and culture. Free tutoring in the study-center, meeting times with the instructor outside of office-hours and computer support for self-practice are available to help you succeed in the course. |
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Livy, Titus Livius
(59 B.C.- 17 A.D.)
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Required texts
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LFR ( Latin for Reading by Knudsvig - Craig - Seligson)
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Coursepack (available at Ulrich's Bookstore)
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Rome and Her Kings: Livy 1 (Graded Selections)
- Langenscheidt's Pocket Latin Dictionary ( or any other Latin-English dictionary
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Michigan Latin
Michigan Latin represents a way of teaching the language which takes into consideration many modern advancements in the field of linguistics. Traditional grammars reflect a stage in thinking about language that was consolidated during the middle ages. Such traditional grammars focus on morphology (the form of the individual word) in describing and teaching language. In Michigan Latin, we focus on the sentence and the relationships between the words in it (syntax) as the primary focus in describing and teaching the language. We also teach how sentences relate to each other in a connected text. We believe that this approach produces better and more efficient readers. If you learned your Latin elsewhere, many of your skills acquired there will be directly transferable. These skills will be expanded and refined. You will learn how to organize your existing knowledge into practical categories. In the process, you will be acquiring critical thinking skills and skills in organizing information. These, in addition to your improved grasp of Latin, will help you cope with the information overload that modern man has to navigate. Our former students in the Elementary Latin program adjusted both to the terminology and to some new ways of thinking about language (Latin and English) fairly easily. The following is a description of the areas where you may encounter adjustment challenges:
I. Terminology
- You will find that your class-mates and the instructor use terms that are not familiar to you. Solution: Consult the Glossary of Terms , the Kernel Tutorial and the the illustrated PowerPoint Kernel and Modifier tutorials available on-line. Read carefully the first pages of the Course-pack and the first lesson in LfR.
- In the area of Morphology, you will discover
- that some of the verb-tenses have slightly different names. In Michigan Latin the tenses are classified according to aspect: Imperfective (the action is on-going, incomplete, "imperfect") and Perfective (the action is completed, finished, "perfect"). You will never be penalized for using the terms that you are accustomed to, but you will need to understand the Michigal Latin terms for the Tenses of the verb.
| Traditional Term |
Michigan Latin Term |
| Present Tense |
Present Imperfective Tense |
| Future Tense |
Future Imperfective Tense |
| Imperfect Tense |
Past Imperfective Tense |
| Perfect Tense |
Present Perfective Tense |
| Future Pefect Tense |
Future Perfective Tense |
| Pluperfect Tense |
Past Perfective Tense |
- that the cases in the noun-declensions are listed in a different order. There is a statistical and scientific reason behind this different ordering. Nominative and Accusative are the statistically most frequently occurring cases. These cases also function most frequently as kernel item (core element, part of the basic structure of the sentence). The least frequently used case is the Genitive and therefore, it appears at the end of the list.
| Order to which you are used to |
Order in Michigan Latin |
| Nominative |
Nominative |
| Genitive |
Accusative |
| Dative |
Ablative |
| Accusative |
Dative |
| Ablative |
Genitive |
II. New ways of thinking about the language:
- You will be asked to fill out a kernel chart. The kernel-chart is a frame-work for diagramming a sentence, something that probably you have done before. The kernel-chart is a form of a sytnax drill through which you get yourself accustomed to sorting out which are the structurally obligatory parts of the sentence (kernels) and which are just helpers (modifiers). It is also a great tool for sorting out a particularly complex sentence and fully understanding how the Latin in it works. So, the kernel chart is a tool for practicing syntax skills and a tool for problem-solving and enhancing comprehension. It is not an end, but just a means to acquire useful skills. The chart will contain abbreviations that you do not understand. Print out a hand-out that explains those abbreviations. Also, visit your instructor in office hours or stop by the study center to get help in acquainting yourself with this tool. You need to be able to fill out a kernel chart on your own by Exam 2.
- .You will be asked to metaphrase a group of words that do not form a complete sentence. Read the section on Metaphrasing in Lesson 1 of LfR. Do exx. 13 and 14 in LfR and consult your instructor if you do not understand this technique for learining to read Latin.
- You will be asked to give a form I.D. for a word. If that word is a noun, you need to give CASE NUMBER GENDER
If the word is a verb, you need to give PERSON, NUMBER TENSE/ASPECT MOOD VOICE (for finite verbs), TENSE/ASPECT and VOICE (for infinitives) and TENSE/ASPECT VOICE CASE NUMBER GENDER ( for participles).
- When you are asked about the syntactic function of a word, the expected answer is to describe what the relationship of that word is to other words in the sentence. For instance, the syntactic function of rosam in Puer rosam carpit is a direct object to the main verb carpit.
Web Reference Shelf
Course-pack materials for print-out
Plain text of all readings
Dictionaries and glossaries
Morphology drills
Syntax drills and reference tools
Commentaries and tutorials
Reference on cultural background
LAT 231 COMPUTER RESOURCES ORIENTATION
Important URLs:
Web-page of the Elementary Latin Program: http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/
Syntax drills and other computer resources: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/comp.html
1. Kernel-review through a Power-Point Presentation.
For the on-line version of the kernel-review, click on Building the Sentence I at
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/comp.html.
For the next review in the sequence on Modifiers, click on Building the Sentence II.
OR click on Illustrated PowerPoint Kernel/Modifier tutorial at http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/index.html
2. How to locate and use on-line drills to strengthen your morphology skills.
Go to Web-page for the 231 Sections: http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/index.html
Click on LfR drills. Down-load the drills. You need to have Stuffit Expander to successfully download these exercises. You can use them ONLY ON A MAC!
Practice Task: A. Practice finite perfective forms with electronic morphology drills to LfR 9. Take the quick lesson plan and do the exercises related to Perfective stem forms and perfective stem morphology. B. For LfR 27 do exercises on Perfective forms and Past Perfective morphology.
3. How to locate and use on-line drills to strengthen your syntax skills.
Go to: http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/index.html and click on Syntax Drills
OR go directly to http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/comp.html.
Practice Task: Do all exercises to R. 1 & R 2.
4. How to locate and use on-line commentaries to texts read in class.
a. Illustrated commentaries: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/comp.html
b. Commentaries with clickable word-by-word help with syntax function.
From http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/index.html click on Text Database or from http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/comp.html , click on Marked texts with commentary on syntax.
c. Glossary of terms. Access from http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/index.html
Practice Task:
Copy out a definition for Head of Construction:
5. How to do word-searches on-line efficiently.
Go to http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/comp.html. Click on Whittaker's Words or on Lewis -Short Latin Dictionary.
Practice Task: What is the form I.D. and meaning of abstulerunt? __________________
6. How to look up information on cultural background?
Go to course web-page at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markusdd/231.F01.html. Click on reference shelf (computer support).
Practice Task: When was Rome founded and where did its founders come from?________
