Basics of Latin Grammar

Teacher(s)

Lempire Jean;

Language

French

Prerequisites

LFIAL 1760 or a course deemed equivalent by the lecturer.

Main themes

A systematic study of classical Latin grammar .
This course, to be taken in parallel with LGLOR 1143, deals with the following themes:
1. The nominal morphology (nouns, adjectives and pronouns);
2. The verbal morphology (tenses, moods and voices of the five conjugations, deponent and irregular verbs);
3. A core vocabulary of 1000 words, from Latin into French and from French into Latin (with at least two levels of translation);
4. An initiation into the techniques of literary translation.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of this course, the student will have mastered nominal and verbal morphology of classical Latin. In order to achieve this goal, he will have acquired a core vocabulary and the main rules of Latin phonology. He will be able to apply his skills to the translation of Latin texts of elementary or average difficulty.

Content

The course aims to develop students' knowledge of classical Latin, with special emphasis on nominal and verbal morphological data. The objective is to acquire as soon as possible an easy reading of classical texts of medium difficulty.
The course is a systematic presentation of the most common nominal and verbal structures in classical Latin. This presentation is complemented by numerous examples, which are given in a range of Latin sentences to be translated. The course also allows the acquisition and enrichment of basic Latin vocabulary.
Several complementary axes constitute the subject matter of the course:
1) Nominal and verbal morphologies and a bit of linguistics.
2) Knowledge of a basic vocabulary: the three bodies of vocabulary defined by Chr. Meyerson-Dethoor-G. Schouppe, Index. Vocabulaire de base et dictionnaire latin, Paris-Louvain-la-Neuve, 1997, 235 p. (Nouvelle collection Lavency).
3) Syntactic structures: master the structures encountered in the exercises (in complementarity with the course LGLOR 1143 "Latin Language").
A program of Latin versions, the objective of which is to fix theoretical learning and improve translation technique, is also planned as part of the practical exercises.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Several (mandatory) tests of morphology, vocabulary and sentence translation are organized during the four-month course (during practical exercises). They count for 4 points of the final score.
The version tests (mandatory) carried out during the quarter (during practical exercises) count for 3 points of the final score. The version test, held during the last session of the practical exercises, counts for 5 points of the final mark.
The written exam (morphology, vocabulary, translation), held during the session (June and/or September), counts for 8 points of the final mark.

Other information

With regard to the evaluation of students' knowledge of morphology and vocabulary, the reference manuals are as follows:

• A. Cart - P. Grimal, Grammaire latine, 2007.
• Chr. Meyerson-Dethoor-G. Schouppe, Index. Vocabulaire de base et dictionnaire latin, Paris-Louvain-la-Neuve, 1997, 235 p. (Nouvelle collection Lavency).

Online resources

Syllabus and accompanying documentation available on the Moodle server.

Bibliography

• A. Cart - P. Grimal, Grammaire latine, 2007
• A.-M. Boxus – M. Lavency, Clauis. Grammaire latine pour la lectu­re des auteurs, Paris-Louvain-la-Neuve, 2015 (Nouvelle collection Lavency).
• J. Michel, Grammaire de base du latin, Anvers, 1978.
• Chr. Meyerson-Dethoor-G. Schouppe, Index. Vocabulaire de base et dictionnaire latin, Paris-Louvain-la-Neuve, 1997, 235 p. (Nouvelle collection Lavency).
• F. Gaffiot, Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Paris, 2000 (multi­ples rééditions).

 

Teaching materials

• Syllabus "Éléments de grammaire latine"

Faculty or entity

GLOR