We know that the Romance languages (French, Romanian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish) are direct descendants of Latin. How many times have I told my students: "If you learn Latin first, you'll be able to acquire any modern language you need quickly and efficiently, particularly if you want to learn a Romance language."
Well, I found the following poem (and link) which illustrates the point better than my words can:
From the New Englander and Yale Review, January 1843: “The great etymological affinity between Italian and Latin, is illustrated by the following lines addressed to Venice, by a citizen of that republic before its fall, which read equally in both languages”:
Te saluto, alma Dea, Dea generosa,
O gloria nostra, O Veneta Regina!
In procelloso turbine funesto
Tu regnasti secura; mille membra
Intrepida prostrasti in pugna acerba.
Per te miser non fui, per te non gemo;
Vivo in pace per te. Regna, O beata,
Regna in prospera sorte, in alta pompa,
In augusto splendore, in aurea sede.
Tu serena, tu placida, tu pia,
Tu benigna; tu salva, ama, conserva.
Here is poem which can be read equally well by those who know Latin, Italian, and Portuguese:
A reader of Notes and Queries, August 1868, presents these lines as “being at the same time Latin, Italian, and Portuguese”:
In mare irato, in subita procella,
Invoco te, nostra benigna Stella.
Vivo in acerba poena, in maesto horrore,
Quando te non imploro, in te non spero,
Purissima Maria, et in sincero
Te non adoro, et in divino ardore.
Et, O vita beata, et anni et horae
Quando, contra me armato odio severo
Te, Maria, amo, et in gaudio vero
Vivere spero ardendo in vivo amore.
Non amo te, regina augusta, quando
Non vivo in pace et in silentio fido;
Non amo te, quando non vivo amando.
In te sola, Maria, in te confido,
In tua materna cura respirando,
Quasi columba in suo beato nido.
These two poems were posted at http://www.futilitycloset.com/2010/10/16/forked-tongues/
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Vermont Gets a Latin Motto
The state of Vermont adopted a Latin motto this week:
stella quarta decima fulgeat. Go Vermont!
Article here: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/04/10/latin-lovers-converge-culture-fest-uvm/25599221/
stella quarta decima fulgeat. Go Vermont!
Article here: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/04/10/latin-lovers-converge-culture-fest-uvm/25599221/
Monday, March 23, 2015
Ancient Rome Tour
Take a tour of ancient Rome (in 13 minutes): http://archinect.com/news/article/123351248/take-a-tour-of-ancient-rome-320-ce
Monday, February 16, 2015
Can you tell the difference between Ovid and Taylor Swift?
Click on the following link to test your knowledge of the Roman poet Ovid's love poetry and pop singer Taylor Swift's song lyrics:
Can you tell the difference between Ovid and Taylor Swift?
Can you tell the difference between Ovid and Taylor Swift?
Friday, December 19, 2014
The 12 Days of Latin
One of my students inspired me to write the following song for Christmas. Enjoy!
The Twelve Days of Latin (by Joe Klomparens and Chris Leonard)
On the first day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the second day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the third day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the fourth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the fifth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the sixth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three Latin genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the seventh day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the eighth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the ninth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the tenth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… X Roman numerals, nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the eleventh day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… 11-syllable poetry, X Roman numerals, nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the twelfth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… twelve Roman Caesars,11-syllable poetry, X Roman numerals, nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
The Twelve Days of Latin (by Joe Klomparens and Chris Leonard)
On the first day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the second day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the third day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the fourth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the fifth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the sixth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three Latin genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the seventh day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the eighth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the ninth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the tenth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… X Roman numerals, nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the eleventh day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… 11-syllable poetry, X Roman numerals, nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
On the twelfth day of Latin, my teacher made me learn… twelve Roman Caesars,11-syllable poetry, X Roman numerals, nine Greek Muses, eight parts of speech, seven hills of Rome, six verb tenses, five noun declensions, four conjugations, three genders, two voices, and that Daphne turned into a tree.
Roman concrete was better!
Follow this link to find out the secret to ancient Roman concrete: http://io9.com/how-the-ancient-romans-made-better-concrete-than-we-do-1672632593
Friday, April 18, 2014
How to Make a Roman Shield
Follow this link for a little history about the Roman legionary shield (and instructions on how to make one yourself):
http://romanrecruit.weebly.com/shield.html
http://romanrecruit.weebly.com/shield.html
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