21.04.24: the weather in 1750 [1]

Although the long-term aim of the group is, in part, to read Classical Latin, it isn’t the case that we can only learn Latin from the Romans. Latin is not their exclusive property, any more than English is the exclusive property of the English, even though, sometimes, we like to think so.

While there are terms to divide periods of Latin e.g. Silver Age of Latin literature, Mediaeval Latin, Vulgar Latin, Ecclesiastical, New Latin, any source can be used if it is grammatically correct and helps give practice in vocabulary, grammar or sentence structure. This is a group for learning Latin, not (yet) reading Pliny.

Many quotations from the Roman authors have been used to illustrate points, but those quotations are often contained within much larger and complex literary works. Learning to read Latin is a gradual process which is why many texts have been included from schoolbooks which, I feel, were written by thoughtful writers who were also teachers i.e. they constructed the texts in such a way as to emphasise particular points to their pupils.

We’re going to look at a document written in 1750, and it’s “real” Latin because the language didn’t stop when the Ancient Romans did; it continued, evolved and acquired new vocabulary to meet contemporary needs.

So, the document is posted below. Over the next couple of posts we’ll take it apart.