24.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [10]; starting "small"

If you're starting to read in Latin, you may not want to begin with the Aeneid.

Translating poetry and lyrics from one language into another is never going to be an exact science but the translator does a good job in conveying the ideas of the original - and making it rhyme!

Imber tōtum diem fluit │ The rain’s been pouring the whole day

Urceātim semper pluit. │ It always rains in buckets.

Taedet intus nōs manēre: │ It bores us to stay inside:

Numquam potest sōl splendēre │ The sun can never shine

Dēsidēsque sīc sedēmus, │ Thus we sit idle at home

Nec rīdēmus, nec gaudēmus. │ We neither laugh nor rejoice

Fore fīnem quiēscendī / Mihi spēs est et sedendī. │ I have the hope that there will be an end to resting and sitting

Frīgus vetat forās īre, │ The cold forbids (us) from going outdoors

Caelum vetat lascīvīre. │ The sky / weather forbids (us) from having fun

Domī sumus quiēscentēs, │ We are at home, resting

Nīl omnīnō facientēs. │ Doing nothing at all.

The sun did not shine

It was too wet to play

So we sat in the house

All that cold, cold wet day.

Too wet to go out

And too cold to play ball.

So we sat in the house.

We did nothing at all.

So all we could do was to

Sit

Sit

Sit

Sit

And we did not like it.

Not one little bit.

24.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [9]; book titles

 īnscrībō, -ere, īnscrīpsī [3]: [i] write in / on something [ii] give a title to a book

Passive; īnscrībitur: it is entitled

Librum legō ¦ quī “__________” īnscrībitur │ I’m reading a book ¦ which is entitled “__________”

Librum legō quī “Winnie Ille Pu” īnscrībitur.

Alicia in Terrā Mīrābilī │ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Cattus Petasātus │ The Cat in the Hat

Commentāriī dē puerō ineptō │ Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Fundus animālium│ Animal Farm

Harrius Potter et Philosophī Lapis │ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Hobbitus Ille │ The Hobbit

Magus Mirabilis in Oz │ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Regulus │ Le Petit Prince; the Little Prince

24.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [8]; What are you reading about?

It isn’t necessary to give a precise title, but simply to say what the book is about, which was a common way of expressing the title of literary works

dē + ablative: about; concerning

DĒ RĒRUM NĀTŪRĀ (Lucretius) │ on the Nature of Things

DĒ MEDICĪNĀ (Celsus) │ on / about Medicine

DĒ RĒ COQUĪNĀRIĀ / CULĪNĀRIĀ (Apicius) │ On the subject of cooking

Librum ¦ dē historiā ¦ Rōmānōrum ¦ legō. │ I’m reading a book about the history of the Romans.

Librum dē vitā Caesarum legō. │ I’m reading a book about the life (lives) of the Caesars.

Librum dē architectūrā nūper lēgī │ I’ve recently read a book about architecture

Hunc librum nōndum lēgī │ I haven’t yet read this book.

24.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [7]; people

[i] Quis est [ii] tibi [iii] auctor [iv] maximē ¦ dīlēctus? │ Literally: [i] Who is [ii] for you [iii] the author [iv] most ¦ loved?

= Who is your favourite author?

Note: the dative pronouns mihi, tibi etc. can also express ‘for me, for you’ in the sense of your point of view; ‘in my / your opinion’

Erit ille mihi semper deus. (Virgil) │ He will always be a god for me i.e. in my opinion

Meryl Streep erit mihi semper actrīx maximē dīlēcta. │ Meryl Streep will always be my favourite actress.

Cicero est mihi auctor maximē dīlēctus. │ Cicero is my favourite author.

Catullus est mihi poēta maximē dīlēctus. │ Catullus is my favourite poet.

Quis est tibi [ …. ] maximē dīlēctus [m.] / dīlēcta [f.]? │ Who is your favourite …?

A number of the nouns listed below have feminine equivalents although they are rarely attested – if at all – in Classical Latin. However, they can be used to convey our opinions on female writers, artists and peformers:

actor, actōris [3/m]; actrīx, actrīcis [3/f]: actor; actress

auctor, auctōris [2/m]: author; this word has meanings way beyond its fairly narrow use now:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/auctor#Noun_2

The Lewis and Short dictionary deals with the noun in great depth specifically referring to it as somebody who brings about the existence of any object:

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=auctor

cantātor, cantātōris [3/m]; cantātrīx, cantātrīcis [3/f]: singer [m.]; singer [f.] or musician; minstrel

cantor, cantōris [3/m]; cantrīx, cantrīcis [3/f]: singer [m.]; singer [f.]; an actor; a “player”

pantomīmus, -ī [2/m]: pantomime performer

“..the performer in that kind of dramatic piece in which a story was represented by mere dancing and rhythmical movement by a single dancer” (Smith et al: A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities)

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0063:entry=pantomimus-cn

pictor, pictōris [3/m]: painter

poēta, -ae [1/m]: poet

saltātor, saltātōris [3/m]; saltātrīx; saltātrīcis [3/f]: dancer [m.]; dancer [f.]

scrība, -ae [1/m]: writer; scribe; secretary; clerk

scrīptor, scrīptōris [3/m]; scrīptrīx, scrīptrīcis [3/f]: writer [m]; writer [f]; the term scrīptrīx referring to a female writer is not attested in Classical Latin but it does appear in a manuscript from around 1100 AD indicating that the scribe was a woman

sculptor, sculptōris [3/m]: stone-cutter; sculptor

24.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (4); lines 12 – 23 (2); grammar

Sed iam ad locum adventāverāmus, et patruus meus “Spectāte puerī” inquit; “hīc campus apertus est; scopulī dēsunt, et locus idōneus est ad cōpiās explicandās. Illīc fortasse, ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis, Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās [line 15] dēligāverat. Hīc Britannī cōpiās suās collocāverant, et equōs in aquam incitāverant. Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre? Sed reliqua narrābō. Dum Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant, aquilifer ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit ‘nisi ignāvī estis. Ego certē officium meum praestābō.’

Et cum aquilā undīs sē dedit. Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et [line 20] cum Britannīs in undīs impigrē pugnābant. Confūsa et aspera fuit pugna. Prīmō labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem Britannōs prōpulsāvērunt et terram occupāvērunt. Ante vesperum Britannī sē fugae dederant. Numquam anteā cōpiae Rōmānae in solō Britannicō steterant. Audācia aquiliferī laudanda erat.”

[1] Which of the following is the most precise translation in the context of the passage?

[i] Spectāte puerī! │ [a] Look at the boys! [b] You look, boys! [c] Boys, look!

[ii] Nōnne potestis …? │ [a] Surely, you can … [b] You can’t …, can you? [c] You’re not able to …

[iii] Sed reliqua narrābō. │ But [a] I was telling you [b] I’ll tell you [c] I’ve told you ¦ the rest.

[iv] Be careful with the next one. We’re dealing with the translation in context rather than what the verb literally means:

Dum Rōmānī … dubitant*, aquilifer ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit │ While the Romans [a] hesitate [b] were hestitating [c] are hestitating, the standard-bearer [a] said [b] says [c] had said [a] “Gather yourselves (assemble) …” [b] “You are gathering …” [c] “You’ve gathered ¦ at the eagle.”

[v] Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant │ All the Romans [a] were already assembling [b] had now assembled [c] have now assembled ¦ at the standard-bearer.

[vi] cum Britannīs … pugnābant. │ [a] used to fight [b] will fight [c] started fighting ¦ with the Britons

[4] Complete the translation with an appropriate verb:

[i] Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās dēligāverat. Hīc Britannī cōpiās suās collocāverant, et equōs in aquam incitāverant.

Gaius Julius __________ the Roman vessels to anchors. Here the Britons __________ their forces and __________ the horses into the water.

[ii] Prīmō labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem Britannōs prōpulsāvērunt et terram occupāvērunt.

At first the Romans __________, but finally they __________ the Britons and __________ the land.

[5] Under which heading are each of the verbs in bold placed? Also included is the imperative i.e. the command form and the infinitive.

*Dum Rōmānī ... dubitant, aquilifer ‘... inquit: dubitant is present tense. However, when dum (while) is used to express something that was happening at the same time as another action in the past, the verb is present tense but, in English, translated as a past tense i.e. While the Romans were hesitating ... the standard-bearer said ...

Hoc dum nārrat [present], forte audīvī. (Terence) │ I happened to hear this while she was telling it.

 

 

24.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (3); lines 12 – 23 (1); questions

Sed iam ad locum adventāverāmus, et patruus meus “Spectāte puerī” inquit; “hīc campus apertus est; scopulī dēsunt, et locus idōneus est ad cōpiās explicandās. Illīc fortasse, ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis, Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās [line 15] dēligāverat. Hīc Britannī cōpiās suās collocāverant, et equōs in aquam incitāverant. Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre? Sed reliqua narrābō. Dum Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant, aquilifer ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit* ‘nisi ignāvī estis. Ego certē officium meum praestābō.’

Et cum aquilā undīs sē dedit. Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et [line 20] cum Britannīs in undīs impigrē pugnābant. Confūsa et aspera fuit pugna. Prīmō labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem Britannōs prōpulsāvērunt et terram occupāvērunt. Ante vesperum Britannī sē fugae dederant. Numquam anteā cōpiae Rōmānae in solō Britannicō steterant. Audācia aquiliferī laudanda erat.”

*Note that inquit can be present or perfect i.e. (s)he says / said.

[1] lines 12-18

[i] “hīc campus apertus est; scopulī dēsunt, et locus idōneus est ad cōpias explicandās.” Why would this be a suitable place to deploy troops? [2 points]

[ii] “Illīc fortasse, ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis …” What is the uncle pointing to? [1 point]

[iii] “Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre?” What does he ask the boys to do? [2 points]

[iv] “Dum Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant, …” What were the Romans reluctant to do? [1 point]

[v] What did the standard-bearer say to them? [4 points]: ‘[i] Ad aquilam [ii] vōs congregāte,’ inquit ‘[iii] nisi ignāvī estis. [iv] Ego certē officium meum praestābō.’

[2] Lines 19 – 23

The second question here is a good example of where a test paper may want detailed answers; note the words in italics.

[i] How did the standard-bearers actions in line 19 show his loyalty to Caesar? [2 points]

[ii] How did the troops react? [6 points]: Iam [i] ūniversī Rōmānī [ii] ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et [iii] cum Britannīs [iv] in undīs [v] impigrē [vi] pugnābant.

[iii] How is the battle described? [2 points]

[iv] “Prīmō … sē fugae dederant.” Give four details about the battle. [4 points]

[v] Why was this battle a significant event in the history of both the Romans the Britons? [3 points]

23.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [6]

[i] Earliest known depiction of an armārium, a cabinet used here for the storage of scrolls (volumina)

[ii] the -ārium suffix: storing the sun since 1930!

23.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [5]; in a 17th century bookstore

Comenius: Orbis pictus (First edition: 1658; Engl. transl. by Hoole: 1659)

It’s interesting to note three points about this book:

[1] It was the first widely used illustrated textbook for children

[2] It became a best-seller in Europe for a hundred years.

[3] It is based on topics, not on grammar i.e. the language was designed to be spoken, for the kids to talk about the world around them

bibliopōla │ the bookseller

vēndit librōs │ sells books

in bibliopolīō │ in a bookseller’s shop

quōrum cōnscrībit │ of which he writes

catalogum │ a catalogue

librī dispōnuntur │ the books are placed

per repositōria │ on shelves

& [et] ad ūsum, super │ and are laid open for use upon

pluteum expōnuntur │ a desk

multitūdō librōrum │ a multitude of books

vocātur bibliothēca │ is called a library

vocabulary and notes

bibliopola, -ae [1/m]: bookseller

bibliopōlīum, -ī [2/n]: bookshop; New Latin, but not that “new” since Comenius is using it

bibliothēca, -ae [1/f]: library; a room for books

pluteus, -ī [2/m]: bookshelf; Hoole, the translator, describes it as a ‘desk’; although we associate the word with a complete piece of furniture, “desk” can also refer to a lectern i.e. the sloped surface on which the reader places the book, one which, in this case, seems to be bigger than the reader himself!

repositōrium, -ī [2/n]: it has a vague dictionary description of “something on / in which something else is placed” (Lewis and Short) but it can refer to a tray or a cabinet; the translator writes “shelves” but there also appear to be labelled storage boxes to the left of the image

librārius, -a, -um: pertaining to books

taberna, -ae [1/f] librāria: bookshop

librārium, -ī [2/n]: a place to keep books e.g. a bookcase or bookshelf

Note [1]

-ārium

Note: -ārium; this suffix is used to refer to the purpose of the noun, for example it often indicates where something is kept

armārium, -ī [2/n] (literally: a place for storing weapons); cupboard

alveārium, -ī [2/n]: beehive

aquārium, -ī [2/m]: a watering place for cattle

sōlārium, -ī [2/n]: a terrace exposed to the sun; sundial

Technically, -ārium should be attached to a noun e.g. liber + -ārium > librārium i.e. a place for books

However, it can be found with adjectives; the logic behind these three in the Roman bathhouses is obvious:

[i] from caldus, -a, -um: hot > caldārium, -ī [2/n]: warm bath; the place where hot water is kept

[ii] from frīgidus, -a, -um: cold > frīgidārium, -ī [2/n]: the cold room

[iii] from tepidus, -a, -um: warm > tepidārium, -ī [2/n]: the warm room

Note [2]: three examples of the passive:

[i] dispōnō, -ēre, disposuī [3]: distribute; arrange

Passive:

librī dispōnuntur │ the books are placed / arranged

per repositōria │ on / along shelves

[ii] expōnō, -ere, exposuī [3]: display; set out

librī … super │ and are laid open for use upon

pluteum expōnuntur │ a desk

[iii] vocō, -āre, -āvī [1]: call

Passive:

multitūdō librōrum │ a multitude of books

vocātur bibliothēca │ is called a library

i.e. X is called Y

23.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [4]; links to previous posts on books and writing

Vocabulary referring to writing implements

[i] 06.07.24: level 1; 10 at a time; writing [1]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/474197508524856/

Match the English with the Latin words in the image

book

book case; library

cylindrical container for books

ink

instrument used for writing on wax tablets

map (Mediaeval)

paper

scroll

wax tablet for writing

writer

[ii] 09.07.24: level 1; 10 at a time; writing [2]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/473882988556308/

Match the Latin words with the images

ātrāmentum, -ī [2/n]

capsa, -ae [1/f]

charta, -ae [1/f]

liber, librī [2/m]

lībrārium, -ī [2/n]

papȳrus [2 m or f]

scrīptor, scrīptōris [3/m]

stilus, -ī [2/m]

tabula, -ae [1/f]

volūmen, volūminis [3/n]

Who did the ink belong to?

What was the Egyptian schoolboy learning 1,800 years ago?

23.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [3]

Martial’s Epigrams

Marcus Valerius Martialis (known as Martial) was born in Spain. He is best known for his books of epigrams which satirised Roman life and his contemporaries. Below are three examples; unless you’re already well into Latin, I wouldn’t analyse them too deeply; I think it’s enough to know how cutting the Romans could be!

[i] Martial: 1.19

Si memini, fuerant tibi quattuor, Aelia, dentes: / Expulit una duos tussis et una duos. / Iam secura potes totis tussire diebus: / Nil istic quod agat tertia tussis habet.

If I remember right, Aelia, you had four teeth; a cough displaced two, another two more. You can now cough without anxiety all the day long. A third cough can find nothing to do in your mouth.

[ii] Martial: 1.23

Invitas nullum nisi cum quo, Cotta, lavaris / Et dant convivam balnea sola tibi. / Mirabar, quare numquam me, Cotta, vocasses: / Iam scio, me nudum displicuisse tibi.

You invite no one, Cotta, except those whom you meet at the bath; and the bath alone supplies you with guests. I used to wonder why you had never asked me, Cotta; I know now that my appearance in a state of nature was unpleasing in your eyes.

[iii] Martial: 1.28

Hesterno fetere mero qui credit Acerram, / Fallitur: in lucem semper Acerra bibit.

Whoever believes it is of yesterday's wine that Acerra smells, is mistaken: Acerra always drinks till morning.

23.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [2]

The question may focus on something specific …

[i] Placetne tibi …? / [ii] Placentne tibi …? │ Literally: [i] Is X pleasing to you [ii] Are X pleasing to you …? = Do you like [i] something in the singular or [ii] something in the plural?

Here are some examples of types of writing and vocabulary related to similar topics:

annālis, -is [3/m]: chronicle; annal i.e. a written account ordered by time; usually in the plural i.e. annālēs e.g. the Annals of Tacitus [see image #1: CAII CORNELII TACITI ANNALES ET HISTORIAE │ the Annals and Histories of Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, 1676 edition]

cōmoedia, -ae [1/f]: comedy (play)

epistula, -ae [1/f]: letter [image #2: Cicero’s Epistulae ad Familiārēs (Letters to Friends); 14th century manuscript]

epigramma, epigrammatis [3/n]: epigram, a brief but amusing saying [see next post]

fābula, -ae [1/f]: story; play

fābella, -ae [1/f] (diminutive of fābula): fable; tale

historia, -ae [1/f]: (a) history [see image #1]

legenda, -ae [1/f] (Mediaeval): legend

libellus, -ī [2/m]: little book

cui dōnō lepidum novum libellum? (Catullus) │ To whom do I dedicate the charming little book?

liber, librī [2/m]: book

litterae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: [i] letter (i.e. can refer to one or more letters); [ii] literature

mȳthos, mȳthī [2/m]: myth; Greek-type noun with accusative in /n/ i.e. mȳthon

opus, operis [3/n]: work i.e. referring to any literary or musical work; Mozart’s works are classified according to opus (abbr. op. see image #3); in Classical Latin it can also refer to physical work

orātiō, orātiōnis [3/f]: speech

scrīptum, -ī [2/n]: anything that is written

versus, -ūs [4/m]: verse

Magnum ibi numerum versuum ēdiscere dīcuntur. (Caesar)│ They are said to learn by heart a great number of verses there.

____________________

carmen, carminis [3/n]: poem; song

mūsica, -ae [1/f]: music

pictūra, -ae [1/f]: picture; painting

effigiēs, effigiēī [5/f]: statue

imāgō, imāginis [3/f]: image; statue; likeness; (art) depiction

īnscrīptiō, īnscrīptiōnis [3/f]: inscription

sculptūra, -ae [1/f]: sculpture; figure carved out

pellicula, -ae [1/f]; taeniola, -ae [1/f] (New Latin): film

23.09.24: follow-up; books, writing and related topics [1]

Referring to:

https://www.facebook.com/.../permalink/521706370440636/

Learning a language isn’t only of course about what you know already – but also about what you can find out so that you can develop your knowledge.

Quod genus librōrum vōbīs praecipuē placet? │ What type of books do you particularly like?

genus, generis [3/n]: type

Let’s take it apart to find out [1] what it literally says and [2] how you can rework it.

[1]

[i] Quod genus … [ii] vōbis … [iii] placet?

[i] What type … [ii] to you …. [iii] is pleasing? = What type do you like?

The three-part question:

[i] Quid [ii] tibi (one person) / vōbīs (more than one person) [iii] placet? = literally: [i] What [ii] to you [iii] is pleasing? = What do you like?

The three-part answer:

[i] X [ii] mihi [iii] placet = literally: [i] X [ii] to me [iii] is pleasing = I like X

Rather than literally saying “I like (something)” Latin changes the idea around to “Something is pleasing to me”. This is no different from Fr. X me plaît, or Gmn. X mir gefällt, or Russ. X mne nravitsya i.e. they are all saying X is pleasing to me. English can do that but it sounds rather formal.

[2]

[a] Therefore, whatever you like in Latin can be expressed in this way.

[i] Mūsica [ii] mihi [iii] placet │ I like music = literally: music is pleasing to me

Hic liber mihi placet │ I like this book = literally: this book is pleasing to me

Haec pictūra mihi placet │ I like this painting

Hoc carmen mihi (valdē / praecipuē) placet │ I (really / particularly) like this song / poem

Hoc carmen mihi perplacet │ I really like this song / poem; per- intensifies the verb

Ea (lēx) mihi perplacet (Cicero) │ This / that (law) really pleases me = I really like this law

Latin is flexible and so you can find the words in a different order:

servī meī perplacet mihi cōnsilium (Plautus) │ The advice / plan of my slave is very pleasing to me = I very much like my slave’s advice

[b] If what you like is plural then the verb will become plural:

[i] Carmina [ii] mihi [iii] placent │ I like poems = literally: poems are pleasing to me

Monumenta antiqua mihi placent │ I like ancient monuments

Commentāriī dē bellō Gallicō mihi placent │ I like the Commentaries on the Gallic War

Fābulae mihi placent │ I like stories / plays

Cōmoediae ¦ Plautī ¦ mihi placent │ I like the comedies ¦ of Plautus

Carmina ¦ Catullī ¦ mihi placent │ I like the poems ¦ of Catullus

Antīqua opera et verba cum vōbīs placent … (Plautus) │ Since ancient works and words are pleasing to you …

[c] What you like does not have to be a noun; it can be an infinitive:

[i] Legere [ii] mihi [iii] placet │ I like reading / to read = literally: to read is pleasing to me

Mihi legere carmina Latīna … placet │ I like to read Latin poems = literally: to me it’s pleasing to read Latin poems

Saltāre mihi placet │ I like to dance

Cantāre / canere mihi placet │ I like to sing

Mihi legere fabulās placet │ I like reading / to read stories

Mihi epistulās scrībere placet │ I like writing / to write letters

Mihi mūsicam audīre placet │ I like listening to / to listen to music

Mihi pictūrās pingere placet │ I like to paint pictures

Mihi pelliculās / taeniolās spectāre placet │ I like to watch movies; pellicula, -ae [1/f]; taeniola, -ae [1/f] (New Latin)

Mihi versūs ediscere placet │ I like to learn verses by heart

Mihi cōmoediās ¦ Plautī ¦ legere praecipuē placet. │ I especially like reading the plays of Plautus.

Ōrātiōnēs / Epistulās ¦ Cicerōnis ¦ legere mihi valdē placet. │ I really like reading Cicero’s speeches / letters.

litterae, -ārum [1/f/pl] can refer to [i] one or more letters, or [2] literature i.e. the concept is usually expressed in the plural

Litterās Latīnās legere mihi valdē placet. │ I really like reading Latin literature.

 

23.09.24: Level 1; Maxey [14](3); notes [2]: 3rd declension nouns

The author makes a little more use of 3rd declension nouns in this text. This declension has been discussed a lot in the group and involves a considerable amount of learning. Below are 3rd declension nouns used here with a few general points made.

Most often, the gender of a 3rd declension noun cannot be worked out from its ending; although the four examples of the declension in the text end in -s, 3rd declension nouns have a range of endings in the nominative case. There are a few patterns which, over time, you’ll become familiar with but, at the beginning, there are two key pieces of information you need about nouns in this declension:

[i] the gender and, crucial for this declension, [ii] the genitive singular

Below are the nouns used in the text listed with [i] the gender and [ii] the genitive singular which ends in -is. You’ll see immediately that, for a very large number of 3rd declension nouns, the noun undergoes a change in its stem before the -is is added:

• flōs, flōr¦is [3/m]: flower
• pater, patr¦is [3/m]: father
• aestās, aestāt¦is [3/f]: summer
• hiems, hiemis [3/f]: winter
• quiēs, quiēt¦is [3/f]: peace; quiet; calm

This is important because, once you have that stem from the genitive singular, it applies to any endings added to the noun:

[i] flōs, flōr¦is [3/m] > stem: flōr¦- 

• In hortō sunt multī … flōrēs [nominative plural]. │ In the garden there are many … flowers.

[ii] pater, patr¦is [3/m]

• Pater [nominative singular] meus ad oppidum it. │ (My) father is going to town.
• Ego quoque cum patre [ablative singular] … īre cupiō.” │ I also want to go with (my) father.

[iii]

• quiēs, quiēt¦is [3/f]
• aestās, aestāt¦is [3/f]

Est aestās [nominative singular] et in hortō est quiēs [nominative singular]. Fēmina quiētem [accusative singular] amat. │ It’s summer and there’s peace and quiet in the garden. The woman loves the peace and quiet.

• Aestāte [ablative singular] hortum cūrat.  │ In the summer he looks after the garden.

Links to previous posts on the 3rd declension are here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/429662662978341/

23.09.24: Level 1; Maxey [14](2); notes [1]: relative clauses

Haec casa est domus fēminae benignae. Casa est casa alba. Post casam est hortus. Prope hortum est silva. In hortō sunt multī et pulchrī flōrēs. Sunt rosae rubrae et līlia purpurea quoque. Alta sunt līlia et pulchrae sunt rosae. Sunt aliī flōrēs quoque in hortō. Grātī fēminae benignae sunt flōrēs. Fēmina hortum nōn cūrat. Vir quī in aliā casā habitat [Line 5] hortum cūrat. Aestāte hortum cūrat; hieme nōn cūrat quod hieme sunt nūllī flōrēs in hortō. Bene vir labōrat. Cārus virō est hortus.

Hodiē vir nōn est in hortō. Herī hīc erat. Hodiē hīc nōn est. Est aestās et in hortō est quiēs. Fēmina quiētem amat. Mox fēmina puerum lacrimantem audit. Ad iānuam it. Nūllus puer est in viā. Mox puerum quī in hortō labōrat videt. Est fīlius virī quī hortum [Line 10] cūrat. Hodiē puer hortum cūrat et lacrimat. Puer nōn est in perīculō; nōn timet. Cūr lacrimat? Fēmina puerum ad sē vocat. Fēmina hoc dīcit: “Cūr lacrimās, puer?” Tum puer respondet: “Pater meus ad oppidum it et ego labōrō. Ego quoque ad oppidum īre cupiō. Duōs equōs habet et ego equōs amō. In stabulō frūmentum equīs dō. Aquam quoque dō. Ūnum equum semper cūrō. Ego quoque cum patre et equīs īre cupiō.”

[Line 15] Fēmina quae est fēmina benigna est maesta. Miserum puerum! Fēmina et puer cēnam edunt. Tum fēmina flōrēs ex hortō capit et ad oppidum it. Cum feminā it puer parvus quī nunc nōn lacrimat. Mox virum quī hortum cūrat fēmina videt et dē puerō parvō quī nōn est puer malus nārrat. Fēmina et vir et puer colloquium habent. Multās hōrās ibi manent. Vesperī domum eunt.

Sentence building

[1]

The woman is …

The woman is sad …

The woman ¦ who is a kind woman ¦ is sad.

[2]

The man takes care of …

The man takes care of the garden

The man ¦ who lives in the other cottage ¦ takes care of the garden.

[3]

The little boy goes …

The little boy … goes with the woman

The little boy ¦ who isn’t crying now ¦ goes with the woman.

[4]

The woman soon sees …

The woman soon sees the man …

The woman soon sees the man ¦ who takes care of the garden.

[5]

The woman talks …

The woman talks about the boy …

The woman talks about the small boy …

The woman talks about the small boy ¦ who isn’t a bad boy.

Notes

quī [masculine]; quae [feminine]: who

Vir quī in aliā casā habitat hortum cūrat. │ The man who lives in the other cottage takes care of the garden.

Fēmina quae est fēmina benigna est maesta. │ The woman who is a kind woman is sad.

Mox puerum quī in hortō labōrat videt. │ She soon sees the boy who is working in the garden.

Est fīlius virī quī hortum cūrat. │ It is the son of the man who is taking care of the garden.

Cum feminā it puer parvus quī nunc nōn lacrimat. │ The little boy, who is not crying now, goes with the woman.

Mox virum quī hortum cūrat fēmina videt … │ The woman soon sees the man who takes care of the garden …

et dē puerō parvō quī nōn est puer malus nārrat. │ … and she talks about the little boy who is not a bad boy.

Quī / quae (who) in these sentences is not a question but a relative pronoun, a word that joins two parts of a sentence together.

Two separate sentences:

[i] Vir in aliā cāsā habitat. │ The man lives in the other cottage

[ii] Vir hortum cūrat. │ The man looks after the garden.

Those two separate sentences can now be joined:

 Vir ¦ quī in aliā casā habitat ¦ hortum cūrat. │ The man ¦ who lives in another cottage ¦ looks after the garden.

“… qui in aliā casā habitat …” │ “…who lives in another cottage …” relates to or describes the man and so the construction introduced by quī / quae is called in grammar a relative or adjectival clause.

When asking a question Latin uses quis? (who?); quis? is an interrogative pronoun, the term ‘interrogative’ is used in grammar to refer to a word such as who? what? where? etc.

Look at the difference between the two:

Quis est hic vir?  │ Who is this man?

Quis est hic vir quī in viā iacet? │ Who is this man who is lying in the street?

Quis est haec puella? │ Who is this girl?

Quis est haec puellae quae lacrimat? │ Who is this girl who is crying?

22.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (2); lines 1 – 11 (2); grammar

Inter viam patruus meus multa nōbīs dē bellō Rōmānōrum cum Britannīs narrāvit. Prīmō saeculo ante Christum nātum Gāius Iūlius in Galliā bellābat, et, postquam Nerviōs cēterōsque populōs Galliae Belgicae dēbellāvit, bellum contrā incolās insulae propinquae parāvit. Itaque annō quintō et quinquāgēsimō cōpiās suās in Britanniam [line 5] transportāvit. Dē locō unde nāvigāvit et dē locō quō nāvigia sua applicāvit, virī doctī diū disputāvērunt. Sed inter Dubrās et Rutupiās est locus ad nāvigia applicanda idōneus. Dubrās nōn poterat applicāre; nam scopulī ibi altī erant, ut nunc sunt, et in scopulīs cōpiae armātae Britannōrum stābant. Itaque ad alium locum nāvigāvit, ubi nullī scopulī fuērunt. Sed Britannī quoque per ōram maritimam ad locum properāvērunt, et ad [line 10] pugnam sē parāvērunt. Rōmānīs necesse erat nāvigia sua magna ad ancorās dēligāre. Britannīs vada nōta fuērunt; itaque in aquam equitāvērunt et cōpiam pugnae dedērunt.

[1] Which of the following is the most precise translation in the context of the passage?

[i] Nōbis … narrāvit │ He [a] has told [b] was telling [c] told ¦ us …

[ii] In Galliā … bellābat. │ He [a] was fighting a war [b] fought a war [c] used to fight wars ¦ … in Gaul.

[iii] Dē locō … virī doctī diū disputāvērunt. │ Educated men [a] had long argued [b] long argued [c] have long argued ¦ about the place...

[iv] Nōn poterat │ [a] he can’t [b] he wasn’t able [c] he could not have

[v] In scopulīs cōpiae armātae Britannōrum stābant. │ The armed troops of Britons [a] used to stand [b] were standing [c] had stood on the cliffs

[2] Complete the translation with an appropriate verb:

[i] Nam scopulī ibi altī erant, ut nunc sunt.  │ For the cliffs there __________ high, just as they __________ now.

[ii] Itaque ad alium locum nāvigāvit, ubi nullī scopulī fuērunt.  │ And so he __________ to another place where there __________ no cliffs.

[iii] Rōmānīs necesse erat nāvigia sua magna ad ancorās dēligāre.  │ It __________ necessary for the Romans __________ the large vessels to anchors.

22.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (1); lines 1 – 11 (1); questions

Using two passages from Ora Maritima, we’ll look at how all the all tenses discussed so far in the group are working together in the same text.

Lines 1 – 11

Inter viam patruus meus multa nōbīs dē bellō Rōmānōrum cum Britannīs narrāvit. Prīmō saeculo ante Christum nātum Gāius Iūlius in Galliā bellābat, et, postquam Nerviōs cēterōsque populōs Galliae Belgicae dēbellāvit, bellum contrā incolās insulae propinquae parāvit. Itaque annō quintō et quinquāgēsimō cōpiās suās in Britanniam [line 5] transportāvit. Dē locō unde nāvigāvit et dē locō quō nāvigia sua applicāvit, virī doctī diū disputāvērunt. Sed inter Dubrās et Rutupiās est locus ad nāvigia applicanda idōneus. Dubrās nōn poterat applicāre; nam scopulī ibi altī erant, ut nunc sunt, et in scopulīs cōpiae armātae Britannōrum stābant. Itaque ad alium locum nāvigāvit, ubi nullī scopulī fuērunt. Sed Britannī quoque per ōram maritimam ad locum properāvērunt, et ad [line 10] pugnam sē parāvērunt. Rōmānīs necesse erat nāvigia sua magna ad ancorās dēligāre. Britannīs vada nōta fuērunt; itaque in aquam equitāvērunt et cōpiam pugnae dedērunt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervii

The following statements are false; correct them.

1. The Gallic wars took place in the 1^st century AD.
2. Caesar defeated the Britons and then the Nervii.
3. Caesar went to Britain 55 years later.
4. People agree about where his ships set sail from.
5. Either Dover or Richborough is a good place to land.
6. The cliffs at Dover were higher at that time.
7. The Britons were standing on the beach.
8. When the Romans went to another location, the Britons did not follow them.
9. The Britons knew that the water was deep.
10. The Britons walked into the water.

21.09.24: Level 1; review; practice in the cases [8]; 1st / 2nd declension nouns and adjectives; ablative singular and plural [1]

Lectiō §34

Ablative singular: -ā; -ō

Rōmam ¦ fossā circumdat │ (s)he surrounds Rome ¦ with a ditch

Rōmam ¦ mūrō circumdat │ (s)he surrounds Rome ¦ with a wall

Rōmam ¦ vallō circumdat │ (s)he surrounds Rome ¦ with a rampart (defensive wall)

Ablative plural: -īs

Rōmam ¦ fossīs circumdat │ (s)he surrounds Rome ¦ with ditches

Rōmam ¦ mūrīs circumdat │ (s)he surrounds Rome ¦ with walls

Rōmam ¦ vallīs circumdat │ (s)he surrounds Rome ¦ with ramparts

Barbarī Rōmānīs bellum parant. Caesar impavidus est. Barbarī eum nōn terrent. Caesar castra vāllō circumdat. Castra fossā circumdat. Fossam aquā complet. Rōmānī vāllum armātīs complent. Castra magnum castellum habent. Castellum Caesar armātīs complet. Nec aquam, nec frūmentum, nec sagittās, nec scūta habent Rōmānī. Ūnum carrum sagittīs complent. Quattuor scūtīs complent. Plūs quam vīgintī frūmentō complent. Vallum sagittāriīs complent. Dat Caesar Rōmānīs signum proeliī. Nostrōs sonō tubae incitat. Quam grātus Rōmānīs sonus tubae est!

[1] Find the Latin for the words in bold; note that Latin is using one word whereas English needs to use a phrase

Ablative singular

He surrounds the camp with a ditch (trench; moat).

He fills the ditch with water.

He encourages / inspires our men with the sound of the war-trumpet.

He fills more than twenty (wagons) with grain.

Caesar surrounds the camp with a rampart (wall; fortification) .

Ablative plural

They fill one wagon with arrows.

The Romans occupy the rampart with armed men.

[2] The ablative case has many different uses and it is best to look at these uses gradually. Each of the uses has its own grammatical name, the one being used in the text is the ablative of means or instrument. As the name suggests it conveys what is used to peform an action. Connected with this is the idea of ‘filling’ something with something.

As the examples below show, Latin can often with a single word in the ablative convey an idea which in English needs a preposition.

Ablative singular

1^st declension

Nominative: fossa (ditch)

> Ablative: fossā (note that the only difference between the nominative and ablative singular is the long /ā/)

Castra fossā circumdat. │ He surrounds the camp with / by means of a ditch.

Nominative: aqua (water)

> Ablative: aquā

Fossam aquā complet. │ He fills the ditch with water.

2^nd declension

[i] Masculine

Nominative: mūrus (wall)

> Ablative: mūrō

Rōmam mūrō circumdat. │ He surrounds Rome with a wall.

[ii] Neuter

Nominative: frūmentum (grain)

>  Ablative: frūmentō

Plūs quam vīginti frūmentō complent. │ They fill more than twenty (wagons) with grain.

Ablative plural

The ablative plural ending is the same for all 1^st and 2^nd declension nouns: -īs

Nominative plural: sagittae (arrows)

>  Ablative plural: sagittīs

Carrum sagittīs complent. │ They fill the wagon with arrows.

Nominative plural: mūrī (walls)

>  Ablative plural: mūrīs

Rōmam mūrīs circumdat. │ He surrounds Rome with walls.

Nominative plural: scūta (shields)

>  Ablative plural: scūtīs

Carrum scūtis complet. │ he fills with wagon with shields.