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CIRCULUS LATINUS HONCONGENSIS
香港拉丁文協會
Circulus Annum Caprinum (羊年, Year of the Goat) in Campo Picto (錦田, Kam Tin) celebrat
Conventus proximus hora septima et dimidia (7.30) die Lunae 9 Maii (9/5/25) in caupona Basmati habebitur ut de versu 161 usque ad 221 in Iliade Latina recitemus. Descriptionem huius operis et textum versione Anglica interlineari , commentariis et picturis instructum apud paginam ILIAS LATINA invenies. Si voles adesse, ad meridiem die 9, quaeso, Iohannem Velptonium per epistulam electronicam vel per 93696180 certiorem fac.
De rebus in Circulis Latinis agendis et regulis nostris infra et Latine et Anglice legere poteris. Quoad possumus, tantum Latine colloqui tentamus sed, cum inter sodales nostros gradus Latinitatis magnopere variet, plerumque in maiore parte conventus lingua Anglica utimur. Si plura scire vis, Iohannem Velptonium (vide supra) interrogare potes..
The next meeting will be held in the Basmati restaurant at 7.30 on Friday 9/5/25 in order to read from verse 161 up to 221 in the Ilias Latina. Yopu will find a description of this work, and text with with interlinear English translation, notes and illustrations on the ILIAS LATINA page. If you want to attend, please inform John Whelpton by noon on the 9th by email or on 93696180.
You can read below in both Latin and English about what happens in Latin Circles and about our rules. As far as possible, we try to talk only in Latin, but since the level of proficiency varies greatly among members, we normally use English for most of the meeting. For more information, contact John Whelpton (see above).
Ad epitomem rerum gestarum (Anglice scriptam) comparandam haec documenta deponite. Relatio de conventu proxime praeterito in Interreti inspici potest.
Download these files for a summary (in English) of previous discussions. Reports on the meetings since September 2016 are also available as separate pages on this site:
De rebus in Circulis Latinis agendis et regulis nostris infra et Latine et Anglice legere poteris. Quoad possumus, tantum Latine colloqui tentamus sed, cum inter sodales nostros gradus Latinitatis magnopere variet, plerumque in maiore parte conventus lingua Anglica utimur. Si plura scire vis, Iohannem Velptonium (vide supra) interrogare potes..
The next meeting will be held in the Basmati restaurant at 7.30 on Friday 9/5/25 in order to read from verse 161 up to 221 in the Ilias Latina. Yopu will find a description of this work, and text with with interlinear English translation, notes and illustrations on the ILIAS LATINA page. If you want to attend, please inform John Whelpton by noon on the 9th by email or on 93696180.
You can read below in both Latin and English about what happens in Latin Circles and about our rules. As far as possible, we try to talk only in Latin, but since the level of proficiency varies greatly among members, we normally use English for most of the meeting. For more information, contact John Whelpton (see above).
Ad epitomem rerum gestarum (Anglice scriptam) comparandam haec documenta deponite. Relatio de conventu proxime praeterito in Interreti inspici potest.
Download these files for a summary (in English) of previous discussions. Reports on the meetings since September 2016 are also available as separate pages on this site:
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December 2010 - 14-9-12
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12/10/12 - 21/3/14
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11/4/14 - 15/7/15 26/8/15 - 29/4/16
20/5/16 - 3/2/17
24/1/18 - 16/11/18
28/6/19 -
30/12/20 - 28/7/21
12/11/21 - 3/12/21
29/4/22 - 29/7/22
16/12/22 - 24/3/23
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24/2/17 -29/12/17
6/12/18 -31/5/19
21/2/20 - 20/11/20
27/8/21 - 22/10/21
4/2/22 - 18/3/22
30/9/22 - 25/11/22
21/4/23 - 22/8/23
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Documenta infra posita sunt textus integer libri c.t. Ciceronis Filius, a Henrico Paoli compositus, et capitula in conventibus nostris prioribus recitata, quibus macra necnon commentarii additi sunt.
The documents below are the complete text of Henrico Paoli's Ciceronis Filius and the chapters of it which have been read in our previous meeings and to which macrons and notes have been added.
The documents below are the complete text of Henrico Paoli's Ciceronis Filius and the chapters of it which have been read in our previous meeings and to which macrons and notes have been added.
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Relatio quoque de interrogatione Iohannis Elenorae Rykener infra posita est , quam mensibus Septembri et Octobri anno MMXXIII recitavimus.
Also placed below is the teport on the interrogation of John/Eleanor Rykener, which we read on september/October 2023.
Also placed below is the teport on the interrogation of John/Eleanor Rykener, which we read on september/October 2023.
| john-eleanor-rykener.doc |
Documenta insequentia sunt elenchi verborum iuncturarumque quae in conventibus nostris usui sint. Primum est glossarium generale, cui adhuc multa addenda et corrigenda sunt, secundum versiones Anglicas nominum ferculorum Indicorum, tertium versiones Latinas praebet. Quartum est glossarium ad omnia genera ciborum necnon artem coquendi cenandique pertinentia, in quo vocabula quae in in Latina Classica non apparent litteris viridibus distinguuntur. Omnia documenta praeter primum ab Eugenio Yu parata sunt.
The folowing documents are lists of words and phrases meant to be of use in our meetings. the first is a general glossary which stil needs many additions and corrections. the second provides English versions of the names of Indian dishes and the third Latin ones. The fourth is a glossary covering all kinds of food and the art of cooking and dining and the fifth a list of terms connected with houses, flats and furniture. Al the documents except the first and the sixth were prepared by Eugene Yu.
The folowing documents are lists of words and phrases meant to be of use in our meetings. the first is a general glossary which stil needs many additions and corrections. the second provides English versions of the names of Indian dishes and the third Latin ones. The fourth is a glossary covering all kinds of food and the art of cooking and dining and the fifth a list of terms connected with houses, flats and furniture. Al the documents except the first and the sixth were prepared by Eugene Yu.
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`Basmati' caupona in via Conotensi prope portam `C' littera designatam stationis Metropolitanae Sheung Wan sita est. In hac charta geographica caupona littera `A' designata est.
The `Basmati' restaurant (`A' on the map) is on Connaught Road near Exit C from the Sheung Wan MTR station
The `Basmati' restaurant (`A' on the map) is on Connaught Road near Exit C from the Sheung Wan MTR station
The City Chinese Resturant is on the 8th floor of the Amenities Block on the City University campus, which can be reached via the subway from Festival Walk. More detailed instructions are available here. It is also possible to reach the lift by going straight ahead from the subway into the Academic Building, taking the escalator on your right to the first floor and walking straight ahead.
Epistula Invitationis (2010)
Iohannes Velptonius omnibus Latinistis Honcongi habitantibus
Per tres quattuor annos in animo habebam societatem condere. in qua omnes Honcongenses quibus Latinitas viva cordi esset linguae usum exercere possent. Cum munus magistri linguae Anglicae in schola media nuper deposuerim, mihi otium nunc sufficit ut consilium exsequi tentem itaque hodie mihi propositum est vos omnes invitare ut sodales novae societatis – Circuli Latini Honcongensis – fiatis.
Credo vos omnes scire quid sit `Circulus Latinus’ sed, ut res satis clarae sint, haec verba de Circulo Londiniensi scripta reduplicavi :.
Circulus Latinus Londiniensis unus est e plurimis Circulis Latinis totius orbis terrarum qui statutis temporibus homines omne genus congregant qui Latine loqui student...Sicut plurimi alii Circuli Latini, malumus convenire in locum qui foveat convivalem aditum ad humanitatem cuius omnes possint participare, nempe in domum publicam --sic enim appellant Angli tabernas-- primo, si licet, cuiusque mensis Iovis die. Magna iucunditate omnibus de rebus Latine loqui solemus quas animum nostrum alliciunt, dum cervesiæ sextarios --ut fit apud Britannos-- bibimus vel cenamus. Sæpe etiam cum prope assidentibus sermones conserimus qui mirantur quanam lingua tam alacriter loquamur.
Spero nos quoque unoquoque mense vel (si satis otii non habebimus) binis mensibus semel conventuros esse ut Latine colloquamur. Mihi videtur Tabernam Ferroviariam (Railway Tavern), quae prope stationem ferroviariam in Magnosaepto (Tai Wai) sita est, aptam esse conventibus nostris habendis. Chartam geographicam adiunxi, in qua clariter demonstratur qua via illuc perveniatur.
Nihil refert si sodales Latine loquentes errores faciunt, sed maximi momenti est, dum conventus habeatur, omnes inter nos tantum Latine loqui. Non fieri potest quin in sermonibus nostris singula verba Anglica (vel Sinica vel Germanica!) interdum inseramus sed structura totius sententiae Latina remanere debet. Verbi gratia, si locutor vocabulum Latinum necessarium nescit, quaerere poterit `Quomodo `skier’ Latine dicitur?’ etc. Ut in aliis terris, eis qui Latine ipsi loqui nondum parati sunt, licebit aliorum sermones silenter audire
Me certiorem, quaeso, facite utrum participes esse velitis atque, si res vos tenet, quo/quibus diebus septimanae convenire vobis commodissimum futurum sit. Si in taberna magnam turbam et clamorem evitare volemus, vesperi maturius (sexta hora?) conveniendum erit, sed fortasse multis ante septimam horam ad tabernam pervenire difficile erit. De his rebus quoque sententias vestras colligere volo.
Si verba Latina mea obscura sunt, versionem anglicam infra positam videte. Respondete, quaeso, Latine vel Anglice, ut vobis ipsis placebit. Epistulam electronicam hic mittere potestis.
Optime valeatis
Dear All
For three or four years I’d been thinking of setting up an organisation in which all Hong Kong enthusiasts for `living Latin’ could practise using the language. As I’ve recently retired from my job as a secondary school English teacher I have enough spare time to try to carry out this plan. My purpose today is to invite you to become members of a new society – the Circulus Latinus Honcongensis.
I think you all know what a `Circulus Latinus’ is, but, to make everything sufficiently clear, here’s something written about the Circulus Latinus Londiniensis
The Circulus Latinus Londiniensis is one of a large number of Circuli Latini throughout the world which bring together on a regular basis people of all sorts who are keen to talk in Latin. Like most other Circuli Latini, we prefer to meet in a place that fosters a convivial and civilised atmosphere which all can share – viz. a `public house’ (the English term for a bar), if possible, on the first Thursday of every month. We talk very happily in Latin about every subject which takes our fancy while drinking pints of beer (as is the British custom) or having a meal. Often we also get into conversation with those sitting near us who wonder what language we’re talking in so energetically.
I hopw we will also be able to meet once a month or (if we’re short of time) once in two months to speak Latin. It seems to me that the Railway Tavern near the KCR station in Tai Wai would be suitable for holding our meetings. I’ve attached a map showing how to get there.
It doesn’t matter if members make mistakes when speaking Latin, but it’s very important that, while the meeting’s going on, we only use Latin among ourselves. It’s inevitable that we’ll sometimes slip individual English (or Chinese or German!)) words into the conversation but the overall sentence structure should remain Latin. For example, if a speaker doesn’t know the word needed in Latin, he can ask `Quomodo `skier’ Latine dicitur?’etc. As in other countries, those who are not yet ready to speak in Latin themselves will be allowed to listen quietly to others talking.
Please let me know whether you are willing to take part and, if you are interested, what day or days of the week would be most convenient for you to hold the meetings. If we want to avoid crowds and noise in the pub, we should meet earlier in the evening (6 p.m.?) but perhaps for many people it will be difficult to arrive before 7.
I look forward to hearing from you in Latin or English, as you prefer. You can send an email here.
Best wishes,
John
Epistula Invitationis (2010)
Iohannes Velptonius omnibus Latinistis Honcongi habitantibus
Per tres quattuor annos in animo habebam societatem condere. in qua omnes Honcongenses quibus Latinitas viva cordi esset linguae usum exercere possent. Cum munus magistri linguae Anglicae in schola media nuper deposuerim, mihi otium nunc sufficit ut consilium exsequi tentem itaque hodie mihi propositum est vos omnes invitare ut sodales novae societatis – Circuli Latini Honcongensis – fiatis.
Credo vos omnes scire quid sit `Circulus Latinus’ sed, ut res satis clarae sint, haec verba de Circulo Londiniensi scripta reduplicavi :.
Circulus Latinus Londiniensis unus est e plurimis Circulis Latinis totius orbis terrarum qui statutis temporibus homines omne genus congregant qui Latine loqui student...Sicut plurimi alii Circuli Latini, malumus convenire in locum qui foveat convivalem aditum ad humanitatem cuius omnes possint participare, nempe in domum publicam --sic enim appellant Angli tabernas-- primo, si licet, cuiusque mensis Iovis die. Magna iucunditate omnibus de rebus Latine loqui solemus quas animum nostrum alliciunt, dum cervesiæ sextarios --ut fit apud Britannos-- bibimus vel cenamus. Sæpe etiam cum prope assidentibus sermones conserimus qui mirantur quanam lingua tam alacriter loquamur.
Spero nos quoque unoquoque mense vel (si satis otii non habebimus) binis mensibus semel conventuros esse ut Latine colloquamur. Mihi videtur Tabernam Ferroviariam (Railway Tavern), quae prope stationem ferroviariam in Magnosaepto (Tai Wai) sita est, aptam esse conventibus nostris habendis. Chartam geographicam adiunxi, in qua clariter demonstratur qua via illuc perveniatur.
Nihil refert si sodales Latine loquentes errores faciunt, sed maximi momenti est, dum conventus habeatur, omnes inter nos tantum Latine loqui. Non fieri potest quin in sermonibus nostris singula verba Anglica (vel Sinica vel Germanica!) interdum inseramus sed structura totius sententiae Latina remanere debet. Verbi gratia, si locutor vocabulum Latinum necessarium nescit, quaerere poterit `Quomodo `skier’ Latine dicitur?’ etc. Ut in aliis terris, eis qui Latine ipsi loqui nondum parati sunt, licebit aliorum sermones silenter audire
Me certiorem, quaeso, facite utrum participes esse velitis atque, si res vos tenet, quo/quibus diebus septimanae convenire vobis commodissimum futurum sit. Si in taberna magnam turbam et clamorem evitare volemus, vesperi maturius (sexta hora?) conveniendum erit, sed fortasse multis ante septimam horam ad tabernam pervenire difficile erit. De his rebus quoque sententias vestras colligere volo.
Si verba Latina mea obscura sunt, versionem anglicam infra positam videte. Respondete, quaeso, Latine vel Anglice, ut vobis ipsis placebit. Epistulam electronicam hic mittere potestis.
Optime valeatis
Dear All
For three or four years I’d been thinking of setting up an organisation in which all Hong Kong enthusiasts for `living Latin’ could practise using the language. As I’ve recently retired from my job as a secondary school English teacher I have enough spare time to try to carry out this plan. My purpose today is to invite you to become members of a new society – the Circulus Latinus Honcongensis.
I think you all know what a `Circulus Latinus’ is, but, to make everything sufficiently clear, here’s something written about the Circulus Latinus Londiniensis
The Circulus Latinus Londiniensis is one of a large number of Circuli Latini throughout the world which bring together on a regular basis people of all sorts who are keen to talk in Latin. Like most other Circuli Latini, we prefer to meet in a place that fosters a convivial and civilised atmosphere which all can share – viz. a `public house’ (the English term for a bar), if possible, on the first Thursday of every month. We talk very happily in Latin about every subject which takes our fancy while drinking pints of beer (as is the British custom) or having a meal. Often we also get into conversation with those sitting near us who wonder what language we’re talking in so energetically.
I hopw we will also be able to meet once a month or (if we’re short of time) once in two months to speak Latin. It seems to me that the Railway Tavern near the KCR station in Tai Wai would be suitable for holding our meetings. I’ve attached a map showing how to get there.
It doesn’t matter if members make mistakes when speaking Latin, but it’s very important that, while the meeting’s going on, we only use Latin among ourselves. It’s inevitable that we’ll sometimes slip individual English (or Chinese or German!)) words into the conversation but the overall sentence structure should remain Latin. For example, if a speaker doesn’t know the word needed in Latin, he can ask `Quomodo `skier’ Latine dicitur?’etc. As in other countries, those who are not yet ready to speak in Latin themselves will be allowed to listen quietly to others talking.
Please let me know whether you are willing to take part and, if you are interested, what day or days of the week would be most convenient for you to hold the meetings. If we want to avoid crowds and noise in the pub, we should meet earlier in the evening (6 p.m.?) but perhaps for many people it will be difficult to arrive before 7.
I look forward to hearing from you in Latin or English, as you prefer. You can send an email here.
Best wishes,
John
SUBSIDIA AD SERMONES LATINOS
Sunt libri et situs interretiales qui subsidia ad linguae Latinae usum viva voce exercendum praebent. Paginae quas ad usum in Universitate Sinensi anno praeterito praeparavi de http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/~lha/latin_intensive/download/WHELPTON_NOTES2.pdf deponi possunt, et alia colloquia a duobus magistris Americanis scripta (Colloquia Cottidiana). Si de vocalibus longis recte enuntiandis curatis, meminisse debetis errores esse in `Colloquiis Cottidianis’ . Nihilominus, dialogi ipsi nobis certissime usui sunt. Utilis etiam est liber c.t. Nos in Schola Latine Loquimur a magistro Belgico Thoma Elsaesser in initio saeculi praeterito scriptus, cuius editio anni 1909 in fine huius paginae invenietur. In hoc, tamen, longtitudo vocalium non indicatur et iuncturae magni momenti non Anglice sed francogallice reddundur. Neque quantitates indicantur in libro c.t. Colloquia Latino Sermone Conscripta, quem magistri Itali Balboni et Neri versione Italica et laudibus `Fidei Lictoriae' (sc. Fascismi) instructam anno 1937 ediderunt.`Gregorius Clavus' nunc iuncturas ad colloquendum apta ex scriptoibus classicis extraca in bloggo suo c.t. Conversational Latin componit. Sunt etiam indices iuncturarum et vocabulorum utilium a Carolo Meissner et Valterio Ripman compositae et nuper in Interreti a Carolo Rhaetico apud http://hiberna-cr.wikidot.com/downloads positae. In historia paedagogiae Latinae praeclarissimi sunt dialogi a Marturino Corderio in saeculo secimo sexto scipti et ab Arcadio Avellano in saeculo vigesimo emendati. Textum in situ Univesitatis Sancti Ludovici invenetis Postremo, non omittendus est liber in saeculo octavo decimo edito, c.t. `Familiares colloquendi formulae, in usum scholarum concinnatae' in quo inter alias sententias diversas invenitur `Dismissa schola, tibi dentes excutiam!'
Inter libros typis expressos, praeclarissimus est opus Iohannis Traupman, c.t. Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency, quod apud bookdepository.com et (pretio maiore!) apud Amazon praebetur. Pars magna eius operis in interreti apud Google Books legi potest. Si vis, etiam poteris exemplum meum inspicere – qui primus rogabit, primus accipiet!. Exemplaria quoque habeo liberi Angelae Wilks c.t. Latin for Beginners et Sigridis Albert c.t. Cottidie Latine Collaquamur.
Acroasis Latina eodem titulo, a Sigride anno 2013 habita, apud TuTubulum praebetur: Pars I (25.06 incipit), Pars 2, Pars 3 Nulli sunt subtituli sed lente atque clare loquitur..
Potestis quoque per interrete apud situm Scholae (www.schola.ning) cum aliis Latinistis et scribendo et loquendo latine communicare. In situ meo (http://linguae.weebly.com/latin--greek.html) sunt etiam complures pelliculae (videos) in quibus dialogi Latini audiuntur.
Sunt etiam in Interreti pellicula quaedam longa (30 min), in qua professores de `Latinitate viva’ Anglice colloquuntur (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqOFnYgyRr8&NR=1), et pelliculae breviores in quo professores et discipuli apud Conventiculum Lexintoniense Latine colloquuntur (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0emFzJ0oCQ&NR=1)
Maximi momenti sunt subsidia nova a magistris Americanis anno 2016 in Interreti posita:
Inceptum Latinum Audiendi (Latin Listening Project): series pellicularum in quibus magister vel magistra de re
quadem (e.g. Quae est fabula Graeca titi acceptissima, Ars coquendi etc.) 1-5 minutas loquitur
Quomododicitur.com: series dialogorum in quibus tres magistri de re singulari (e.g. De corpore sana, De nominibus) 15-20 minutis inter se colloquuntur. Colloquia in rete audiri re vel in computatrum in forma podcasti depromi possunt.
Utilissima quoque sunt subsidia quae apud www.latinitium.com praebentur, inter quae est vinculum ad congeriem septuaginta horas acroasium Latinarum in TuTubulo positarum.
AIDS FOR LATIN CONVERSATION
There are books and websites which provide help for using Latin in conversation. You can download Colloquia Latina, notes which I prepared last year for use in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and also Collloquia Cottidiana, dialogues prepared by two American teachers. If you are concerned about getting vowel length right, you need to remember that there are errors in their work, but it is still a very valuable resource. Also useful is the book Nos in Schola Latine Loquimur written by Belgian teacher Thomas Elsaesser, the 1909 edition of which can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. This, however, has no vowel length markings and key phrases are glossed in French, not English. Vowel quantitites are also missing in Colloquia Latino Sermone Conscripta, which two Italian teachers, Balboni and Neri, brought out in 1937, adding an Italian tranlation and aslo praise for `fides Lictoria' (sc. Fascism)! `Gregorius Clavus' is comiling a glossary of conversational phrases culled from various classical authors in his Conversational Latin blog. There are also the lists of useful phrases and words compiled by Charles Meissner et Walter Ripman recently placed on the Internet by Carolus Rhaeticus at http://hiberna-cr.wikidot.com/downloads. In the history of Latin teaching, the dialogues written by Maturinus Corderius in the16th century are very famous. Some of them can be found, as modified last century by Arcadius Avellanus, on the St. Louis University site. Mention should also be made of an 18th century book, Familiares colloquendi formulae, which includes amongst various other phrases `Dismissa schola, tibi dentes excutiam!' (`When school's over, I'll knock your teeth out!')
As for books, the best-known is John Traupman's Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency, which is t available on bookdepository.com and(at a higher price!) from Amazon. A large part of the work can also be read online at Google Books. If you wish, you can also have a look at my copy - first come, first served! I also have copies of Angela Wilks' book, Latin for Beginners, and Sigrides Albert's Cottidie Latine Collaquamur. Sigrides 2013 Latin lecture with the same title can be viewed on YouTube: Part I (from 25.06), Part 2, Part 3 There are no subtitles but she speaks slowly and clearly.
You can also communicate with other Latinists in Latin (both written and spoken) on the Schola site, whilst my own site, Linguae also has several videos in which Latin can be heard. By registering with the Circulus Latinus Interretialis you can join a list of Latinists who converse with each other over the Skype internet phone system.
Also online are a 30-minute film in which professors speak in English about `Latin Immersion' and shorter films in which prefessors and students at the Lexington Conventiculum speak in Latin.
Two aids of very great importance were uploaded by American teachers in 2016:
Latin Listening Project: a series of videos in which a teacher talks for 1-5 minutes on a particular topic (e.g What is your favourite Greek story, the art of cooking etc.)
Quomododicitur.com: a series of dialogues in which three teachers talk together for 15-20 minutes on one individual
topic (e.g. On a healthy body, On names)
Also extremely useful are the resources available at www.latinitium.com , among which is a link to a playlist of 70 hours of Latin lectures uploaded to YouTube.
The Circulus Latinus Honcongensis is an experimental venture and, although to take a full part you will need to have a basic knowledge of Latin, there will be no fluent speakers present, and probably only two people who have attended Latin conversation sessions before, so we are bound to go slow and everyone will have a chance to follow. The rules also allow the use of individual English words provided the overall sentence structure remains in Latin. Detailed vocabulary help is available on the links above and in the vocabulary list below but useful phrases for getting started include:
Salvē! Hello! Iterum dīc, quaesō Say again, please.
Quid agis? How are you? Lentē, quaesō Slowly, please
Bene mē habeō I’m fine Anglicē In English
Quid est officium tuum? What’s your job? Hoc quid vocātur? What’s this called?
Nōn intellēxī I didn’t understand Cervisiam bibō I drink beer
Quōmodo dīcitur How do you say Vīnum rubrum, Red wine, please
_____Latīne? _____ in Latin? quaesō
Grātiās [tibi agō] Thanks Esne advocātus? Are you a lawyer?
Sum grammaticus I ’m a language teacher Prōsit! Cheers!
VOCĀBULA ET IUNCTŪRAE ŪTILĒS
(Stressed syllables shown in red but
words of two syllables, always stressed on the first, are often not marked )
Fundamentālia
Iterum dīc, quaesō Say again, please.
Lentē, quaesō Slowly, please
Maiōre vōcē, quaesō Louder, please
Scrībe, quaesō Write it down, please
Nōn intellegō I don’t understand
Intellegisne/Intellegitisne? Do you understand?
Nōn intellēxī I didn’t understand?
Intellēxistīne/Intellēxistisne? Did you understand or Have you understood?
Quōmodo dīcitur_____Latīnē/Anglicē How do you say _______ in Latin/English
Hoc quid vocātur? What’s this called?
Ita (est), Etiam Yes
Minimē Not at all
Mihi ignosce Sorry
Salutātiōnēs /Introductiōnēs/Valēdictiōnēs etc,
Salvē/salvēte Hello
Quid/Quod est tibi nōmen? What’s your name
Mihi nōmen (Anglicum/Sīnicum/Latīnum) My (English/Chinese/Latin) name is _________
est_______
Quid agis? How are you
Bene mē habeō I’m fine
Mihi abeundum est or Discēdere dēbeō I’ve got to go
Valē/valēte Goodbye
Usque ad proximum mēnsem/proximam Till next month/week
septimānam
In taberna
Sextārium cervisiae requīrō, quaesō I want a pint of beer, please
Vīnum rubrum/album requīrit He/She wants red/white wine.
Lāminās [solanōrum] requīris? Do you want some [potato] crisps(Americānē chips)?
Ministrōs rōgā ut lāminās in corbem dēpōnant Ask the staff to put the crisps in a basket
Aliquidne requīris? Do you want anything?
Velisne ut tibi potiōnem afferam? Would you like me to get you a drink?
Pōculum magnum an parvum requīris? Do you want a large glass or a small one?
Habentne pōma fricta? Do they have chips (Americānē french fries)?
Minister/ministra ad mensam veniet sed facilius The waiter/waitress will come to the table but it’s easier to
est ad cartibulum īre go to the bar
Quantī cōnstat/cōnstant? How much does it/do they cost ?
Ubi est lātrīna? Where’s the toilet
Ibi /in angulō sinistrō/dexterō est It’s there/in the left-hand/right-hand corner
Spicula iaciunt They’re throwing darts
Ubi est tabella spiculāria? Where’s the dart board?
Vīsne prope fenestram/iānuam sedēre? Do you want to sit near the window/door
Nōn est necessārium surgere There’s no need to get up
Quot sellae sunt? How many seats are there?
Hōra et diēs
Quota est hōra/Quot hōrae sunt? What time is it ?
Est prīma/secunda/tertia/quarta/quīnta/sexta/ It’s 1..12 [.15/30/45]
septima/octāva/nōna/decima/undecima/ [in the day/at night]
duodecima [diēī/noctis]hōra et quadrāns/
dimidia/dōdrāns/
Petrus quotā hōrā perveniet? What time will Peter arrive?
Septimā hōrā et quadrante/dimidiā/dōdrante At 7.15/7.30/7/45
Dē tē ipsō (recitātiō) (pelliculae animātae)
Quot annōs nātus/nāta es? How old are you?
------ annōs nātus/nāta sum I’m ____ years old
Habēsne fīliōs vel fīliās? Do you have any sons or daughters?
Habeō nūllum/ūnum fīlium sed/et nūllam/ I have no/one son and/but no/one daughter
ūnam fīliam
Habeō duōs fīliōs/duās fīliās I have two sons/daughters
Unde venīs? Where do you come from ?
Britannus/a sum I’m British American Korean French German Chinese
Canādiānus /a Americānus/a Coreānus/a A ustralian
Francogāllus/a Germānus/a Sīnēnsis
Austrāliānus
Ubi nātus/a es? Where were you born ?
Ubi habitās? Where do you live
Antequam Honcongum vēnistī, ubi habitābās? Before you came to HK, where did you live?
Nottinghāmiae/Londīnī/ Honcongī/Berolīnī/ I was born/live/lived in Nottingham/London/Hong Kong/
in īnsulā Honcongō/Novemdracōnibus/ Paris/Hong Kong Island/ Kowloon/
Lutetiae/ nātus(nāta) sum/habitō/ habitābam
Quem quaestum facis?/Quid est officium tuum? How do you make a living? What is your job? What post
Quō mūnere fungeris are you in
Esne advocātus/a? Are you a lawyer?
Fīlius tuus/fīlia tua maior quem quaestum facit? What’s your elder son’s/daughter’s job?
Sum argentārius/a - grammaticus/a - I’m a banker/language teacher/professor/doctor/journalist
professor/profestrix - medicus/a - researcher/policeman/lawyer/teacher/priest/historian/
investigātor/investigātrix - custōs pūblicus/a - writer/businessman/civil servant/editor/government
diurnārius/a - advocātus/a - magister/magistra contractor/housewife/theatre administrator/student
sacerdōs - historicus/a scrīptor/scrīptrix -
mercātor/mercātrix - officiālis - redāctor -
mercātor/mercātrix officiālis - māterfamiliās -
administrātor theātrālis - discipulus/discipula
Dē linguīs (recitātiō)
Cūr linguam Latīnam didicistī? Why did you learn Latin?
Nōn didicī I didn’t learn it!
Quia cultūra atque historia antīquae mē Because ancient culture and history attract me
alliciunt
Quia mē linguae tenent/alliciunt. Because languages interest/attract me
Quia in scholā meā coācti sumus Because we were forced to learn Latin in school
linguam Latīnam discere .
Quibus aliīs linguīs loqueris? What other languages do you speak?
Francogallicē, Germānicē, Sīnicē (sermōne French German Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua)
Cantonēnsī vel sermōne normālī), Iaponicē, Japanese Korean Polish Spanish Greek
Coreānicē, Polonicē, Hispānicē, Graecē
Cur Latīne loquī vīs? Why do you want to speak Latin?
Quia quī loqui nōn scit, linguā rēvērā Because if you can’t speak a language you haven’t really
nōn callet. mastered it
Quia Latīnē loquī iūcundum est Because it’s fun to speak Latin
Quia novae experientiae mē dēlectant Because I like new experiences
Quot annōs linguam Latīnam discis/didicistī? How many years have you been learning/ did you learn Latin
Prōnuntiātū classicō an ecclēsiasticō ūteris? Do you use the classical or the church pronunciation?
Quae sunt discrīmina prīncipālia? What are the main differences?
Modō ecclēsiasticō vel mediaevālī, `c’ et `g’ In the ecclesiastical or medieval style, the consonants `c’ and
cōnsonantēs, cum ante `i’ vel `e’ vōcālēs `g’, when occurring before the vowels `i’ or `e’, are not hard
occurrant, nōn dūrae sed mollēs sunt – ut but soft – the way the letters `ch’ and `j’ are pronounced in
`ch’ et `j’ litterae Anglicē dīcuntur. Modō English. In the classical style, these consonants are always
classicō hae cōnsonantēs semper ut in `cat’ pronounced as in the English words `cat’ or `game’.
vel `game’ vocābulīs Anglicīs ēnūntiantur.
Prōnūntiātus `ae’ diphthongī temporibus In Cicero’s time, the pronunciation of the diphthong `ae’ was
Cicerōnis erat similis vōcālī in `die’ vocābulō similar to that of the vowel in the English word `die’, but
Anglicō, sed aevō mediaevālī ut `ay’ in `day’. in the medieval period it was pronounced like `ay’ in
ēnuntiābātur, English `day’.
Aevō classicō `v’ littera ut Anglica `w’, In the classical period the letter `v’ sounded like the
dīcēbātur sed aevō mediaevālī similis erat English `w’, but in medieval times it was like the English `v’
Anglicae `v’ .
Vīta Honcongēnsis (recitātiō)
Quae sunt beneficia vītae Honcongēnsis? What are the advantages of living in Hong Kong?
Quaestum invenīre professiōnālibus facile est It’s easy for professionals to find a job.
Pecūniae comparandae ānsae multae sunt There are lots of opportunities to make money.
Omnia oblectāmenta urbāna praebentur sed All the amusements of the city are available but we can
facile in rūs pulchrum pervenīmus. easily get into beautiful countryside
Aestāte in ōrīs iūcundis sedēre et in marī natāre In the summer we can sit on nice beaches and swim in the
possumus sea
Per tōtum annum inter montēs errāre We can hike in the hills all year round.
possumus
Hīc cultūra orientālis adest, occidentālis. It combines eastern and western culture.
quoque
Facillimē ad aliās terrās itinera facere We can travel to other countries very easily.
possumus
A fūribus vel latrōnibus rārissime vexāmur, We aren’t often bothered by thieves or robbers and we’re
in viīs sine timōre ambulāmus. not afraid when we walk in the streets.
Commeātus pūblicus optimus est. Public transport is first-rate.
Sententiās nostrās līberē exprimere possumus. We’re free to express our opinions.
Magna pars incolārum Anglicē commūnicāre Most local people can communicate in English
possunt.
Quae sunt detrimenta vītae nostrae? What are the disadvantages of our lives here?
Quī ingeniīs vel artibus nōn dōnātī sunt, Those who lack talents or skills suffer from poverty.
paupertāte īnflīguntur.
Dīvitēs dīvitiōrēs, pauperēs pauperiōrēs fīunt The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Āēr, aqua, terra inquinātae sunt. Air, water and land are polluted
In minimīs diaetīs habitāmus. We live in very small flats.
In urbe ubīque sunt turbae strepitusque. In the city there are crowds and noise everywhere.
Plērīque Honcongēnses in officīnīs multās Most Hongkongers have to stay long hours in their
hōrās remanēre dēbent. workplaces.
Discipulī vesperī multās per hōrās pēnsa Students need to spend many hours doing homework in
dēbent facere the evening.
In scholīs lycaeīsque verba ēdiscere maiōris In schools rote learning is often more important than real
mōmentī saepe est quam rem intellegere understanding.
Conductōrēs operis saepe crūdēlēs sunt Employers are often harsh.
Populus iūs nōn habet ēligendī omnēs The people do not have the right to choose all their rulers.
rēctōrēs suōs
Difficile est sermōnem Cantonēnsem discere. It’s difficult to learn Cantonese.
Honcongī quae regiō tē maxime dēlectat? What area of Hong kong do you like best?
Tsim Sha Tsui et Centrālem amō quod I love Tsim Sha Tsui and Central because I like big hotels
magna dēversōria tabernaeque et activitātēs and shops and cultural activities . I like the New Territories
cultūrālēs mihi placent. Terrās Novās et and the Outlying Islands because we have peace and quiet
Īnsulās Remōtiōrēs amō quod pācem et there
silentium ibi habēmus
Vīta cottidiāna recitātiō [n.b. the curent recordng still has `lactem', an error for the correct accusative form `lac']
Quotā hōrā māne surgis? What time do you get up in the morning?
Sextā hōrā et dimidiā 6.30
Septimā hōrā et quadrante 7.15
Balneō māne an vesperī ūteris? Do you have a bath in the morning or the evening?
Plērumque māne. In soliō nōn sedeō, balneō Generally in the morning. I don't sit in the bathtub but have a
plūviō ūtor. shower.
Quotā hōrā ientāculum sūmis? What time do you have breakfast?
Octāvā hōrā At eight o’clock.
Quid edis? What do you eat?
Pānem tostum /frūctūs/ ova frīcta et Toast/fruit/fried eggs and bacon/cereals
lardum/cereālia
Quid bibis? What do you have to drink?
Theam/caffeam/lac/aurantiī succum Tea/coffee/milk/orange juice
Quotā hōrā ad officīnam proficisceris? What time do you leave for work?
Octāvā hōrā et dōdrante At 8.45
Domī labōrō. I work at home
Nōn est hōra cōnstitūta There's no fixed time.
Quantō temporis ad officīnam pervenīs? How long does it take you to get to work?
Quinquaginta minūtīs Fifty minutes.
Iter quamdiu terit? How long does the journey take?
Dimidiam hōram Half an hour
Quōmodo iter facis? How do you travel?
Autoraedā/Raedā longā/Tramine/Currū I go by car/bus/train/tram and then walk
ēlectricō vehor deinde ambulō.
Birotā ūtor. I use a bike
Ubi prandium sūmis? Where do you have lunch
In caupōnā prope officīnam/universitātem In a restaurant near my work/university
Quid edis? What do you eat?
Pastillum fartum/Collӯram/Iūs collӯricum/ A sandwich/noodles/soup noodles/rice/dim sum
Orӯzam/Cuppēdiolās
Quotā horā ab officīnā proficisceris? What time do you leave work?
Sextā hōrā et dimidiā At 6.30
Vesperī quid facis? What do you do in the evening?
Cēnam coquō (ancillam nōn habeō) deinde I cook dinner (I don’t have a maid), then watch TV or read a
tēlevīsiōnem spectō vel librum legō. a book. Sometimes I dust the furniture or do other
interdum suppelectilem detergeō vel housework. I also have to make the bed because there’s not
aliās operās domesticās facio. Lectum time for that in the morning.
quoque sternere dēbeō quod māne tempus
nōn sufficit
Quid edis vesperī? What do you eat in the evening?
Varium est. Saepe būbulam vel porcīnam It varies. I often have roast beef or pork with fried potatoes
assam ūnā cum solānīs frīctīs et holeribus and vegetables. Usually I drink beer or wine.
edō. Plērumque cervisiam vel vīnum bibō.
Domī furculā cultellōque an bacillīs ūteris? Do you use a knife and fork or chopsticks at home?
Sī orӯzam vel collӯram edō, bacillīs, If I’m having rice or noodles I use chopsticks, if it’s
sī cibum occidentālem, cultellō et furculā. Western food, a knife and fork.
Quandō cubitum īs? When do you go to bed?
Inter hōrās ūndecimam et duodecimam. Between 11 and 12. I normally listen to the radio before I
Soleō antequam dormiam, radiophōnum go to sleep
audīre,
Sunt libri et situs interretiales qui subsidia ad linguae Latinae usum viva voce exercendum praebent. Paginae quas ad usum in Universitate Sinensi anno praeterito praeparavi de http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/~lha/latin_intensive/download/WHELPTON_NOTES2.pdf deponi possunt, et alia colloquia a duobus magistris Americanis scripta (Colloquia Cottidiana). Si de vocalibus longis recte enuntiandis curatis, meminisse debetis errores esse in `Colloquiis Cottidianis’ . Nihilominus, dialogi ipsi nobis certissime usui sunt. Utilis etiam est liber c.t. Nos in Schola Latine Loquimur a magistro Belgico Thoma Elsaesser in initio saeculi praeterito scriptus, cuius editio anni 1909 in fine huius paginae invenietur. In hoc, tamen, longtitudo vocalium non indicatur et iuncturae magni momenti non Anglice sed francogallice reddundur. Neque quantitates indicantur in libro c.t. Colloquia Latino Sermone Conscripta, quem magistri Itali Balboni et Neri versione Italica et laudibus `Fidei Lictoriae' (sc. Fascismi) instructam anno 1937 ediderunt.`Gregorius Clavus' nunc iuncturas ad colloquendum apta ex scriptoibus classicis extraca in bloggo suo c.t. Conversational Latin componit. Sunt etiam indices iuncturarum et vocabulorum utilium a Carolo Meissner et Valterio Ripman compositae et nuper in Interreti a Carolo Rhaetico apud http://hiberna-cr.wikidot.com/downloads positae. In historia paedagogiae Latinae praeclarissimi sunt dialogi a Marturino Corderio in saeculo secimo sexto scipti et ab Arcadio Avellano in saeculo vigesimo emendati. Textum in situ Univesitatis Sancti Ludovici invenetis Postremo, non omittendus est liber in saeculo octavo decimo edito, c.t. `Familiares colloquendi formulae, in usum scholarum concinnatae' in quo inter alias sententias diversas invenitur `Dismissa schola, tibi dentes excutiam!'
Inter libros typis expressos, praeclarissimus est opus Iohannis Traupman, c.t. Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency, quod apud bookdepository.com et (pretio maiore!) apud Amazon praebetur. Pars magna eius operis in interreti apud Google Books legi potest. Si vis, etiam poteris exemplum meum inspicere – qui primus rogabit, primus accipiet!. Exemplaria quoque habeo liberi Angelae Wilks c.t. Latin for Beginners et Sigridis Albert c.t. Cottidie Latine Collaquamur.
Acroasis Latina eodem titulo, a Sigride anno 2013 habita, apud TuTubulum praebetur: Pars I (25.06 incipit), Pars 2, Pars 3 Nulli sunt subtituli sed lente atque clare loquitur..
Potestis quoque per interrete apud situm Scholae (www.schola.ning) cum aliis Latinistis et scribendo et loquendo latine communicare. In situ meo (http://linguae.weebly.com/latin--greek.html) sunt etiam complures pelliculae (videos) in quibus dialogi Latini audiuntur.
Sunt etiam in Interreti pellicula quaedam longa (30 min), in qua professores de `Latinitate viva’ Anglice colloquuntur (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqOFnYgyRr8&NR=1), et pelliculae breviores in quo professores et discipuli apud Conventiculum Lexintoniense Latine colloquuntur (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0emFzJ0oCQ&NR=1)
Maximi momenti sunt subsidia nova a magistris Americanis anno 2016 in Interreti posita:
Inceptum Latinum Audiendi (Latin Listening Project): series pellicularum in quibus magister vel magistra de re
quadem (e.g. Quae est fabula Graeca titi acceptissima, Ars coquendi etc.) 1-5 minutas loquitur
Quomododicitur.com: series dialogorum in quibus tres magistri de re singulari (e.g. De corpore sana, De nominibus) 15-20 minutis inter se colloquuntur. Colloquia in rete audiri re vel in computatrum in forma podcasti depromi possunt.
Utilissima quoque sunt subsidia quae apud www.latinitium.com praebentur, inter quae est vinculum ad congeriem septuaginta horas acroasium Latinarum in TuTubulo positarum.
AIDS FOR LATIN CONVERSATION
There are books and websites which provide help for using Latin in conversation. You can download Colloquia Latina, notes which I prepared last year for use in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and also Collloquia Cottidiana, dialogues prepared by two American teachers. If you are concerned about getting vowel length right, you need to remember that there are errors in their work, but it is still a very valuable resource. Also useful is the book Nos in Schola Latine Loquimur written by Belgian teacher Thomas Elsaesser, the 1909 edition of which can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. This, however, has no vowel length markings and key phrases are glossed in French, not English. Vowel quantitites are also missing in Colloquia Latino Sermone Conscripta, which two Italian teachers, Balboni and Neri, brought out in 1937, adding an Italian tranlation and aslo praise for `fides Lictoria' (sc. Fascism)! `Gregorius Clavus' is comiling a glossary of conversational phrases culled from various classical authors in his Conversational Latin blog. There are also the lists of useful phrases and words compiled by Charles Meissner et Walter Ripman recently placed on the Internet by Carolus Rhaeticus at http://hiberna-cr.wikidot.com/downloads. In the history of Latin teaching, the dialogues written by Maturinus Corderius in the16th century are very famous. Some of them can be found, as modified last century by Arcadius Avellanus, on the St. Louis University site. Mention should also be made of an 18th century book, Familiares colloquendi formulae, which includes amongst various other phrases `Dismissa schola, tibi dentes excutiam!' (`When school's over, I'll knock your teeth out!')
As for books, the best-known is John Traupman's Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency, which is t available on bookdepository.com and(at a higher price!) from Amazon. A large part of the work can also be read online at Google Books. If you wish, you can also have a look at my copy - first come, first served! I also have copies of Angela Wilks' book, Latin for Beginners, and Sigrides Albert's Cottidie Latine Collaquamur. Sigrides 2013 Latin lecture with the same title can be viewed on YouTube: Part I (from 25.06), Part 2, Part 3 There are no subtitles but she speaks slowly and clearly.
You can also communicate with other Latinists in Latin (both written and spoken) on the Schola site, whilst my own site, Linguae also has several videos in which Latin can be heard. By registering with the Circulus Latinus Interretialis you can join a list of Latinists who converse with each other over the Skype internet phone system.
Also online are a 30-minute film in which professors speak in English about `Latin Immersion' and shorter films in which prefessors and students at the Lexington Conventiculum speak in Latin.
Two aids of very great importance were uploaded by American teachers in 2016:
Latin Listening Project: a series of videos in which a teacher talks for 1-5 minutes on a particular topic (e.g What is your favourite Greek story, the art of cooking etc.)
Quomododicitur.com: a series of dialogues in which three teachers talk together for 15-20 minutes on one individual
topic (e.g. On a healthy body, On names)
Also extremely useful are the resources available at www.latinitium.com , among which is a link to a playlist of 70 hours of Latin lectures uploaded to YouTube.
The Circulus Latinus Honcongensis is an experimental venture and, although to take a full part you will need to have a basic knowledge of Latin, there will be no fluent speakers present, and probably only two people who have attended Latin conversation sessions before, so we are bound to go slow and everyone will have a chance to follow. The rules also allow the use of individual English words provided the overall sentence structure remains in Latin. Detailed vocabulary help is available on the links above and in the vocabulary list below but useful phrases for getting started include:
Salvē! Hello! Iterum dīc, quaesō Say again, please.
Quid agis? How are you? Lentē, quaesō Slowly, please
Bene mē habeō I’m fine Anglicē In English
Quid est officium tuum? What’s your job? Hoc quid vocātur? What’s this called?
Nōn intellēxī I didn’t understand Cervisiam bibō I drink beer
Quōmodo dīcitur How do you say Vīnum rubrum, Red wine, please
_____Latīne? _____ in Latin? quaesō
Grātiās [tibi agō] Thanks Esne advocātus? Are you a lawyer?
Sum grammaticus I ’m a language teacher Prōsit! Cheers!
VOCĀBULA ET IUNCTŪRAE ŪTILĒS
(Stressed syllables shown in red but
words of two syllables, always stressed on the first, are often not marked )
Fundamentālia
Iterum dīc, quaesō Say again, please.
Lentē, quaesō Slowly, please
Maiōre vōcē, quaesō Louder, please
Scrībe, quaesō Write it down, please
Nōn intellegō I don’t understand
Intellegisne/Intellegitisne? Do you understand?
Nōn intellēxī I didn’t understand?
Intellēxistīne/Intellēxistisne? Did you understand or Have you understood?
Quōmodo dīcitur_____Latīnē/Anglicē How do you say _______ in Latin/English
Hoc quid vocātur? What’s this called?
Ita (est), Etiam Yes
Minimē Not at all
Mihi ignosce Sorry
Salutātiōnēs /Introductiōnēs/Valēdictiōnēs etc,
Salvē/salvēte Hello
Quid/Quod est tibi nōmen? What’s your name
Mihi nōmen (Anglicum/Sīnicum/Latīnum) My (English/Chinese/Latin) name is _________
est_______
Quid agis? How are you
Bene mē habeō I’m fine
Mihi abeundum est or Discēdere dēbeō I’ve got to go
Valē/valēte Goodbye
Usque ad proximum mēnsem/proximam Till next month/week
septimānam
In taberna
Sextārium cervisiae requīrō, quaesō I want a pint of beer, please
Vīnum rubrum/album requīrit He/She wants red/white wine.
Lāminās [solanōrum] requīris? Do you want some [potato] crisps(Americānē chips)?
Ministrōs rōgā ut lāminās in corbem dēpōnant Ask the staff to put the crisps in a basket
Aliquidne requīris? Do you want anything?
Velisne ut tibi potiōnem afferam? Would you like me to get you a drink?
Pōculum magnum an parvum requīris? Do you want a large glass or a small one?
Habentne pōma fricta? Do they have chips (Americānē french fries)?
Minister/ministra ad mensam veniet sed facilius The waiter/waitress will come to the table but it’s easier to
est ad cartibulum īre go to the bar
Quantī cōnstat/cōnstant? How much does it/do they cost ?
Ubi est lātrīna? Where’s the toilet
Ibi /in angulō sinistrō/dexterō est It’s there/in the left-hand/right-hand corner
Spicula iaciunt They’re throwing darts
Ubi est tabella spiculāria? Where’s the dart board?
Vīsne prope fenestram/iānuam sedēre? Do you want to sit near the window/door
Nōn est necessārium surgere There’s no need to get up
Quot sellae sunt? How many seats are there?
Hōra et diēs
Quota est hōra/Quot hōrae sunt? What time is it ?
Est prīma/secunda/tertia/quarta/quīnta/sexta/ It’s 1..12 [.15/30/45]
septima/octāva/nōna/decima/undecima/ [in the day/at night]
duodecima [diēī/noctis]hōra et quadrāns/
dimidia/dōdrāns/
Petrus quotā hōrā perveniet? What time will Peter arrive?
Septimā hōrā et quadrante/dimidiā/dōdrante At 7.15/7.30/7/45
Dē tē ipsō (recitātiō) (pelliculae animātae)
Quot annōs nātus/nāta es? How old are you?
------ annōs nātus/nāta sum I’m ____ years old
Habēsne fīliōs vel fīliās? Do you have any sons or daughters?
Habeō nūllum/ūnum fīlium sed/et nūllam/ I have no/one son and/but no/one daughter
ūnam fīliam
Habeō duōs fīliōs/duās fīliās I have two sons/daughters
Unde venīs? Where do you come from ?
Britannus/a sum I’m British American Korean French German Chinese
Canādiānus /a Americānus/a Coreānus/a A ustralian
Francogāllus/a Germānus/a Sīnēnsis
Austrāliānus
Ubi nātus/a es? Where were you born ?
Ubi habitās? Where do you live
Antequam Honcongum vēnistī, ubi habitābās? Before you came to HK, where did you live?
Nottinghāmiae/Londīnī/ Honcongī/Berolīnī/ I was born/live/lived in Nottingham/London/Hong Kong/
in īnsulā Honcongō/Novemdracōnibus/ Paris/Hong Kong Island/ Kowloon/
Lutetiae/ nātus(nāta) sum/habitō/ habitābam
Quem quaestum facis?/Quid est officium tuum? How do you make a living? What is your job? What post
Quō mūnere fungeris are you in
Esne advocātus/a? Are you a lawyer?
Fīlius tuus/fīlia tua maior quem quaestum facit? What’s your elder son’s/daughter’s job?
Sum argentārius/a - grammaticus/a - I’m a banker/language teacher/professor/doctor/journalist
professor/profestrix - medicus/a - researcher/policeman/lawyer/teacher/priest/historian/
investigātor/investigātrix - custōs pūblicus/a - writer/businessman/civil servant/editor/government
diurnārius/a - advocātus/a - magister/magistra contractor/housewife/theatre administrator/student
sacerdōs - historicus/a scrīptor/scrīptrix -
mercātor/mercātrix - officiālis - redāctor -
mercātor/mercātrix officiālis - māterfamiliās -
administrātor theātrālis - discipulus/discipula
Dē linguīs (recitātiō)
Cūr linguam Latīnam didicistī? Why did you learn Latin?
Nōn didicī I didn’t learn it!
Quia cultūra atque historia antīquae mē Because ancient culture and history attract me
alliciunt
Quia mē linguae tenent/alliciunt. Because languages interest/attract me
Quia in scholā meā coācti sumus Because we were forced to learn Latin in school
linguam Latīnam discere .
Quibus aliīs linguīs loqueris? What other languages do you speak?
Francogallicē, Germānicē, Sīnicē (sermōne French German Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua)
Cantonēnsī vel sermōne normālī), Iaponicē, Japanese Korean Polish Spanish Greek
Coreānicē, Polonicē, Hispānicē, Graecē
Cur Latīne loquī vīs? Why do you want to speak Latin?
Quia quī loqui nōn scit, linguā rēvērā Because if you can’t speak a language you haven’t really
nōn callet. mastered it
Quia Latīnē loquī iūcundum est Because it’s fun to speak Latin
Quia novae experientiae mē dēlectant Because I like new experiences
Quot annōs linguam Latīnam discis/didicistī? How many years have you been learning/ did you learn Latin
Prōnuntiātū classicō an ecclēsiasticō ūteris? Do you use the classical or the church pronunciation?
Quae sunt discrīmina prīncipālia? What are the main differences?
Modō ecclēsiasticō vel mediaevālī, `c’ et `g’ In the ecclesiastical or medieval style, the consonants `c’ and
cōnsonantēs, cum ante `i’ vel `e’ vōcālēs `g’, when occurring before the vowels `i’ or `e’, are not hard
occurrant, nōn dūrae sed mollēs sunt – ut but soft – the way the letters `ch’ and `j’ are pronounced in
`ch’ et `j’ litterae Anglicē dīcuntur. Modō English. In the classical style, these consonants are always
classicō hae cōnsonantēs semper ut in `cat’ pronounced as in the English words `cat’ or `game’.
vel `game’ vocābulīs Anglicīs ēnūntiantur.
Prōnūntiātus `ae’ diphthongī temporibus In Cicero’s time, the pronunciation of the diphthong `ae’ was
Cicerōnis erat similis vōcālī in `die’ vocābulō similar to that of the vowel in the English word `die’, but
Anglicō, sed aevō mediaevālī ut `ay’ in `day’. in the medieval period it was pronounced like `ay’ in
ēnuntiābātur, English `day’.
Aevō classicō `v’ littera ut Anglica `w’, In the classical period the letter `v’ sounded like the
dīcēbātur sed aevō mediaevālī similis erat English `w’, but in medieval times it was like the English `v’
Anglicae `v’ .
Vīta Honcongēnsis (recitātiō)
Quae sunt beneficia vītae Honcongēnsis? What are the advantages of living in Hong Kong?
Quaestum invenīre professiōnālibus facile est It’s easy for professionals to find a job.
Pecūniae comparandae ānsae multae sunt There are lots of opportunities to make money.
Omnia oblectāmenta urbāna praebentur sed All the amusements of the city are available but we can
facile in rūs pulchrum pervenīmus. easily get into beautiful countryside
Aestāte in ōrīs iūcundis sedēre et in marī natāre In the summer we can sit on nice beaches and swim in the
possumus sea
Per tōtum annum inter montēs errāre We can hike in the hills all year round.
possumus
Hīc cultūra orientālis adest, occidentālis. It combines eastern and western culture.
quoque
Facillimē ad aliās terrās itinera facere We can travel to other countries very easily.
possumus
A fūribus vel latrōnibus rārissime vexāmur, We aren’t often bothered by thieves or robbers and we’re
in viīs sine timōre ambulāmus. not afraid when we walk in the streets.
Commeātus pūblicus optimus est. Public transport is first-rate.
Sententiās nostrās līberē exprimere possumus. We’re free to express our opinions.
Magna pars incolārum Anglicē commūnicāre Most local people can communicate in English
possunt.
Quae sunt detrimenta vītae nostrae? What are the disadvantages of our lives here?
Quī ingeniīs vel artibus nōn dōnātī sunt, Those who lack talents or skills suffer from poverty.
paupertāte īnflīguntur.
Dīvitēs dīvitiōrēs, pauperēs pauperiōrēs fīunt The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Āēr, aqua, terra inquinātae sunt. Air, water and land are polluted
In minimīs diaetīs habitāmus. We live in very small flats.
In urbe ubīque sunt turbae strepitusque. In the city there are crowds and noise everywhere.
Plērīque Honcongēnses in officīnīs multās Most Hongkongers have to stay long hours in their
hōrās remanēre dēbent. workplaces.
Discipulī vesperī multās per hōrās pēnsa Students need to spend many hours doing homework in
dēbent facere the evening.
In scholīs lycaeīsque verba ēdiscere maiōris In schools rote learning is often more important than real
mōmentī saepe est quam rem intellegere understanding.
Conductōrēs operis saepe crūdēlēs sunt Employers are often harsh.
Populus iūs nōn habet ēligendī omnēs The people do not have the right to choose all their rulers.
rēctōrēs suōs
Difficile est sermōnem Cantonēnsem discere. It’s difficult to learn Cantonese.
Honcongī quae regiō tē maxime dēlectat? What area of Hong kong do you like best?
Tsim Sha Tsui et Centrālem amō quod I love Tsim Sha Tsui and Central because I like big hotels
magna dēversōria tabernaeque et activitātēs and shops and cultural activities . I like the New Territories
cultūrālēs mihi placent. Terrās Novās et and the Outlying Islands because we have peace and quiet
Īnsulās Remōtiōrēs amō quod pācem et there
silentium ibi habēmus
Vīta cottidiāna recitātiō [n.b. the curent recordng still has `lactem', an error for the correct accusative form `lac']
Quotā hōrā māne surgis? What time do you get up in the morning?
Sextā hōrā et dimidiā 6.30
Septimā hōrā et quadrante 7.15
Balneō māne an vesperī ūteris? Do you have a bath in the morning or the evening?
Plērumque māne. In soliō nōn sedeō, balneō Generally in the morning. I don't sit in the bathtub but have a
plūviō ūtor. shower.
Quotā hōrā ientāculum sūmis? What time do you have breakfast?
Octāvā hōrā At eight o’clock.
Quid edis? What do you eat?
Pānem tostum /frūctūs/ ova frīcta et Toast/fruit/fried eggs and bacon/cereals
lardum/cereālia
Quid bibis? What do you have to drink?
Theam/caffeam/lac/aurantiī succum Tea/coffee/milk/orange juice
Quotā hōrā ad officīnam proficisceris? What time do you leave for work?
Octāvā hōrā et dōdrante At 8.45
Domī labōrō. I work at home
Nōn est hōra cōnstitūta There's no fixed time.
Quantō temporis ad officīnam pervenīs? How long does it take you to get to work?
Quinquaginta minūtīs Fifty minutes.
Iter quamdiu terit? How long does the journey take?
Dimidiam hōram Half an hour
Quōmodo iter facis? How do you travel?
Autoraedā/Raedā longā/Tramine/Currū I go by car/bus/train/tram and then walk
ēlectricō vehor deinde ambulō.
Birotā ūtor. I use a bike
Ubi prandium sūmis? Where do you have lunch
In caupōnā prope officīnam/universitātem In a restaurant near my work/university
Quid edis? What do you eat?
Pastillum fartum/Collӯram/Iūs collӯricum/ A sandwich/noodles/soup noodles/rice/dim sum
Orӯzam/Cuppēdiolās
Quotā horā ab officīnā proficisceris? What time do you leave work?
Sextā hōrā et dimidiā At 6.30
Vesperī quid facis? What do you do in the evening?
Cēnam coquō (ancillam nōn habeō) deinde I cook dinner (I don’t have a maid), then watch TV or read a
tēlevīsiōnem spectō vel librum legō. a book. Sometimes I dust the furniture or do other
interdum suppelectilem detergeō vel housework. I also have to make the bed because there’s not
aliās operās domesticās facio. Lectum time for that in the morning.
quoque sternere dēbeō quod māne tempus
nōn sufficit
Quid edis vesperī? What do you eat in the evening?
Varium est. Saepe būbulam vel porcīnam It varies. I often have roast beef or pork with fried potatoes
assam ūnā cum solānīs frīctīs et holeribus and vegetables. Usually I drink beer or wine.
edō. Plērumque cervisiam vel vīnum bibō.
Domī furculā cultellōque an bacillīs ūteris? Do you use a knife and fork or chopsticks at home?
Sī orӯzam vel collӯram edō, bacillīs, If I’m having rice or noodles I use chopsticks, if it’s
sī cibum occidentālem, cultellō et furculā. Western food, a knife and fork.
Quandō cubitum īs? When do you go to bed?
Inter hōrās ūndecimam et duodecimam. Between 11 and 12. I normally listen to the radio before I
Soleō antequam dormiam, radiophōnum go to sleep
audīre,
Dē litterīs Latīnīs recitātiō
Quī scrīptōrēs Latīnī tibi maximē placent? Which Latin authors do you like best?
Inter scrīptōrēs classicōs mihi Ovidius Among the classical authors I particularly like Ovid
praecipuē placet quod fābulās iūcundās because he tells attractive stories with elegance and
cum ēlegantiā et facētiīs nārrat et wit and has a good understanding of the psychology
psychologiam amantium bene intellegit of lovers.
Quid dē Vergiliō? What about Virgil?
Est nōbilitās quaedam in versibus illīus There’s a certain nobility in his poetry and most people
et librī priōrēs Aeneidos plērōsque alliciunt. find the first books of the Aeneid attractive.
Nihilōminus rēs quās scrīpsit interdum Still, what he wrote is sometimes rather boring, unless
satis taediōsae sunt, nisi lectōrem proelia the reader is very interested in battles and agriculture!
et agricultūra maximē tenent.
Nōnne versūs Catullī multōs iuvenēs dēlectant? Don’t many young people like the poetry of Catullus?
Rectē dīxistī. Dē gaudiō dolōreque amōris You’re right. He wrote with great opnness about the joy and
sine dissimulātiōne scrīpsit. Etiam (vel potius the pain of love. Even (or should that be `especially’!)
praecipuē!) carmina quae obscaena habērī the poems that could be considered obscene appeal to lots
possunt multīs lectōribus placent! of readers!
Sī discipulus rudīmenta linguae didicit, quae If a student has learned the basics of the language, what
opera prīmum legenda sunt? things should he or she read first?
Fortassē nōn opera classica sed librī Perhaps to start with they shouldn’t read classical works
simpliciōrēs in prīncipiō legendī sunt.Verbī but simpler books. For example, the Epitome of Roman
grātiā, Epitomē Historiae Rōmānae ab History by Eutropius or the Bible.
Eutrōpiō scrīpta vel Biblia Sacra.
Nōnne tū ipse Caesaris opera prīmum lēgistī? Didn’t you yourself read Caesar first?
Ōlim in multīs terrīs discipulī commentāriōs In many countries students used to read Caesar’s
Caesaris prīmum legēbant et nūper in commentaries first and recently in American schools parts
scholīs Americānīs partēs librī `Dē Bellō of `De Bello Gallico’ have been put on the syllabus for the
Gallicō’ in syllabō probātiōnis superiōris, quae higher examination they call AP (`Advanced
AP dīcitur, inclūsae sunt. Latīnitās Caesaris Placement’). Caesar’s Latin is certainly good and his
certissimē bona est et verba eius faciliōra language is easier to understand than that of Tacitus, Livy
intellectū sunt quam Tacitī, Liviī vel Sallustiī. or Sallust. Still, not everybody is interested in military
Historia militāris, tamen, nōn omnēs tenet. history.
Nōnne Latīnitās Cicerōnis est optima? Isn’t Cicero’s Latin the best?
Scrīptor eximius erat sed tirōnēs orātiōnēs He was an excellent writer but he’s difficult for beginners to
eius nōn facilē intellegunt. understand.
Quid dē scrīptōribus mediaevālibus vel What do you think about medieval or neo-Latin writers?
neo-Latīnīs putās?
Multī putant linguam mediaevālem faciliōrem Many people think the medieval language is easier because
esse quod syntaxis et vocābulā similiōra sunt because the syntax and vocabulary are more similar to the
linguīs Europaeīs hodiernīs. Exemplī grātiā, modern European language. For example, in the medieval
aevō mediaevālī ōrātiō oblīqua simplicior facta period indirect speech became simpler because instead of
est quia nōn accūsātīvus infīnītīvusque sed the accusative and infinitive they started using the
`quod’ coniūnctiō et clausula adhibēbantur. conjunction `quod’ plus a clause.
Dē Latīnitāte recentiōre nōndum dīxistī. You didn’t say anything about more recent Latin.
Liber `De viris illūstribus’, historia contracta The `De viris illustribus’ (`On Famous Men’), an abridged
reīpūblicae Rōmānae, quae saeculō decimō history of the Roman republic that was written in the
octāvō scrīpta est, ūsuī est eīs quī rudīmenta 18th century is useful for people who have just learned
grammaticae Latīnae nūper didicērunt. the basics of Latin grammar. Most worth reading,
Dignissimus tamen lectū est liber annō mīl- however, is the book published in the year 1884 by
lēsimō octingentēsimo quārtō ā Franciscō Francis Ritchie which is entitled `Fabulae Faciles' (Easy
Ritchie ēditus, c.t. `Fābulae Facilēs.’ Est Stories). There is a recent version of this work which
versiō recēns operis, quam praeparāvit et in was prepared and uploaded to the Internet by Geoffrey
Interrētī posuit Galfrīdus Steadman: Steadman
http://geoffreysteadman.com/ritchies-fabulae-faciles/
Necesse est lectōribus scīre omnēs figūrās It's necessary for readers to know all the forms of nouns
nōminum et tempora indicātīva verbōrum sed and verb tenses in the indicative but in the opening chapters
in prīmīs capitulīs nōn adhibentur modus sub- neither the subjunctive mood nor the ablative absolute not
iunctīvus neque ablātīvus absolūtus, neque reported speech are encountered. before he can begin
ōrātiō oblīqua. Discipulō, antequam legere reading, the student has to learn off a list of 150 of the
incipiat, ēdiscenda est index centum quīnquā- words that occur most frequently in the text. In the
gintā vocābulōrum frequentissimōrum. In main part of the book explanations of all the words which
parte prīncipālī librī pōnuntur textuī Latīnō are not included in the list, together with note on points of
adversae explicātiōnēs omnium verbōrum in grammar are placed on pages facing the Latin text. The
indice nōn inclūsōrum necnōn commentāriī stories included are those of Pereus, Hercules, Jason and
grammaticī. Nārrantūr fābulae dē Perseō, Ulysses. Ritchie intended students to read these first
Hercule, Iasone et Ulixe, quās Ritchie volēbat before embarking on their study of the writings of Julius
discipulōs, antequam Caesaris operibus Caesar.
studērent, prīmum legere,
Et dē Latīnitāte hodiernā? And contemporary Latin?
Omnibus suādeō ut Nūntiōs Latīnōs I’d encourage everyone to listen to and read `Nuntii
Helsinkiēnsēs in interrētī audiant et legant. Latini’ ( Latin News) from Helsinki.
Quī scrīptōrēs Latīnī tibi maximē placent? Which Latin authors do you like best?
Inter scrīptōrēs classicōs mihi Ovidius Among the classical authors I particularly like Ovid
praecipuē placet quod fābulās iūcundās because he tells attractive stories with elegance and
cum ēlegantiā et facētiīs nārrat et wit and has a good understanding of the psychology
psychologiam amantium bene intellegit of lovers.
Quid dē Vergiliō? What about Virgil?
Est nōbilitās quaedam in versibus illīus There’s a certain nobility in his poetry and most people
et librī priōrēs Aeneidos plērōsque alliciunt. find the first books of the Aeneid attractive.
Nihilōminus rēs quās scrīpsit interdum Still, what he wrote is sometimes rather boring, unless
satis taediōsae sunt, nisi lectōrem proelia the reader is very interested in battles and agriculture!
et agricultūra maximē tenent.
Nōnne versūs Catullī multōs iuvenēs dēlectant? Don’t many young people like the poetry of Catullus?
Rectē dīxistī. Dē gaudiō dolōreque amōris You’re right. He wrote with great opnness about the joy and
sine dissimulātiōne scrīpsit. Etiam (vel potius the pain of love. Even (or should that be `especially’!)
praecipuē!) carmina quae obscaena habērī the poems that could be considered obscene appeal to lots
possunt multīs lectōribus placent! of readers!
Sī discipulus rudīmenta linguae didicit, quae If a student has learned the basics of the language, what
opera prīmum legenda sunt? things should he or she read first?
Fortassē nōn opera classica sed librī Perhaps to start with they shouldn’t read classical works
simpliciōrēs in prīncipiō legendī sunt.Verbī but simpler books. For example, the Epitome of Roman
grātiā, Epitomē Historiae Rōmānae ab History by Eutropius or the Bible.
Eutrōpiō scrīpta vel Biblia Sacra.
Nōnne tū ipse Caesaris opera prīmum lēgistī? Didn’t you yourself read Caesar first?
Ōlim in multīs terrīs discipulī commentāriōs In many countries students used to read Caesar’s
Caesaris prīmum legēbant et nūper in commentaries first and recently in American schools parts
scholīs Americānīs partēs librī `Dē Bellō of `De Bello Gallico’ have been put on the syllabus for the
Gallicō’ in syllabō probātiōnis superiōris, quae higher examination they call AP (`Advanced
AP dīcitur, inclūsae sunt. Latīnitās Caesaris Placement’). Caesar’s Latin is certainly good and his
certissimē bona est et verba eius faciliōra language is easier to understand than that of Tacitus, Livy
intellectū sunt quam Tacitī, Liviī vel Sallustiī. or Sallust. Still, not everybody is interested in military
Historia militāris, tamen, nōn omnēs tenet. history.
Nōnne Latīnitās Cicerōnis est optima? Isn’t Cicero’s Latin the best?
Scrīptor eximius erat sed tirōnēs orātiōnēs He was an excellent writer but he’s difficult for beginners to
eius nōn facilē intellegunt. understand.
Quid dē scrīptōribus mediaevālibus vel What do you think about medieval or neo-Latin writers?
neo-Latīnīs putās?
Multī putant linguam mediaevālem faciliōrem Many people think the medieval language is easier because
esse quod syntaxis et vocābulā similiōra sunt because the syntax and vocabulary are more similar to the
linguīs Europaeīs hodiernīs. Exemplī grātiā, modern European language. For example, in the medieval
aevō mediaevālī ōrātiō oblīqua simplicior facta period indirect speech became simpler because instead of
est quia nōn accūsātīvus infīnītīvusque sed the accusative and infinitive they started using the
`quod’ coniūnctiō et clausula adhibēbantur. conjunction `quod’ plus a clause.
Dē Latīnitāte recentiōre nōndum dīxistī. You didn’t say anything about more recent Latin.
Liber `De viris illūstribus’, historia contracta The `De viris illustribus’ (`On Famous Men’), an abridged
reīpūblicae Rōmānae, quae saeculō decimō history of the Roman republic that was written in the
octāvō scrīpta est, ūsuī est eīs quī rudīmenta 18th century is useful for people who have just learned
grammaticae Latīnae nūper didicērunt. the basics of Latin grammar. Most worth reading,
Dignissimus tamen lectū est liber annō mīl- however, is the book published in the year 1884 by
lēsimō octingentēsimo quārtō ā Franciscō Francis Ritchie which is entitled `Fabulae Faciles' (Easy
Ritchie ēditus, c.t. `Fābulae Facilēs.’ Est Stories). There is a recent version of this work which
versiō recēns operis, quam praeparāvit et in was prepared and uploaded to the Internet by Geoffrey
Interrētī posuit Galfrīdus Steadman: Steadman
http://geoffreysteadman.com/ritchies-fabulae-faciles/
Necesse est lectōribus scīre omnēs figūrās It's necessary for readers to know all the forms of nouns
nōminum et tempora indicātīva verbōrum sed and verb tenses in the indicative but in the opening chapters
in prīmīs capitulīs nōn adhibentur modus sub- neither the subjunctive mood nor the ablative absolute not
iunctīvus neque ablātīvus absolūtus, neque reported speech are encountered. before he can begin
ōrātiō oblīqua. Discipulō, antequam legere reading, the student has to learn off a list of 150 of the
incipiat, ēdiscenda est index centum quīnquā- words that occur most frequently in the text. In the
gintā vocābulōrum frequentissimōrum. In main part of the book explanations of all the words which
parte prīncipālī librī pōnuntur textuī Latīnō are not included in the list, together with note on points of
adversae explicātiōnēs omnium verbōrum in grammar are placed on pages facing the Latin text. The
indice nōn inclūsōrum necnōn commentāriī stories included are those of Pereus, Hercules, Jason and
grammaticī. Nārrantūr fābulae dē Perseō, Ulysses. Ritchie intended students to read these first
Hercule, Iasone et Ulixe, quās Ritchie volēbat before embarking on their study of the writings of Julius
discipulōs, antequam Caesaris operibus Caesar.
studērent, prīmum legere,
Et dē Latīnitāte hodiernā? And contemporary Latin?
Omnibus suādeō ut Nūntiōs Latīnōs I’d encourage everyone to listen to and read `Nuntii
Helsinkiēnsēs in interrētī audiant et legant. Latini’ ( Latin News) from Helsinki.
Dē linguīs discendīs et docendīs
Quae est methodus optima linguae discendae? What’s the best method for learning a language?
Difficile est breviter respondēre quod nōn It’s difficult to give a short reply because not all people
omnēs eōdem modō discunt. Verbi grātiā. learn the same way. For example, for some listening is
aliīs audīre, aliīs legere facilius est. easier and for others reading.
Quōmodo tū ipse discere māvīs? How do you prefer to lean yourself?
Memoria mea est vīsuālis, et difficile est My memory is visual and it’s difficult for me to distinguish
mihī novōs sonōs discernere vel imitārī. or imitate new sounds. So, I enjoy reading, but I don’t deny
Itaque legere mihī libet, neque tamen that listening and speaking are very important.
negō audīre et loquī magnī momentī esse.
Magistrī Latīnitātis quibus methodīs ūtuntur? What methods do Latin teachers use?
Sunt fortasse trēs methodī prīncipālēs quibus Perhaps there are three methods by which beginners are
tirōnēs lingua Latīna docētur: formīs taught Latin: by the presentation and memorisation of
vocābulōrum et rēgulīs grammaticīs vocabulary and grammatical rules or through the reading of
dēmōnstrandīs atque ēdiscendīs, vel textibus Latin texts or by oral communication in Latin. In schools
Latīnīs legendis vel Latīnē vīvā vōce and universities for three hundred years the first and second
commūnicandō. In scholīs et ūniversitātibus methods have generally been employed but in the medieval
per trēcentōs annōs methodī prīma et period and during the Renaissance conversation was a large
secunda plērumque adhibentur sed aevō part of the curriculum. Now the supporters of `living Latin’
mediaevālī et tempore Renascentiae sermōnēs are arguing that students should hear Latin and also
serere erat pars magna curriculī. Nunc converse in it themselves.
fautōrēs `Latīnitātis vīvae’ suādent ut discipulī
Latīnē et audiant et ipsī colloquantur.
Quae methodus tibī ipsī placet? What method do you favour yourself?
Crēdō optimum esse in omnibus trībus viīs I believe the best thing is to advance by all three routes so
prōgredī ut in lectiōnibus variētās augeātur that there’s increased variety in lessons and the students use
et discipulī auribus, oculīs et ōre discent. their ears, eyes and mouth to learn.
Verbī grātiā, exercitia grammatica vīvā vōce For example, grammar drills can be conducted orally in
Latīnē fiērī possunt, et, postquam fābulae Latin, and after the reading of stories the teachers ought
lectae sunt, magistrī quaestiōnēs Latīnās to ask questions in Latin and the students respond in Latin
dare, discipulī Latīne respondēre dēbent.
Quōmodō lingua Anglica Honcongī docētur? How is English taught in Hong Kong?
Grammaticae et vocābulīs ediscendīs multum A lot of time is allocated to grammar and to the learning of
temporis attribuitur sed in maiōre parte vocabulary but in the majority of schools teachers do try to
scholārum magistrī in lectiōnibus Anglicē communicate in English.
commūnicāre cōnantur.
In Britanniā quae linguae in scholīs docentur? What languages are taught in British schools?
Prō pudor, plērīque Britannī, nisi nātī sunt in I’m ashamed to say that most Britons, unless they were
rēgiōnibus quibusdam Cambriae vel parentēs born in some parts of Wales or their parents are
ā terrā aliēnā immigrāvērunt, nihil aliud immigrants from a foreign country, don’t lean anything well
quam linguam Anglicam ipsam bene discunt. except for English itself. In a lot of schools, though, French
In multīs scholīs, tamen, lingua Francogallica is taught. Nowadays teachers get the students to listen to the
docētur. Nunc magistrī faciunt ut discipulī language and to say simple phrases themselves. Back in the
linguam audiant et iunctūrās simplicēs ipsī 1960s things were different. In my school, after he had
dīcant. Annīs sexāgēsimīs rēs aliter sēsē greeted us in French, the teacher used to explain the French
habēbant. In scholā meā magister, postquam texts and the grammatical rules in English!
nōs Francogallicē salūtāvit, textūs
Francogallicōs et rēgulās grammaticās Anglicē
explicābat!
Peregrīnī quī Honcongī habitant, quōmodo How do foreigners living in Hong Kong learn Cantonese and
sermōnem Cantonēnsem et litterās Sīnicās written Chinese
discunt?
Prō pudor plūrimī peregrīnī minimē discunt. I’m ashamed to say that most foreigners learn very little.
Etiam līberī eōrum saepe in `scholīs inter- Even their children are often taught in `international
nātiōnālibus’ docentur, ubi tantum schools, where they only have to communicate in English!
Anglicē est commūnicandum!
Nōnne scholae internātiōnālēs cārae sunt? Aren’t the international schools expensive?
Rēcte dīxistī! Multī parentēs nōn satis dīvitēs That’s right. Many parents are not rich enough to send
sunt ut līberōs in tālēs scholās mittant. Quam their children to that type of school. As a result, there are
ob rem multae difficultātēs oriuntur; līberī, a lot of problems, as children who can’t speak Cantonese
enim, quī Cantonicē loquī vel Sīnicē scrībere or write Chinese can’t easily learn in local schools, even
nesciunt, nōn facile in scholā locālī discere if the school management is willing to admit them.
possunt etiamsī rēctōrēs scholae eōs admittere
cōnsentiunt
Discipulī peregrīnī nunquam in scholīs Do foreign pupils never learn successfully in local schools?
normālibus bonō cum ēventū discunt?
Sī ab aetāte minimā in tālibus scholīs sunt, If they are in that type of school from a very young age, they
linguae et cultūrae assuēscere possunt. In can get used to the language and culture. In our own group
grege nostrō est Austrāliāna, cuius fīlius in we have an Australian whose son is in a local school. The
scholā locālī studet. Pater est Coreānus et father is Korean and the grandfather, who learned Chinese
avus, quī litterās Sīnicās in Coreā didicit, characters in Korea, gives some help but he doesn’t know
auxilium dat sed sermōnem Cantōnēnsem nōn any Cantonese. The mother herself has decided to learn the
scit . Māter ipsa litterās illās cum prōnuntiātū characters with their Cantonese pronunciation both so she
Cantonēnsī discere constituit, quia fīlium in can help her son with his lessons and because it’s fun in
lectiōnibus adiuvāre vult et quod rēs ipsa itself.
iūcunda est
Itaque nōn omnēs umbrivirī ignāvī sunt in rēbus
linguisticīs? So not all gweilos are linguistically lazy?
Ita vērō. Dicendum quoque est propagātōrēs That’s certainly right. It should also be said that Christian
fideī Christiānae, administrātōrēs et custōdēs missionaries, administrators and policemen from other
pūblicōs ab aliīs terrīs oriundōs saepe linguam countries often learned the language successfully. In our
bonō cum ēventū didicisse. In circulō nostrō Circulus we also have a Briton who held a senior position
est etiam Britannus, quī in gradū superiōre in the administration and now not only can speak and read
officiō pūblicō fungēbātur et nunc nōn sōlum Chinese but also teaches Chinese history and the culture
Sīnicē colloquī et legere potest sed etiam of Hong Kong.
historiam Sīnicam et cultūram Honcongēnsem
docet.
Nōnne multī peregrīnī linguam Anglicam in Aren’t there a lot of foreigners teaching English in Hong
scholīs Honcongēnsibus docent? Kong schools?
Ita est. Plūs octogentī magistrī aliēnī sunt in That’s right. There are over eight hundred expatriate
gradū speciālī cui nōmen est `NET’ sive teachers in a special grade known as `NET’ or `Native
Native-English-Speaking Teacher’, Latīnē English Speaking Teacher, which in Latin is `Magister
`Magister Anglicē Nātīvē Loquēns’ Multī aliī Anglice Native Loquens’. Many other foreigners work in
aliēnigenae in scholīs, universitātibus et schools, universities or private homes.
domibus prīvātīs labōrant.
Istī NETī (sī licet abbreviātiōnem sīc Latīnizāre) Do those `NETi’ (if you can Latinize the acronym that way)
tantum linguam Anglicam an etiam aliās just teach English or other subjects as well?
disciplīnās docent?
Plūrimī nihil praeter linguam maternam suam Most of them don’t teach anything except their own mother
docent sed in quibusdam scholīs cursūs brevēs tongue but in some schools they provide short courses in
linguārum aliāum, ut Francogallicae vel other languages like French or Latin as extra-curricular
Latīnae, extra curriculum regulāre habendōs activities.
cūrant.
Tūne tālēs cursūs docēbās? Did you teach courses like that?
Cum NETus essem, cursūs variōs condidī. Ipse When I was a NET I set up various courses. I taught
linguam Latīnam docēbam sed semper Latin myself but I always wanted to find native speakers
volēbam locūtōrēs nātīvōs invenīre quī linguās to teach French, Spanish and the rest However, if I
Francogallicam, Hispānicam et cēterās wasn’t able to get hold of that kind of help, I used to
docērent. Sī, tamen, nōn poteram tāle auxilium teach French myself. I generally set things up so the
adipīscī ipse Francogallicam docēbam. students would hear the voices of real French people
Plērumque efficiēbam ut discipulī vōcēs over the Internet but it was often necessary to use my
ipsōrum Francogallōrum per interrēte own really awful pronunciation, and then I seemed to hear
audīrent sed saepe necessārium erat prō- Victor Hugo and other famous writers turning in their
nuntiātū meō valdē horribilī ūtī, quō tempore graves
vidēbar Victōrem Hugōnem et aliōs scrīptōrēs
praeclārōs in sepulchrīs sē volventēs audīre!
Tibi melius placet linguam Anglicam an linguās Do you like teaching English or other languages better?
aliās docēre?
Ut rem vēram dīcam, mālō aliās. Sentiō linguam To tell the truth, I prefer the other ones. I feel that teaching
māternam docēre rem esse satis taediōsam. your own mother tongue is rather boring.
Sī rēs sēsē ita habent, cur multōs per annōs If that’s the case, why have you kept on teaching that
linguam illam docēre pergis? language for many years?
Ob necessitūdinem ēconomicam. Labor mihi Out of economic necessity. I don’t like the work at all
minimē est cordī sed, ut saepe per iocum dīcō but, as I often say for a joke, selling your mother tongue
melius est linguam māternam quam ipsam is better than selling your mother!
mātrem vēndere!
Sed sī linguam nostram māternam docēmus, But if we’re teaching our mother tongue, we can be
nōbīs cōnfīdere possumus. Magistrīs quī linguam confident in ourselves. For teachers who are teaching a
aliam quam suam docent, tōtum in librō vel in language other than their own, everything generally depends
interrētī plērumque positum est sed locūtōrēs on the book or the Internet but native speakers can themselves
nātīvī rēs in librīs et interrētī praebitās ipsī correct what’s presented in books or on the Net.
corrigere possunt.
Rectē dīxistī sed trēs causae sunt propter quās You’re right but there are three reasons why I don’t like
linguam Anglicam docēre mihi nōn placet. teaching English. First, other languages are novelties which
Prīmum, linguae aliae sunt rēs novae quae interest me more than a language I’ve been using all my life.
mē plūs tenent quam linguā quam per tōtam Secondly, if I’m teaching a language which I myself learned
vītam ūsūrpō. Deinde sī linguam doceō quam as a second language, I can lead my students along the same
egō ipse ut linguam secundam didicī, eādem viā, path by which I learned the language myself. Learning your
discipulōs dūcere possum quā ipse linguam your native language, in contrast, is something very
illam didicī. Linguam nātīvam discere, autem, different
est rēs valdē dissimilis.
Quid est causa tertia? What’s the third reason?
Est rēs quae forsitan rātiōne caret sed in animō It’s something that’s maybe unreasonable, but is important
meō magnī est momentī. Cum Honcongī in my mind. When I was first in Hong Kong, I expected that
prīmum essem , exspectābam mē quattuor within four or five years my Cantonese listening and
quīnque annīs sermōne Cantonēnsī tam bene speaking would be so good that, unless I chose to use
audītūrum et locūtūrum esse ut, nisi ipse English for educational reasons, I could carry out almost
linguam Anglicam ob necessitātem all my everyday activities using Cantonese. Things didn’t
acadēmicam ūsūrpāre eligerem, paene omnia turn out that way and I felt disappointed. And so, strange
opera cottidiāna Cantonicē agere possem. Nōn to say, when I’m teaching English I feel as if I’m in an
fuit tālis ēventus, spē dēceptus sum. Itaque, inferior position because colleagues and many students
mīrābile dictū, ubi linguam Anglicam doceō, are bilingual but not me. If, in contrast, I’m teaching Latin
sentiō mē quasi in stātū īnferiōrē esse quod the students are in control of English and Chinese, whilst
collēgae et multī discipulī sunt bilinguālēs, I’m in control of English and Latin. We’re all bilingual and
neque tamen ego. Sī autem linguam Latīnam my honour is restored!
doceō, discipulī linguīs Anglicā et Sīnicā
potiuntur, ego Anglicā et Latīnā potior. Omnēs
sumus bilinguālēs, mihi redditus est honor!
Quae est methodus optima linguae discendae? What’s the best method for learning a language?
Difficile est breviter respondēre quod nōn It’s difficult to give a short reply because not all people
omnēs eōdem modō discunt. Verbi grātiā. learn the same way. For example, for some listening is
aliīs audīre, aliīs legere facilius est. easier and for others reading.
Quōmodo tū ipse discere māvīs? How do you prefer to lean yourself?
Memoria mea est vīsuālis, et difficile est My memory is visual and it’s difficult for me to distinguish
mihī novōs sonōs discernere vel imitārī. or imitate new sounds. So, I enjoy reading, but I don’t deny
Itaque legere mihī libet, neque tamen that listening and speaking are very important.
negō audīre et loquī magnī momentī esse.
Magistrī Latīnitātis quibus methodīs ūtuntur? What methods do Latin teachers use?
Sunt fortasse trēs methodī prīncipālēs quibus Perhaps there are three methods by which beginners are
tirōnēs lingua Latīna docētur: formīs taught Latin: by the presentation and memorisation of
vocābulōrum et rēgulīs grammaticīs vocabulary and grammatical rules or through the reading of
dēmōnstrandīs atque ēdiscendīs, vel textibus Latin texts or by oral communication in Latin. In schools
Latīnīs legendis vel Latīnē vīvā vōce and universities for three hundred years the first and second
commūnicandō. In scholīs et ūniversitātibus methods have generally been employed but in the medieval
per trēcentōs annōs methodī prīma et period and during the Renaissance conversation was a large
secunda plērumque adhibentur sed aevō part of the curriculum. Now the supporters of `living Latin’
mediaevālī et tempore Renascentiae sermōnēs are arguing that students should hear Latin and also
serere erat pars magna curriculī. Nunc converse in it themselves.
fautōrēs `Latīnitātis vīvae’ suādent ut discipulī
Latīnē et audiant et ipsī colloquantur.
Quae methodus tibī ipsī placet? What method do you favour yourself?
Crēdō optimum esse in omnibus trībus viīs I believe the best thing is to advance by all three routes so
prōgredī ut in lectiōnibus variētās augeātur that there’s increased variety in lessons and the students use
et discipulī auribus, oculīs et ōre discent. their ears, eyes and mouth to learn.
Verbī grātiā, exercitia grammatica vīvā vōce For example, grammar drills can be conducted orally in
Latīnē fiērī possunt, et, postquam fābulae Latin, and after the reading of stories the teachers ought
lectae sunt, magistrī quaestiōnēs Latīnās to ask questions in Latin and the students respond in Latin
dare, discipulī Latīne respondēre dēbent.
Quōmodō lingua Anglica Honcongī docētur? How is English taught in Hong Kong?
Grammaticae et vocābulīs ediscendīs multum A lot of time is allocated to grammar and to the learning of
temporis attribuitur sed in maiōre parte vocabulary but in the majority of schools teachers do try to
scholārum magistrī in lectiōnibus Anglicē communicate in English.
commūnicāre cōnantur.
In Britanniā quae linguae in scholīs docentur? What languages are taught in British schools?
Prō pudor, plērīque Britannī, nisi nātī sunt in I’m ashamed to say that most Britons, unless they were
rēgiōnibus quibusdam Cambriae vel parentēs born in some parts of Wales or their parents are
ā terrā aliēnā immigrāvērunt, nihil aliud immigrants from a foreign country, don’t lean anything well
quam linguam Anglicam ipsam bene discunt. except for English itself. In a lot of schools, though, French
In multīs scholīs, tamen, lingua Francogallica is taught. Nowadays teachers get the students to listen to the
docētur. Nunc magistrī faciunt ut discipulī language and to say simple phrases themselves. Back in the
linguam audiant et iunctūrās simplicēs ipsī 1960s things were different. In my school, after he had
dīcant. Annīs sexāgēsimīs rēs aliter sēsē greeted us in French, the teacher used to explain the French
habēbant. In scholā meā magister, postquam texts and the grammatical rules in English!
nōs Francogallicē salūtāvit, textūs
Francogallicōs et rēgulās grammaticās Anglicē
explicābat!
Peregrīnī quī Honcongī habitant, quōmodo How do foreigners living in Hong Kong learn Cantonese and
sermōnem Cantonēnsem et litterās Sīnicās written Chinese
discunt?
Prō pudor plūrimī peregrīnī minimē discunt. I’m ashamed to say that most foreigners learn very little.
Etiam līberī eōrum saepe in `scholīs inter- Even their children are often taught in `international
nātiōnālibus’ docentur, ubi tantum schools, where they only have to communicate in English!
Anglicē est commūnicandum!
Nōnne scholae internātiōnālēs cārae sunt? Aren’t the international schools expensive?
Rēcte dīxistī! Multī parentēs nōn satis dīvitēs That’s right. Many parents are not rich enough to send
sunt ut līberōs in tālēs scholās mittant. Quam their children to that type of school. As a result, there are
ob rem multae difficultātēs oriuntur; līberī, a lot of problems, as children who can’t speak Cantonese
enim, quī Cantonicē loquī vel Sīnicē scrībere or write Chinese can’t easily learn in local schools, even
nesciunt, nōn facile in scholā locālī discere if the school management is willing to admit them.
possunt etiamsī rēctōrēs scholae eōs admittere
cōnsentiunt
Discipulī peregrīnī nunquam in scholīs Do foreign pupils never learn successfully in local schools?
normālibus bonō cum ēventū discunt?
Sī ab aetāte minimā in tālibus scholīs sunt, If they are in that type of school from a very young age, they
linguae et cultūrae assuēscere possunt. In can get used to the language and culture. In our own group
grege nostrō est Austrāliāna, cuius fīlius in we have an Australian whose son is in a local school. The
scholā locālī studet. Pater est Coreānus et father is Korean and the grandfather, who learned Chinese
avus, quī litterās Sīnicās in Coreā didicit, characters in Korea, gives some help but he doesn’t know
auxilium dat sed sermōnem Cantōnēnsem nōn any Cantonese. The mother herself has decided to learn the
scit . Māter ipsa litterās illās cum prōnuntiātū characters with their Cantonese pronunciation both so she
Cantonēnsī discere constituit, quia fīlium in can help her son with his lessons and because it’s fun in
lectiōnibus adiuvāre vult et quod rēs ipsa itself.
iūcunda est
Itaque nōn omnēs umbrivirī ignāvī sunt in rēbus
linguisticīs? So not all gweilos are linguistically lazy?
Ita vērō. Dicendum quoque est propagātōrēs That’s certainly right. It should also be said that Christian
fideī Christiānae, administrātōrēs et custōdēs missionaries, administrators and policemen from other
pūblicōs ab aliīs terrīs oriundōs saepe linguam countries often learned the language successfully. In our
bonō cum ēventū didicisse. In circulō nostrō Circulus we also have a Briton who held a senior position
est etiam Britannus, quī in gradū superiōre in the administration and now not only can speak and read
officiō pūblicō fungēbātur et nunc nōn sōlum Chinese but also teaches Chinese history and the culture
Sīnicē colloquī et legere potest sed etiam of Hong Kong.
historiam Sīnicam et cultūram Honcongēnsem
docet.
Nōnne multī peregrīnī linguam Anglicam in Aren’t there a lot of foreigners teaching English in Hong
scholīs Honcongēnsibus docent? Kong schools?
Ita est. Plūs octogentī magistrī aliēnī sunt in That’s right. There are over eight hundred expatriate
gradū speciālī cui nōmen est `NET’ sive teachers in a special grade known as `NET’ or `Native
Native-English-Speaking Teacher’, Latīnē English Speaking Teacher, which in Latin is `Magister
`Magister Anglicē Nātīvē Loquēns’ Multī aliī Anglice Native Loquens’. Many other foreigners work in
aliēnigenae in scholīs, universitātibus et schools, universities or private homes.
domibus prīvātīs labōrant.
Istī NETī (sī licet abbreviātiōnem sīc Latīnizāre) Do those `NETi’ (if you can Latinize the acronym that way)
tantum linguam Anglicam an etiam aliās just teach English or other subjects as well?
disciplīnās docent?
Plūrimī nihil praeter linguam maternam suam Most of them don’t teach anything except their own mother
docent sed in quibusdam scholīs cursūs brevēs tongue but in some schools they provide short courses in
linguārum aliāum, ut Francogallicae vel other languages like French or Latin as extra-curricular
Latīnae, extra curriculum regulāre habendōs activities.
cūrant.
Tūne tālēs cursūs docēbās? Did you teach courses like that?
Cum NETus essem, cursūs variōs condidī. Ipse When I was a NET I set up various courses. I taught
linguam Latīnam docēbam sed semper Latin myself but I always wanted to find native speakers
volēbam locūtōrēs nātīvōs invenīre quī linguās to teach French, Spanish and the rest However, if I
Francogallicam, Hispānicam et cēterās wasn’t able to get hold of that kind of help, I used to
docērent. Sī, tamen, nōn poteram tāle auxilium teach French myself. I generally set things up so the
adipīscī ipse Francogallicam docēbam. students would hear the voices of real French people
Plērumque efficiēbam ut discipulī vōcēs over the Internet but it was often necessary to use my
ipsōrum Francogallōrum per interrēte own really awful pronunciation, and then I seemed to hear
audīrent sed saepe necessārium erat prō- Victor Hugo and other famous writers turning in their
nuntiātū meō valdē horribilī ūtī, quō tempore graves
vidēbar Victōrem Hugōnem et aliōs scrīptōrēs
praeclārōs in sepulchrīs sē volventēs audīre!
Tibi melius placet linguam Anglicam an linguās Do you like teaching English or other languages better?
aliās docēre?
Ut rem vēram dīcam, mālō aliās. Sentiō linguam To tell the truth, I prefer the other ones. I feel that teaching
māternam docēre rem esse satis taediōsam. your own mother tongue is rather boring.
Sī rēs sēsē ita habent, cur multōs per annōs If that’s the case, why have you kept on teaching that
linguam illam docēre pergis? language for many years?
Ob necessitūdinem ēconomicam. Labor mihi Out of economic necessity. I don’t like the work at all
minimē est cordī sed, ut saepe per iocum dīcō but, as I often say for a joke, selling your mother tongue
melius est linguam māternam quam ipsam is better than selling your mother!
mātrem vēndere!
Sed sī linguam nostram māternam docēmus, But if we’re teaching our mother tongue, we can be
nōbīs cōnfīdere possumus. Magistrīs quī linguam confident in ourselves. For teachers who are teaching a
aliam quam suam docent, tōtum in librō vel in language other than their own, everything generally depends
interrētī plērumque positum est sed locūtōrēs on the book or the Internet but native speakers can themselves
nātīvī rēs in librīs et interrētī praebitās ipsī correct what’s presented in books or on the Net.
corrigere possunt.
Rectē dīxistī sed trēs causae sunt propter quās You’re right but there are three reasons why I don’t like
linguam Anglicam docēre mihi nōn placet. teaching English. First, other languages are novelties which
Prīmum, linguae aliae sunt rēs novae quae interest me more than a language I’ve been using all my life.
mē plūs tenent quam linguā quam per tōtam Secondly, if I’m teaching a language which I myself learned
vītam ūsūrpō. Deinde sī linguam doceō quam as a second language, I can lead my students along the same
egō ipse ut linguam secundam didicī, eādem viā, path by which I learned the language myself. Learning your
discipulōs dūcere possum quā ipse linguam your native language, in contrast, is something very
illam didicī. Linguam nātīvam discere, autem, different
est rēs valdē dissimilis.
Quid est causa tertia? What’s the third reason?
Est rēs quae forsitan rātiōne caret sed in animō It’s something that’s maybe unreasonable, but is important
meō magnī est momentī. Cum Honcongī in my mind. When I was first in Hong Kong, I expected that
prīmum essem , exspectābam mē quattuor within four or five years my Cantonese listening and
quīnque annīs sermōne Cantonēnsī tam bene speaking would be so good that, unless I chose to use
audītūrum et locūtūrum esse ut, nisi ipse English for educational reasons, I could carry out almost
linguam Anglicam ob necessitātem all my everyday activities using Cantonese. Things didn’t
acadēmicam ūsūrpāre eligerem, paene omnia turn out that way and I felt disappointed. And so, strange
opera cottidiāna Cantonicē agere possem. Nōn to say, when I’m teaching English I feel as if I’m in an
fuit tālis ēventus, spē dēceptus sum. Itaque, inferior position because colleagues and many students
mīrābile dictū, ubi linguam Anglicam doceō, are bilingual but not me. If, in contrast, I’m teaching Latin
sentiō mē quasi in stātū īnferiōrē esse quod the students are in control of English and Chinese, whilst
collēgae et multī discipulī sunt bilinguālēs, I’m in control of English and Latin. We’re all bilingual and
neque tamen ego. Sī autem linguam Latīnam my honour is restored!
doceō, discipulī linguīs Anglicā et Sīnicā
potiuntur, ego Anglicā et Latīnā potior. Omnēs
sumus bilinguālēs, mihi redditus est honor!
Dē Poēsī Latīnā
Crēdō systēmata numerōrum in poēsī antīquā et I believe the metrical structure of ancient and modern poetry
hodiernā maximē inter sē differre. are very different.
Ita vērō. Aevō enim classicō tōtum in `pondere’ Absolutely. As in the classical period everything depended
vel `longitūdine’ syllabārum, aevīs on the `weight’ or `length’ of syllables and in more
recentiōribus in accentū positum est. recent times it has depended on stress.
Nōnne aevō classicō verba Latīna accentūs Didn’t Latin words have a stress accent in classical times?
habēbant?
Habēbant sed in metrō minōris momentī erant They did, but the stresses were less important for the
accentūs. Audī, exemplī grātiā, versum metre. Listen, for example, to the first line of the
prīmum Aenēidos: Aeneid:.
`Arma virumque canō, Troiae quī prīmus ab ōrīs ' Arms and the man I sing, who first from Troy’s shores
In `canō' vocābulō prīma syllaba acuitur sed In the word `cano’ the first syllable is stressed but
levis syllaba est et ultima in pede. this is light and the last syllable in the foot.
Ubi versum recitāvistī, accentum nātūrālem When you recited the line, you kept the regular word
vocābulī retinuistī . Nōnne melius est accentum stress. Isn’t it better to transfer the stress to the initial
ad prīmam syllabam cuiusque pedis trānsferre? syllable of each foot? Listen to me:
Mē audī:
`Arma virumque canō, Troiae quī prīmus ab ōrīs’ Arms and the man I sing, who first from Troy’s shores
Multī magistrī discipulōs iubēbant accentum Many teachers used to tell their students to put the
in prīmam syllabam pedis pōnere, in quō stress on the first syllable of the foot, the place where
dīcēbant `ictum’ incidere. Plūrimī doctī, tamen, they said the `beat’ fell. However, most scholars
crēdunt ipsōs Rōmānōs accentūs orīginālēs believe that the Romans themselves always followed
semper secūtōs esse. Cum recitārent et the inherent stresses. When they were reciting, they
gravitūdinem syllabārum et accentum vocābulō took into account both syllable weight and word
-rum respiciēbant. Multī hominēs doctī affirmant stress. Many scholars claim that the relationship
rātiōnem quoque inter pondus et accentum satis between weight and stress was also of considerable
magnī momentī esse. Sī `ictus’ et accentus in importance. If the `beat’ and the stress fall on the
eādem syllabā stant, signum est rēī perfectae vel same syllables, it is a sign of completeness and
harmoniae. Sī autem `ictus’ in syllabīs nōn acūtīs harmony. On the other hand, if the `beat’ falls on
incidit, signum est discordiae rixārumque. Itaque un-stressed syllables, it is a sign of discord and conflict.
in fīne cuiusque versūs hexametrī prīmae syllabae So at the end of each hexameter the first syllables
quīntī et sextī pedum paene semper accentum syllables of the fifth and sixth feet are almost always
habent. Quīntus pes est plērumque dactylus stressed ones. The fifth foot is generally a dactyl (long-
(longa –brevis – brevis) et sextus spondaeus short- short) and the sixth a spondee (long –long) or
(longa – longa) vel trochaeus(longa – brevis) trachee (long – short).
Possumusne in Interrētī perītōs rērum metricārum Can we hear experts on metre reciting poetry on
versūs recitantes audīre? the Internet ?
Certissime, Mihi placet vōx professōris Americānī Indeed we can. I like the voice of an American
Robertī Sonkowski. In Interrētī illum prīmōs Professor, Robert Sonkowski. We can hear him on
quinquaginta versūs Aenēidos recitantem audīre the Net reciting the first fifty lines of the Aeneid.
possumus. Videndum est :
http://www.rhapsodes.fll.vt.edu/aeneid1.htm
Crēdō systēmata numerōrum in poēsī antīquā et I believe the metrical structure of ancient and modern poetry
hodiernā maximē inter sē differre. are very different.
Ita vērō. Aevō enim classicō tōtum in `pondere’ Absolutely. As in the classical period everything depended
vel `longitūdine’ syllabārum, aevīs on the `weight’ or `length’ of syllables and in more
recentiōribus in accentū positum est. recent times it has depended on stress.
Nōnne aevō classicō verba Latīna accentūs Didn’t Latin words have a stress accent in classical times?
habēbant?
Habēbant sed in metrō minōris momentī erant They did, but the stresses were less important for the
accentūs. Audī, exemplī grātiā, versum metre. Listen, for example, to the first line of the
prīmum Aenēidos: Aeneid:.
`Arma virumque canō, Troiae quī prīmus ab ōrīs ' Arms and the man I sing, who first from Troy’s shores
In `canō' vocābulō prīma syllaba acuitur sed In the word `cano’ the first syllable is stressed but
levis syllaba est et ultima in pede. this is light and the last syllable in the foot.
Ubi versum recitāvistī, accentum nātūrālem When you recited the line, you kept the regular word
vocābulī retinuistī . Nōnne melius est accentum stress. Isn’t it better to transfer the stress to the initial
ad prīmam syllabam cuiusque pedis trānsferre? syllable of each foot? Listen to me:
Mē audī:
`Arma virumque canō, Troiae quī prīmus ab ōrīs’ Arms and the man I sing, who first from Troy’s shores
Multī magistrī discipulōs iubēbant accentum Many teachers used to tell their students to put the
in prīmam syllabam pedis pōnere, in quō stress on the first syllable of the foot, the place where
dīcēbant `ictum’ incidere. Plūrimī doctī, tamen, they said the `beat’ fell. However, most scholars
crēdunt ipsōs Rōmānōs accentūs orīginālēs believe that the Romans themselves always followed
semper secūtōs esse. Cum recitārent et the inherent stresses. When they were reciting, they
gravitūdinem syllabārum et accentum vocābulō took into account both syllable weight and word
-rum respiciēbant. Multī hominēs doctī affirmant stress. Many scholars claim that the relationship
rātiōnem quoque inter pondus et accentum satis between weight and stress was also of considerable
magnī momentī esse. Sī `ictus’ et accentus in importance. If the `beat’ and the stress fall on the
eādem syllabā stant, signum est rēī perfectae vel same syllables, it is a sign of completeness and
harmoniae. Sī autem `ictus’ in syllabīs nōn acūtīs harmony. On the other hand, if the `beat’ falls on
incidit, signum est discordiae rixārumque. Itaque un-stressed syllables, it is a sign of discord and conflict.
in fīne cuiusque versūs hexametrī prīmae syllabae So at the end of each hexameter the first syllables
quīntī et sextī pedum paene semper accentum syllables of the fifth and sixth feet are almost always
habent. Quīntus pes est plērumque dactylus stressed ones. The fifth foot is generally a dactyl (long-
(longa –brevis – brevis) et sextus spondaeus short- short) and the sixth a spondee (long –long) or
(longa – longa) vel trochaeus(longa – brevis) trachee (long – short).
Possumusne in Interrētī perītōs rērum metricārum Can we hear experts on metre reciting poetry on
versūs recitantes audīre? the Internet ?
Certissime, Mihi placet vōx professōris Americānī Indeed we can. I like the voice of an American
Robertī Sonkowski. In Interrētī illum prīmōs Professor, Robert Sonkowski. We can hear him on
quinquaginta versūs Aenēidos recitantem audīre the Net reciting the first fifty lines of the Aeneid.
possumus. Videndum est :
http://www.rhapsodes.fll.vt.edu/aeneid1.htm
Dē feriīs aestīvīs
Quid fēcistī in feriīs aestīvīs? Dē Honcongō What did you do in the summer holidays? Did you
excessistī? leave Hong Kong ?
Ita vērō. Ad Estōniam et Britanniam īvī ut familiārēs Yes, I did. I went to Estonia and to Britain to visit
visitārem. Diēs iūcundōs agēbam sed semper laetus relatives. I had a good time but I’m always glad
sum cum Honcongum revertar. when I get back to Hong Kong
In Britanniā tumultibus occurristī? Did you run into any riots in Britain?
Minimē. In regiōnibus ubi ipse iter faciēbam omnia No. In the areas where I was travelling myself
pācifera erant. Satis tamen terribile erat tumultōs everything was calm. But it was frightening enough
illōs in televisiōne spectāre, just watching the riots on TV
Et tū? Ubi īvistī ? What about you? Where did you go ?
Mihi ad Germāniam perveniendum erat ut I had to get to Germany take part in a `Living Latin’
seminārium Latinitātis vīvae Augustae Trēverōrum seminarium in Trier.
participārem.
Quid accidit in tālibus semināriīs? What happens in those seminaria?
Nōs acroāsēs Latīnās audīmus, sermōnēs Latīnōs We hear lectures in Latin and discuss in Latin.
disserimus. Nōn licet etiam in refectōriō vel in It’s not allowed to speak other languages even in
andrōnibus aliīs linguīs colloquī. the dining hall or the corridors.
Omnēsne hanc rēgulam sequēbantur? Nōnne scīs Did everyone follow that rule? Don’t you know that
Honcongī discipulōs, etiamsī inter sē Anglicē collo- in Hong Kong even if students are told to talk
quī iubeantur, saepe Cantonēnsī sermōne ūtī pergere? together in English they often still use Cantonese?
In semināriō nostrō, paene omnēs tantum Latīnē In our seminarium almost everyone spoke only in
colloquēbantur sed ūna magistra erat quae extrā Latin but there was one teacher who tried to
sessiōnēs officiālēs Anglicē loquī tentābat. speak English outside the formal sessions.
Magistrane erat Britanna vel Americāna? Was the teacher British or American?
Minimē. Erat Germāna sed linguā Anglicā callēbat No. She was German but she had excellent
et volēbat celeriter communicāre, quae rēs, sī English and wanted to communicate quickly, which
lingua Latīna adhibētur, nōn potest fierī, nisi is not possible using Latin, unless all participants
omnēs participēs multōs annōs ūsum Latīnitātis have many years’ experience of using `Living
vīvae exercēre solent. . Latin’
Erant omnēs quī participābant Latīnistae perītī? Were all those taking part expert Latinists?
Inter variōs hominēs gradus Latīnitātis magnopere Different individuals had very different levels of
variābat. Aderant duo Italiānī quī paene tam bene Latin. There were two Italians there who spoke
Latīnē quam Italicē loquī sciēbant. Omnēs aliī Latin almost as well as they spoke Italian. All the
nōtiōnēs simplicēs et intellegere et ipsī exprimere others could understand simple concepts and
poterant neque tamen facere poterant quīn express them themselves, but they had no choice
lentē colloquerentur. Sī dē activitātibus nostrīs other than to speak slowly. If you want to know
plūra scīre vīs, potes apud Interrēte symbolam more about our activities, you can read an article
legere in quā dē semināriō aliō in mōnastēriō on the Internet which deals at length with another
Ottiliēnsī habitō in extēnsō agitur. Symbola, quae seminarium held at the monastery of St. Ottilien.
Latīnē scrīpta est, praebētur apud: The article (in Latin) is at:
http://linguae.weebly.com/seminarium-ottiliense.html
Quālis est urbs ipsa Augusta Trēverōrum? What is Trier itself like?
Urbs parva est et amoena, in rīpā Mosellae flūminis It’s a small and pleasant city on the bank of the
sita. Nunc rem vix crēderēs, sed rēvērā urbs Moselle. You’d hardly believe it now, but it was
ōlim maxima erat ultrā Alpēs atque caput omnium once the largest city north of the Alps and the
prōvinciārum septentriōnālium. Partēs multōrum capital for all the northern provinces. Parts of
aedificiōrum Rōmānōrum adhūc ibi remanent, many Roman buildings still remain there and
inter quae praeclārissima est Porta Nigra. the most famous is the Porta Nigra (Black Gate)
Napōleon imperātor, cum mūrōs fortificātiōnēsque When the emperor Napoleon was ordering the
omnium urbium sub dīciōne suā dēlērī iubēbat, destruction of the walls and fortifications of all
Portae Nigrae illae pepercit quod nōn erat strūc- cities under his control, he spared the Porta
tūra mediaevālis sed Rōmāna. Nigra because it was not medieval but Roman.
Et tū? Hōc annō iter in Nepālum fēcistī? And you? Did you go to Nepal this year?
Ita vērō. Ibi duās septimānās agēbam ut notitiās dē Yes, I did. I spent two weeks there to collect
rēbus politicīs ut semper colligerem et cum information on politics as usual and to visit
discipulā Honcongēnsī, quae palmam in certāmine temples and other well-known sites with a
ad litterās pertinentī reportāverat, templa et aliōs Hong Kong student who’d won a literary
sitōs praeclāros īnspicerem. competition.
Quid erat certāmen illud? What was the competition?
Discipulī quī in ūniversitātibus Honcongēnsibus Students studying in Hong Kong universities
stūdēbant invitātī sunt dē themate `Terra Montis were invited to write a short article on the
Everest’ symbolam brevem scrībere. Licēbat dē topic `Land of Everest’.They could tackle any
quīslibet rēbus – geōgraphicīs, cultūrālibus, aspect they wanted – geographical, cultural,
politicīs etc. – agere. Discipula quae symbolam political and so on. The student who wrote the
optimam scrīpsit potuit sine sumptū septem diēs best article was able to travel in Nepal for
in Nepālō iter facere. seven days free-of-charge.
Qua societāte āeriā ūsī estis? What airline did you use?
In āeroplānīs Societātis Āeriae Nepālicae Kāstaman- We flew to Kathmandu and returned to Hong
dapum volāvimus et Honcongum reversī sumus. Kong in Nepal Airlines planes. Perhaps you’ve
Fortasse audīvistī societātem illam difficultātibus heard that the company has been having
quibusdam labōrāre sed sēcūrē itinera fēcimus neque difficulties, but we had a safe journey and
mūrēs vīdimus! didn’t see any mice!
Quid fēcistī in feriīs aestīvīs? Dē Honcongō What did you do in the summer holidays? Did you
excessistī? leave Hong Kong ?
Ita vērō. Ad Estōniam et Britanniam īvī ut familiārēs Yes, I did. I went to Estonia and to Britain to visit
visitārem. Diēs iūcundōs agēbam sed semper laetus relatives. I had a good time but I’m always glad
sum cum Honcongum revertar. when I get back to Hong Kong
In Britanniā tumultibus occurristī? Did you run into any riots in Britain?
Minimē. In regiōnibus ubi ipse iter faciēbam omnia No. In the areas where I was travelling myself
pācifera erant. Satis tamen terribile erat tumultōs everything was calm. But it was frightening enough
illōs in televisiōne spectāre, just watching the riots on TV
Et tū? Ubi īvistī ? What about you? Where did you go ?
Mihi ad Germāniam perveniendum erat ut I had to get to Germany take part in a `Living Latin’
seminārium Latinitātis vīvae Augustae Trēverōrum seminarium in Trier.
participārem.
Quid accidit in tālibus semināriīs? What happens in those seminaria?
Nōs acroāsēs Latīnās audīmus, sermōnēs Latīnōs We hear lectures in Latin and discuss in Latin.
disserimus. Nōn licet etiam in refectōriō vel in It’s not allowed to speak other languages even in
andrōnibus aliīs linguīs colloquī. the dining hall or the corridors.
Omnēsne hanc rēgulam sequēbantur? Nōnne scīs Did everyone follow that rule? Don’t you know that
Honcongī discipulōs, etiamsī inter sē Anglicē collo- in Hong Kong even if students are told to talk
quī iubeantur, saepe Cantonēnsī sermōne ūtī pergere? together in English they often still use Cantonese?
In semināriō nostrō, paene omnēs tantum Latīnē In our seminarium almost everyone spoke only in
colloquēbantur sed ūna magistra erat quae extrā Latin but there was one teacher who tried to
sessiōnēs officiālēs Anglicē loquī tentābat. speak English outside the formal sessions.
Magistrane erat Britanna vel Americāna? Was the teacher British or American?
Minimē. Erat Germāna sed linguā Anglicā callēbat No. She was German but she had excellent
et volēbat celeriter communicāre, quae rēs, sī English and wanted to communicate quickly, which
lingua Latīna adhibētur, nōn potest fierī, nisi is not possible using Latin, unless all participants
omnēs participēs multōs annōs ūsum Latīnitātis have many years’ experience of using `Living
vīvae exercēre solent. . Latin’
Erant omnēs quī participābant Latīnistae perītī? Were all those taking part expert Latinists?
Inter variōs hominēs gradus Latīnitātis magnopere Different individuals had very different levels of
variābat. Aderant duo Italiānī quī paene tam bene Latin. There were two Italians there who spoke
Latīnē quam Italicē loquī sciēbant. Omnēs aliī Latin almost as well as they spoke Italian. All the
nōtiōnēs simplicēs et intellegere et ipsī exprimere others could understand simple concepts and
poterant neque tamen facere poterant quīn express them themselves, but they had no choice
lentē colloquerentur. Sī dē activitātibus nostrīs other than to speak slowly. If you want to know
plūra scīre vīs, potes apud Interrēte symbolam more about our activities, you can read an article
legere in quā dē semināriō aliō in mōnastēriō on the Internet which deals at length with another
Ottiliēnsī habitō in extēnsō agitur. Symbola, quae seminarium held at the monastery of St. Ottilien.
Latīnē scrīpta est, praebētur apud: The article (in Latin) is at:
http://linguae.weebly.com/seminarium-ottiliense.html
Quālis est urbs ipsa Augusta Trēverōrum? What is Trier itself like?
Urbs parva est et amoena, in rīpā Mosellae flūminis It’s a small and pleasant city on the bank of the
sita. Nunc rem vix crēderēs, sed rēvērā urbs Moselle. You’d hardly believe it now, but it was
ōlim maxima erat ultrā Alpēs atque caput omnium once the largest city north of the Alps and the
prōvinciārum septentriōnālium. Partēs multōrum capital for all the northern provinces. Parts of
aedificiōrum Rōmānōrum adhūc ibi remanent, many Roman buildings still remain there and
inter quae praeclārissima est Porta Nigra. the most famous is the Porta Nigra (Black Gate)
Napōleon imperātor, cum mūrōs fortificātiōnēsque When the emperor Napoleon was ordering the
omnium urbium sub dīciōne suā dēlērī iubēbat, destruction of the walls and fortifications of all
Portae Nigrae illae pepercit quod nōn erat strūc- cities under his control, he spared the Porta
tūra mediaevālis sed Rōmāna. Nigra because it was not medieval but Roman.
Et tū? Hōc annō iter in Nepālum fēcistī? And you? Did you go to Nepal this year?
Ita vērō. Ibi duās septimānās agēbam ut notitiās dē Yes, I did. I spent two weeks there to collect
rēbus politicīs ut semper colligerem et cum information on politics as usual and to visit
discipulā Honcongēnsī, quae palmam in certāmine temples and other well-known sites with a
ad litterās pertinentī reportāverat, templa et aliōs Hong Kong student who’d won a literary
sitōs praeclāros īnspicerem. competition.
Quid erat certāmen illud? What was the competition?
Discipulī quī in ūniversitātibus Honcongēnsibus Students studying in Hong Kong universities
stūdēbant invitātī sunt dē themate `Terra Montis were invited to write a short article on the
Everest’ symbolam brevem scrībere. Licēbat dē topic `Land of Everest’.They could tackle any
quīslibet rēbus – geōgraphicīs, cultūrālibus, aspect they wanted – geographical, cultural,
politicīs etc. – agere. Discipula quae symbolam political and so on. The student who wrote the
optimam scrīpsit potuit sine sumptū septem diēs best article was able to travel in Nepal for
in Nepālō iter facere. seven days free-of-charge.
Qua societāte āeriā ūsī estis? What airline did you use?
In āeroplānīs Societātis Āeriae Nepālicae Kāstaman- We flew to Kathmandu and returned to Hong
dapum volāvimus et Honcongum reversī sumus. Kong in Nepal Airlines planes. Perhaps you’ve
Fortasse audīvistī societātem illam difficultātibus heard that the company has been having
quibusdam labōrāre sed sēcūrē itinera fēcimus neque difficulties, but we had a safe journey and
mūrēs vīdimus! didn’t see any mice!
Pictūrae cōmicae in actīs diurnīs Honcongēnsibus et Nepālicīs ēditae (annō MMMXI necesse erat aeroplānō Nepālicō in terrā manēre donec mūs in eō latitāns caperētur)
Dē rēbus in ōtiō gestīs
Quid facere solēs in ōtiō? What do you normally do in your spare time?
Rēs dīversās faciō sed mē praecipuē dēlectat in I do various things, but i particularly like singing
chorō canere. in the choir.
Quid canis? What do you sing?
Chorī nostrī prōpositum est opera Iōhannis Our choir’s purpose is to perform the works of Iohan
Sebastiānī Bāchī ēdere, cuius mūsica, ut mihi Sebastian Bach. In my opinion, his music is the best.
vidētur, optima est.
Num ōtium tōtum canēns cōnsūmis? Surely you don’t spend all your time singing?
Minimē, alia oblectāmenta quoque habeō, inter No, I have other amusements, including hiking in the
quae sunt ambulāre per montēs et librōs and writing books
scrībere.
Quālem librum nunc scrībis? What kind of book are you writing at the moment?
Dē lēgibus veteribus ad praedia in Terrīs Novīs I’m finishing a book on the old legal system for land
possidenda pertinentibus librum nunc perficiō tenure in the New Territories.
Scrīpsistīne aliōs librōs? Have you written any other books?
Ita vērō. Dē bellō brevī in Terrīs Novīs annō mil- Yes, indeed. I wrote a book on the war that took place
lēsimō octogentēsimō nōnāgesimō nōnō gestō in the New Territories in 1899.
librum scrīpsī.
Nēsciēbam bellum eō tempore ortum esse. Quis I didn’t know a war broke out at that time. Who was
contrā quem pugnābat? Et ob quam causam? fighting who? And what was it about?
Quīdam ex incolīs Terrārum Novārum copiīs Some of the inhabitants of the New Territories were
Britannicīs resistēbant, quī illā rēgiōne, postquam resisting the British troops who were taking over the
ab Imperātōre Sīnicō lōcāta est, potiēbantur. area after the Chinese emperor leased it out.
Et tibi quid agere placet ? And what do you like to do ?
Acroāsēs dē histōriā et dē scientiā linguisticā saepe I often hear lectures on history and linguistics and
audiō et membrum sum Ūniōnis Ūniversālis I’m a member of the International Committee for the
Interlinguae Prōmovendae. Promotion of Interlingua.
Quid est `Interlingua’ ? What is `Interlingua’ ?
Est lingua artificiālis quae ex elementīs com- It’s an artificial language made up of common
mūnibus linguārum Rōmānōrum hodiernōrum elements made up from the modern Romance
cōnstat. Crēdimus melius fore sī gentēs tālem languages. We believe that it will be better if nations
linguam internātiōnālem auxiliārem potius quam use this kind of international auxiliary language
lingūam Anglicam inter sē adhibeant, rather than English to communicate with each other.
Et quid aliud facis? And what else do you do?
Mē dēlectat cum amīcīs vīnum vel cervisiam bibere I enjoy drinking wine or beer with friends while
et sermōnēs Anglicē, Sīnicē, Rūssicē, Francogallicē. talking in English, Chinese, Russian, French, German
Germānicē vel Latīnē disserere. Utinam quoque or Latin. It would be great if I also had a chance to use
Volapuk, linguae artificiālis antīquissimae, Volapuk, the oldest artificial language, but apart from
adhibendae occāsiōnem habērem, sed Honcongī my self there’s nobody in Hong Kong who knows how
praeter mē ipsum nēmō est quī linguā illā loquī to speak it!
sciat!
Nōnne Bulgāricē, Esperanticē et aliīs linguīs quoque Don’t you also speak Bulgarian, Esperanto and other
loqueris? languages?
Ita est, sed indīcem iam satis longam fēcimus! Yes, but we’ve got a long enough list already!
Quae activitātēs plūrimōs ex Honcongēnsibus What activities do most Hong Kong people enjoy ?
dēlectant?
Multi puerī et puellae īnstrūmentīs mūsicīs canere Many boys and girls learn to play musical
discunt, ut clāvīchordiō, violīnā, tubā, tībiā et cēterīs. instruments, like the piano,violin, trumpet, flute etc.
Multī quoque in āthleticā versantur. Many also do sports.
Tū ipse āthlēticīs lūdis? Do you yourself play any sports
Lūdō. Amō tenīsiam, pedilūdium et corbifollis lūdum. I do. I love tennis, football and basketball. I’m
Mē maximē dēlectat nartātiō sed Honcongī clīvōs especially fond of skiing but we don’t have any ski
nartātōriōs nōn habēmus itaque hieme iter in slopes in Hong Kong and so I usually take a trip to
Eurōpam vel Coream facere soleō. Europe or Korea in the winter.
Nōnnē multōs Honcongēnsēs rēs in tabernīs emere et Don’t many Hong Kong people enjoy shopping and
in caupōnīs cēnāre dēlectat? eating in restaurants?
Rēctissimē dīxistī! Iūcundum quoque est apud You’re absolutely right! It’s also pleasant to go to bars
diversōria magna oecōs frequentāre et cantātrīcēs in the big hotels and listen to the Filipino singers. Nor
Philipīnnās audīre. Neque oblīvīscendum est should we forget that many older people very much
multōs seniōrēs lūdō passerum valdē fruī. enjoy a game of mahjong,
Crēdō autem nōs multās hōrās in interrētī cōnsūmere? And I think we spend a lot of time on the Internet?
Certissimē. Examplī grātiā, ego ipse saepe Librō Certainly. For example, I myself often use Facebook.
Prosopogrāphicō ūtor.
Nōnne sollicitus es nē rēs prīvātae tuae dīvulgentur? Aren’t you worried about losing your privacy?
In interrētī sunt semper difficultātēs securitātis et, There are always problems with security on the
etiamsī optiōnēs prīvitātis cautē ēligimus, fierī Internet and even if we select our security options
potest ut nuntiōs quōs tantum `amīcīs’ mittimus carefully there’s a possibility that messages sent only
ad aliōs perveniant. Quārē ipse rēgulam maximī for `friends’ may reach others. That’s why I’ve made
momentī mihi cōnstituī, scilicet nihil in Librum a very important rule for myself – never to place
Prosōpogrāphicum pōnere quod nōlim in pagīnīs anything on Facebook if I wouldn’t want to see it in
actōrum diurnōrum vidēre. Sī dē rē prīvātā agitur, the newspapers. When it’s a private matter, it should
nōn in forō sociālī sed per epistulam vel ōre vīvō not be discussed in `social media' but by letter or
colloquendum est. face-to-face
Suntne fora interrētiālia in quibus ūsum Latīnitātis Are there Internet forums where we can practise real
vīvae exercēre possumus? communication in Latin?
Ita vērō. Fortassē inter ea vetustissimus et praeclā- Yes, indeed. Perhaps the oldest and most famous of
rissimus est Grex Latīnē Loquentium, cuius sodālēs them is the Grex Latine Loquentium, whose members
commercium epistulārum electronicārum faciunt. correspond with each other by e-mail. There are
Sunt fere trecentī Latinīstae quī nōmina sua in around three hundred Latinsts who have signed up
hunc gregem dedērunt sed inter eōs nōn plūs for this group but out of them no more than twenty
vigintī rēgulāriter epistulās scrībunt, aliī tantum regularly write letters and the others just stay hidden
latitant leguntque. Erat etiam Schola, situs inter- and read. There was also Schola, an interactive site set
actīvus a magistrō Londiniēnsī Molendināriō (vulgō up by a London teacher, Molendinarius (aka Evan
Evan Millner) conditus. Paene duo mīlia hominum Millner). Almost two thousand people had signed up
nōmina in situm dederant, qui eōdem modō atque for this site and, in the same way as on Faceboook,
in Librō Prosōpogrāphicō nuntiōs in areīs commū- they could place messages in public areas or on other
nibus vel in pagīnīs aliōrum sodālium pōnere, members’ pages and also send private letters to each
epistulās quoque prīvātās mittere poterant. Apud other. On this site they also had a `Scriptorium’,
hunc situm erant etiam `Scrīptōrium’, in quō where members could communicate with short
sodālēs sententiīs brevibus in `fenestrā’ scrīptīs sentences typed into a `window’, and the
commūnicāre poterant, et `Locūtōrium’, in quō `Locutorium’, where you were able to actually talk
microphoniīs ūtentēs vōcibus colloquendī using microphones. That site closed some time ago
occāsiōnem habēbant. Ille situs iamdūdum clausus but SCHOLA continues as a group on the Skype
est sed SCHOLA ut grex apud Scypum continuātur platform,
Quae sunt īnscrīptiōnēs interrētiālēs illārum What are the web addresses of those organisations?
societātum?
Sī nōmen in Gregem Latīnē Loquentium dare vīs, If you want to register with the Grex Latine
eundum est ad: Loquentium, it's
http://www.man.torun.pl/archives/info/grex Īnscrīptiō SCHOLAE est SCHOLA's address is
https://join.skype.com/i8T6Wgfi2cej
Dē historiā linguae Latīnae
Philologīne crēdunt linguam Latīnam dē linguā Do philologists believe that Latin developed out of an
vetustiōre ēvolūtam esse? earlier language?
Ita est. In linguīs antiquīs et hodiernīs multae indicā- That’s right. In ancient and modern languages there tiōnēs inveniuntur quae prōbent plūrimōs sermōnēs are a lot of indications that most languages spoken
Eurōpaeōs multāsque linguās Indicās ex ūnā linguā in Europe and also many Indian ones were derived
orīginālī derīvātās esse. Lingua illa hypothetica from one original language. That hypothetical
appellātur `Indo-Eurōpaea’. Argūmenta clāra in language is called `Indo-European.’ You’ll see clear
hāc tabulā vidēbis, similitūdinēs enim inter omnēs evidence in this table, as the similarities between all
Quid facere solēs in ōtiō? What do you normally do in your spare time?
Rēs dīversās faciō sed mē praecipuē dēlectat in I do various things, but i particularly like singing
chorō canere. in the choir.
Quid canis? What do you sing?
Chorī nostrī prōpositum est opera Iōhannis Our choir’s purpose is to perform the works of Iohan
Sebastiānī Bāchī ēdere, cuius mūsica, ut mihi Sebastian Bach. In my opinion, his music is the best.
vidētur, optima est.
Num ōtium tōtum canēns cōnsūmis? Surely you don’t spend all your time singing?
Minimē, alia oblectāmenta quoque habeō, inter No, I have other amusements, including hiking in the
quae sunt ambulāre per montēs et librōs and writing books
scrībere.
Quālem librum nunc scrībis? What kind of book are you writing at the moment?
Dē lēgibus veteribus ad praedia in Terrīs Novīs I’m finishing a book on the old legal system for land
possidenda pertinentibus librum nunc perficiō tenure in the New Territories.
Scrīpsistīne aliōs librōs? Have you written any other books?
Ita vērō. Dē bellō brevī in Terrīs Novīs annō mil- Yes, indeed. I wrote a book on the war that took place
lēsimō octogentēsimō nōnāgesimō nōnō gestō in the New Territories in 1899.
librum scrīpsī.
Nēsciēbam bellum eō tempore ortum esse. Quis I didn’t know a war broke out at that time. Who was
contrā quem pugnābat? Et ob quam causam? fighting who? And what was it about?
Quīdam ex incolīs Terrārum Novārum copiīs Some of the inhabitants of the New Territories were
Britannicīs resistēbant, quī illā rēgiōne, postquam resisting the British troops who were taking over the
ab Imperātōre Sīnicō lōcāta est, potiēbantur. area after the Chinese emperor leased it out.
Et tibi quid agere placet ? And what do you like to do ?
Acroāsēs dē histōriā et dē scientiā linguisticā saepe I often hear lectures on history and linguistics and
audiō et membrum sum Ūniōnis Ūniversālis I’m a member of the International Committee for the
Interlinguae Prōmovendae. Promotion of Interlingua.
Quid est `Interlingua’ ? What is `Interlingua’ ?
Est lingua artificiālis quae ex elementīs com- It’s an artificial language made up of common
mūnibus linguārum Rōmānōrum hodiernōrum elements made up from the modern Romance
cōnstat. Crēdimus melius fore sī gentēs tālem languages. We believe that it will be better if nations
linguam internātiōnālem auxiliārem potius quam use this kind of international auxiliary language
lingūam Anglicam inter sē adhibeant, rather than English to communicate with each other.
Et quid aliud facis? And what else do you do?
Mē dēlectat cum amīcīs vīnum vel cervisiam bibere I enjoy drinking wine or beer with friends while
et sermōnēs Anglicē, Sīnicē, Rūssicē, Francogallicē. talking in English, Chinese, Russian, French, German
Germānicē vel Latīnē disserere. Utinam quoque or Latin. It would be great if I also had a chance to use
Volapuk, linguae artificiālis antīquissimae, Volapuk, the oldest artificial language, but apart from
adhibendae occāsiōnem habērem, sed Honcongī my self there’s nobody in Hong Kong who knows how
praeter mē ipsum nēmō est quī linguā illā loquī to speak it!
sciat!
Nōnne Bulgāricē, Esperanticē et aliīs linguīs quoque Don’t you also speak Bulgarian, Esperanto and other
loqueris? languages?
Ita est, sed indīcem iam satis longam fēcimus! Yes, but we’ve got a long enough list already!
Quae activitātēs plūrimōs ex Honcongēnsibus What activities do most Hong Kong people enjoy ?
dēlectant?
Multi puerī et puellae īnstrūmentīs mūsicīs canere Many boys and girls learn to play musical
discunt, ut clāvīchordiō, violīnā, tubā, tībiā et cēterīs. instruments, like the piano,violin, trumpet, flute etc.
Multī quoque in āthleticā versantur. Many also do sports.
Tū ipse āthlēticīs lūdis? Do you yourself play any sports
Lūdō. Amō tenīsiam, pedilūdium et corbifollis lūdum. I do. I love tennis, football and basketball. I’m
Mē maximē dēlectat nartātiō sed Honcongī clīvōs especially fond of skiing but we don’t have any ski
nartātōriōs nōn habēmus itaque hieme iter in slopes in Hong Kong and so I usually take a trip to
Eurōpam vel Coream facere soleō. Europe or Korea in the winter.
Nōnnē multōs Honcongēnsēs rēs in tabernīs emere et Don’t many Hong Kong people enjoy shopping and
in caupōnīs cēnāre dēlectat? eating in restaurants?
Rēctissimē dīxistī! Iūcundum quoque est apud You’re absolutely right! It’s also pleasant to go to bars
diversōria magna oecōs frequentāre et cantātrīcēs in the big hotels and listen to the Filipino singers. Nor
Philipīnnās audīre. Neque oblīvīscendum est should we forget that many older people very much
multōs seniōrēs lūdō passerum valdē fruī. enjoy a game of mahjong,
Crēdō autem nōs multās hōrās in interrētī cōnsūmere? And I think we spend a lot of time on the Internet?
Certissimē. Examplī grātiā, ego ipse saepe Librō Certainly. For example, I myself often use Facebook.
Prosopogrāphicō ūtor.
Nōnne sollicitus es nē rēs prīvātae tuae dīvulgentur? Aren’t you worried about losing your privacy?
In interrētī sunt semper difficultātēs securitātis et, There are always problems with security on the
etiamsī optiōnēs prīvitātis cautē ēligimus, fierī Internet and even if we select our security options
potest ut nuntiōs quōs tantum `amīcīs’ mittimus carefully there’s a possibility that messages sent only
ad aliōs perveniant. Quārē ipse rēgulam maximī for `friends’ may reach others. That’s why I’ve made
momentī mihi cōnstituī, scilicet nihil in Librum a very important rule for myself – never to place
Prosōpogrāphicum pōnere quod nōlim in pagīnīs anything on Facebook if I wouldn’t want to see it in
actōrum diurnōrum vidēre. Sī dē rē prīvātā agitur, the newspapers. When it’s a private matter, it should
nōn in forō sociālī sed per epistulam vel ōre vīvō not be discussed in `social media' but by letter or
colloquendum est. face-to-face
Suntne fora interrētiālia in quibus ūsum Latīnitātis Are there Internet forums where we can practise real
vīvae exercēre possumus? communication in Latin?
Ita vērō. Fortassē inter ea vetustissimus et praeclā- Yes, indeed. Perhaps the oldest and most famous of
rissimus est Grex Latīnē Loquentium, cuius sodālēs them is the Grex Latine Loquentium, whose members
commercium epistulārum electronicārum faciunt. correspond with each other by e-mail. There are
Sunt fere trecentī Latinīstae quī nōmina sua in around three hundred Latinsts who have signed up
hunc gregem dedērunt sed inter eōs nōn plūs for this group but out of them no more than twenty
vigintī rēgulāriter epistulās scrībunt, aliī tantum regularly write letters and the others just stay hidden
latitant leguntque. Erat etiam Schola, situs inter- and read. There was also Schola, an interactive site set
actīvus a magistrō Londiniēnsī Molendināriō (vulgō up by a London teacher, Molendinarius (aka Evan
Evan Millner) conditus. Paene duo mīlia hominum Millner). Almost two thousand people had signed up
nōmina in situm dederant, qui eōdem modō atque for this site and, in the same way as on Faceboook,
in Librō Prosōpogrāphicō nuntiōs in areīs commū- they could place messages in public areas or on other
nibus vel in pagīnīs aliōrum sodālium pōnere, members’ pages and also send private letters to each
epistulās quoque prīvātās mittere poterant. Apud other. On this site they also had a `Scriptorium’,
hunc situm erant etiam `Scrīptōrium’, in quō where members could communicate with short
sodālēs sententiīs brevibus in `fenestrā’ scrīptīs sentences typed into a `window’, and the
commūnicāre poterant, et `Locūtōrium’, in quō `Locutorium’, where you were able to actually talk
microphoniīs ūtentēs vōcibus colloquendī using microphones. That site closed some time ago
occāsiōnem habēbant. Ille situs iamdūdum clausus but SCHOLA continues as a group on the Skype
est sed SCHOLA ut grex apud Scypum continuātur platform,
Quae sunt īnscrīptiōnēs interrētiālēs illārum What are the web addresses of those organisations?
societātum?
Sī nōmen in Gregem Latīnē Loquentium dare vīs, If you want to register with the Grex Latine
eundum est ad: Loquentium, it's
http://www.man.torun.pl/archives/info/grex Īnscrīptiō SCHOLAE est SCHOLA's address is
https://join.skype.com/i8T6Wgfi2cej
Dē historiā linguae Latīnae
Philologīne crēdunt linguam Latīnam dē linguā Do philologists believe that Latin developed out of an
vetustiōre ēvolūtam esse? earlier language?
Ita est. In linguīs antiquīs et hodiernīs multae indicā- That’s right. In ancient and modern languages there tiōnēs inveniuntur quae prōbent plūrimōs sermōnēs are a lot of indications that most languages spoken
Eurōpaeōs multāsque linguās Indicās ex ūnā linguā in Europe and also many Indian ones were derived
orīginālī derīvātās esse. Lingua illa hypothetica from one original language. That hypothetical
appellātur `Indo-Eurōpaea’. Argūmenta clāra in language is called `Indo-European.’ You’ll see clear
hāc tabulā vidēbis, similitūdinēs enim inter omnēs evidence in this table, as the similarities between all
hās linguās , quae apud diversās gentēs adhibēbantur, these language, spoken by different peoples, are so
tantae sunt ut nēmō putāre possit eās tantum forte great that no one could suppose they arose just
ortās esse. by chance
Ego ipsa, quamquam in Germāniā nāta post ūnum I myself was born in Germany and emigrated
annum in Austrāliam mīgrāvī, ē stirpe Lithuānicā orta Australia when I was one, but I’m of Lithuanian
sum et domī Lithuānicē loquēbar. Formae verbī quās descent and I spoke Lithuanian at home. The verb
nunc adhibēmus differunt ab eīs in tabulā scrīptīs. forms we use now are different from those in the table.
Rectē dīxistī. Necesse est formās antiquiōrēs cum You’re right. It’s necessary to compare older forms
linguīs classicīs comparāre. Dē linguā Lithuānicā with the classical languages. I don’t know much
ipse nōn multum sciō sed crēdō textūs about Lithuanian but I believe the oldest texts were
vetustissimōs in saeculō decimō sextō scrīptōs esse. written in the 16th century.
Ita est. Inter documenta quae habēmus vetustissimum That’s right. Among the documents we’ve got, the ,
quod orātiōnēs Christiānās continet, fortasse oldest, which contains Christian prayers, was perhaps
annō 1503 scrīptum est. Quid est specimen written in 1503. What is the oldest example of Latin?
antiquissimum linguae Latīnae ?
Est `Fībula Praenestīna’, quae vērisimiliter saeculō It’s the `Fibula Praenestina’ (Praenestine pin), which
septimō ante Christum nātum facta est. Haec est was probably made in the 7th century B.C. Here’s a
pictūra litterārum in eā īnscrīptārum: reproduction of the letters written on it.
tantae sunt ut nēmō putāre possit eās tantum forte great that no one could suppose they arose just
ortās esse. by chance
Ego ipsa, quamquam in Germāniā nāta post ūnum I myself was born in Germany and emigrated
annum in Austrāliam mīgrāvī, ē stirpe Lithuānicā orta Australia when I was one, but I’m of Lithuanian
sum et domī Lithuānicē loquēbar. Formae verbī quās descent and I spoke Lithuanian at home. The verb
nunc adhibēmus differunt ab eīs in tabulā scrīptīs. forms we use now are different from those in the table.
Rectē dīxistī. Necesse est formās antiquiōrēs cum You’re right. It’s necessary to compare older forms
linguīs classicīs comparāre. Dē linguā Lithuānicā with the classical languages. I don’t know much
ipse nōn multum sciō sed crēdō textūs about Lithuanian but I believe the oldest texts were
vetustissimōs in saeculō decimō sextō scrīptōs esse. written in the 16th century.
Ita est. Inter documenta quae habēmus vetustissimum That’s right. Among the documents we’ve got, the ,
quod orātiōnēs Christiānās continet, fortasse oldest, which contains Christian prayers, was perhaps
annō 1503 scrīptum est. Quid est specimen written in 1503. What is the oldest example of Latin?
antiquissimum linguae Latīnae ?
Est `Fībula Praenestīna’, quae vērisimiliter saeculō It’s the `Fibula Praenestina’ (Praenestine pin), which
septimō ante Christum nātum facta est. Haec est was probably made in the 7th century B.C. Here’s a
pictūra litterārum in eā īnscrīptārum: reproduction of the letters written on it.
_ Sī sententia litterīs posteriōribus scrībitur, habē- If the sentence is written with the later letters, we get:
mus: MANIOS MED FHEFHAKED NUMASIOI. Perītī MANIOS MED FHEFHAKED NUMASIOI. Experts
crēdunt hanc sententiam linguā classicā redditum believe that translated into the classical language
esse `Manius mē fēcit Numeriō’ this would be `Manius made me for Numerius` .
Audīvī complūrēs perītōs affirmāvisse hanc fībulam I’ve heard that some experts have claimed that the
falsam esse et saeculō decimō nōnō fabricātam fibula is a fake and was actually made in the 19th century
Sunt quī sīc affirment, sed nuperrimē probātiōnēs There are those who claim that. However, just,
scientificī dēmōnstrāvērunt fībulam rēvērā recently scientific tests have shown it’s really very old.
antiquissimam esse.
Cūr lingua nostra nōn `Rōmāna’ sed `Latīna’ Why is our language not called `Roman’ instead of
appellātur? Nōnne erat lingua Rōmānōrum, quī eam `Latin’? Wasn’t it the language of the Romans, who
per tōtam Eurōpam occidentālem prōpagāvērunt? spread it all over western Europe?
In prīncipiō Latīna erat lingua nōn tantum Rōmae Originally, Latin was the language not just of
sed tōtius rēgiōnis quae `Latium’ appellābātur. Rome but of the whole region that was called Latium.
Quandō lingua Latīna in eam formam quam nunc When did the Latin language change into the form
retinet mūtāta est? which it still retains?
Normae grammaticālēs quae in scholīs docentur ā The standard grammar which is taught in schools
scrīptōribus atque grammaticīs abhinc duo mīlia was esablished by writers and grammarians two
annōrum conditae sunt. In aevō mediaevālī, thousand years ago. However, in the Middle Ages
tamen, et annīs recentiōribus Latīnistae nova vōcā- and in more recent times, Latinists hav econtinued to
bula fingere pergunt quia semper oriuntur rēs coin new words because there are always new things
novae dē quibus hominibus est colloquendum. which people need to talk about.
Quandō Latīna cessāvit esse lingua quam infantēs When did Latin cease to be a language which infants
domī audiēbant et imitābant? heard and imitated in the home ?
Nunquam cessāvit, quod linguae Rōmānae It never ceased to be that, because the modern
hodiernae nihil aliud sunt quam formae novae Romance languages are just the new forms into which
in quās lingua Latīna ipsa in rēgiōnibus dīversīs Latin itself gradually changed in different regions.
sēnsim mūtāta est.
Sed crēdō, quamquam sermōnēs regiōnālēs semper But I believe that although the regional dialects
dīversiōrēs fierent, hominēs doctiōrēs inter sē kept on diverging, better educated people continued
Latīnē communicāre perrēxisse. to communicate in Latin among themselves.
Rectissimē dixistī. Scholārēs, inter quōs fortasse You’re absolutely right. Scholars, among whom
clārissimus erat Alcuinus Eborācēnsis, laborābant perhaps Alcuin of York was the best known, kept on
ut normae grammaticālēs stabiles et uniformēs working so that grammatical norms remained stable
manērent. Lingua Latīna in ecclēsiā et in adminis- and uniform. Latin was used in the Church and until
trātiōne saeculārī adhibēbātur et usque circiter around the year 1100, throughout southern Europe
annum millēsimum centēsimum per tōtam Eurōpam hardly any writing was done in the vernaculars and
meridiōnālem linguae vulgārēs vix scrībēbantur et almost all documents were composed in Latin. Then
paene omnia documenta Latīnē compōnēbantur. French, Italian, Spanish etc. started to be employed
Deinde linguae Francogallica, Italica, Hispānica et more and more but right up until the 17th century,
cēterae magis et magis adhibēbantur sed usque ad Latin was the international language throughout the
saeculum decimum septimum lingua Latīna lingua whole of Europe. In 1687, the book entitled
erat internātiōnālis per tōtam Eurōpam. Annō 1687 Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
liber cui titulus Philosophiae Nātūrālis Prīncipia (`Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy’), in
Mathēmatica, in quō Isaacus Newton theōriam gra- which Isaac Newton put forward his theory of gravity,
vitātis prōposuit, nōn Anglicē sed Latīnē ēditus est. was published in Latin, not English
Itaque omnēs doctī , ex quācumque gente ortī, inter So all educated people, whatever their nationality,
sē Latīne sine difficultāte colloquēbantur? spoke Latin among themselves without difficulty?
Epistulās facile inter sē scrībēbant, sed per terrās It was easy for them to write to each other, but
variās prōnuntiātus variābat. Trādunt Catherīnam, pronunciation differed a lot from country to country
prīncipessam Hispānicam, et Artūrium, prīncepem The story is that the Spanish Princess Catherine and
Anglicum, quī annō 1501 in connūbium intrāvērunt, the English Prince Arthur, who were married in 1501,
antequam Catherīna in Angliam advēnerit, per corresponded very happily before Catherine arrived in
litterās Latīnās multā cum iūcunditāte communicā- England. But, when they met, they had great difficulty
visse, sed, cum convēnissent, tantum magnā cum talking with each other.
difficultāte colloquī potuisse.
Audīvī Elizabētham rēgīnam, fīliam frātris Arthūriī, I’ve heard that Queen Elizabeth, Arthur’s niece spoke
Latīnē peritissimē locūtam esse. Nōnne ōlim cum Latin extremely well. Didn’t she once have a public
lēgātō peregrīnō pūblicē Latīnē disputāvit? argument with a foreign ambassador in Latin?
Ut vidētur, historiae Britannicae bene studuistī! It seems you’ve studied British history very well! The
Lēgātus Polōnus, quī in aulā cōram nōbilibus ā Polish ambassador, who was being welcomed by the
rēgīnā excipiēbātur, nōn verbīs mollibus et blandīs queen in full court, did not use soft and
ūsus est sed statim dē rēbus ab Anglīs gestīs questum complimentary language but immediately complained
longum fēcit. Rēgīna, quae omnia bene intellēxerat, at length about English actions. The queen, under-
maximē īrāta, Latīnē ex tempore et magnā cum elo- standing everything, was very angry and scolded the
quentiā locūta est ut Polōnum miserum vituperāret! poor Pole in eloquent, ex tempore Latin.
Postquam lingua Latīna munere linguae francae After Latin ceased to function as a lingua franca, how
fungī cessāvit, Eurōpaeī quōmodo inter sē commu- did Europeans communicate with each other?
nicābant?
In saeculō decimō octāvō, cum Francogallia cīvitās po- In the 18th century, when France was the most
tentissima esset, lingua Francogallica internātiōnālis powerful state, French became the international
facta est sed in Eurōpā centrālī et orientālī lingua language but in central and eastern Europe Latin lost
Latīna tantum lentē recēdēbat. Nisi fallor, usque ad ground only slowly. Unless I’m mistaken, Latin was
annum 1844 Latīna erat lingua officiālis parlamentī the official language of the Hungarian parliament
Hungaricī. Post Bellum Mundānum Prīmum, cum until 1844. After the 1st World War, when the
Americānae magnam auctoritātem obtinērent, lingua Americans were becoming very infuential, the
Anglica maximī momentī fiērī coepit. English language started to become predominant.
Cūr linguae vulgārēs linguam Latīnam, quae per tot Why were the vernacular languages finally able to
saecula vigēbat, postrēmō superāre potuērunt? displace Latin, which had been flourishing for so long?
Causae sunt variae sed fortassē inter eas maximī There are various reasons but among them the most
Momentī erat nātiōnālismus, nam lingua Latīna mo- important was probably nationalism, as the Latin
derātōrēs et scholārēs tōtius Eurōpae ūnificābat sed language unified European rulers and intellectuals
intrā quamque gentem illōs ab concīvibus dividēbat. but within each nation divided them from the rest
mus: MANIOS MED FHEFHAKED NUMASIOI. Perītī MANIOS MED FHEFHAKED NUMASIOI. Experts
crēdunt hanc sententiam linguā classicā redditum believe that translated into the classical language
esse `Manius mē fēcit Numeriō’ this would be `Manius made me for Numerius` .
Audīvī complūrēs perītōs affirmāvisse hanc fībulam I’ve heard that some experts have claimed that the
falsam esse et saeculō decimō nōnō fabricātam fibula is a fake and was actually made in the 19th century
Sunt quī sīc affirment, sed nuperrimē probātiōnēs There are those who claim that. However, just,
scientificī dēmōnstrāvērunt fībulam rēvērā recently scientific tests have shown it’s really very old.
antiquissimam esse.
Cūr lingua nostra nōn `Rōmāna’ sed `Latīna’ Why is our language not called `Roman’ instead of
appellātur? Nōnne erat lingua Rōmānōrum, quī eam `Latin’? Wasn’t it the language of the Romans, who
per tōtam Eurōpam occidentālem prōpagāvērunt? spread it all over western Europe?
In prīncipiō Latīna erat lingua nōn tantum Rōmae Originally, Latin was the language not just of
sed tōtius rēgiōnis quae `Latium’ appellābātur. Rome but of the whole region that was called Latium.
Quandō lingua Latīna in eam formam quam nunc When did the Latin language change into the form
retinet mūtāta est? which it still retains?
Normae grammaticālēs quae in scholīs docentur ā The standard grammar which is taught in schools
scrīptōribus atque grammaticīs abhinc duo mīlia was esablished by writers and grammarians two
annōrum conditae sunt. In aevō mediaevālī, thousand years ago. However, in the Middle Ages
tamen, et annīs recentiōribus Latīnistae nova vōcā- and in more recent times, Latinists hav econtinued to
bula fingere pergunt quia semper oriuntur rēs coin new words because there are always new things
novae dē quibus hominibus est colloquendum. which people need to talk about.
Quandō Latīna cessāvit esse lingua quam infantēs When did Latin cease to be a language which infants
domī audiēbant et imitābant? heard and imitated in the home ?
Nunquam cessāvit, quod linguae Rōmānae It never ceased to be that, because the modern
hodiernae nihil aliud sunt quam formae novae Romance languages are just the new forms into which
in quās lingua Latīna ipsa in rēgiōnibus dīversīs Latin itself gradually changed in different regions.
sēnsim mūtāta est.
Sed crēdō, quamquam sermōnēs regiōnālēs semper But I believe that although the regional dialects
dīversiōrēs fierent, hominēs doctiōrēs inter sē kept on diverging, better educated people continued
Latīnē communicāre perrēxisse. to communicate in Latin among themselves.
Rectissimē dixistī. Scholārēs, inter quōs fortasse You’re absolutely right. Scholars, among whom
clārissimus erat Alcuinus Eborācēnsis, laborābant perhaps Alcuin of York was the best known, kept on
ut normae grammaticālēs stabiles et uniformēs working so that grammatical norms remained stable
manērent. Lingua Latīna in ecclēsiā et in adminis- and uniform. Latin was used in the Church and until
trātiōne saeculārī adhibēbātur et usque circiter around the year 1100, throughout southern Europe
annum millēsimum centēsimum per tōtam Eurōpam hardly any writing was done in the vernaculars and
meridiōnālem linguae vulgārēs vix scrībēbantur et almost all documents were composed in Latin. Then
paene omnia documenta Latīnē compōnēbantur. French, Italian, Spanish etc. started to be employed
Deinde linguae Francogallica, Italica, Hispānica et more and more but right up until the 17th century,
cēterae magis et magis adhibēbantur sed usque ad Latin was the international language throughout the
saeculum decimum septimum lingua Latīna lingua whole of Europe. In 1687, the book entitled
erat internātiōnālis per tōtam Eurōpam. Annō 1687 Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
liber cui titulus Philosophiae Nātūrālis Prīncipia (`Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy’), in
Mathēmatica, in quō Isaacus Newton theōriam gra- which Isaac Newton put forward his theory of gravity,
vitātis prōposuit, nōn Anglicē sed Latīnē ēditus est. was published in Latin, not English
Itaque omnēs doctī , ex quācumque gente ortī, inter So all educated people, whatever their nationality,
sē Latīne sine difficultāte colloquēbantur? spoke Latin among themselves without difficulty?
Epistulās facile inter sē scrībēbant, sed per terrās It was easy for them to write to each other, but
variās prōnuntiātus variābat. Trādunt Catherīnam, pronunciation differed a lot from country to country
prīncipessam Hispānicam, et Artūrium, prīncepem The story is that the Spanish Princess Catherine and
Anglicum, quī annō 1501 in connūbium intrāvērunt, the English Prince Arthur, who were married in 1501,
antequam Catherīna in Angliam advēnerit, per corresponded very happily before Catherine arrived in
litterās Latīnās multā cum iūcunditāte communicā- England. But, when they met, they had great difficulty
visse, sed, cum convēnissent, tantum magnā cum talking with each other.
difficultāte colloquī potuisse.
Audīvī Elizabētham rēgīnam, fīliam frātris Arthūriī, I’ve heard that Queen Elizabeth, Arthur’s niece spoke
Latīnē peritissimē locūtam esse. Nōnne ōlim cum Latin extremely well. Didn’t she once have a public
lēgātō peregrīnō pūblicē Latīnē disputāvit? argument with a foreign ambassador in Latin?
Ut vidētur, historiae Britannicae bene studuistī! It seems you’ve studied British history very well! The
Lēgātus Polōnus, quī in aulā cōram nōbilibus ā Polish ambassador, who was being welcomed by the
rēgīnā excipiēbātur, nōn verbīs mollibus et blandīs queen in full court, did not use soft and
ūsus est sed statim dē rēbus ab Anglīs gestīs questum complimentary language but immediately complained
longum fēcit. Rēgīna, quae omnia bene intellēxerat, at length about English actions. The queen, under-
maximē īrāta, Latīnē ex tempore et magnā cum elo- standing everything, was very angry and scolded the
quentiā locūta est ut Polōnum miserum vituperāret! poor Pole in eloquent, ex tempore Latin.
Postquam lingua Latīna munere linguae francae After Latin ceased to function as a lingua franca, how
fungī cessāvit, Eurōpaeī quōmodo inter sē commu- did Europeans communicate with each other?
nicābant?
In saeculō decimō octāvō, cum Francogallia cīvitās po- In the 18th century, when France was the most
tentissima esset, lingua Francogallica internātiōnālis powerful state, French became the international
facta est sed in Eurōpā centrālī et orientālī lingua language but in central and eastern Europe Latin lost
Latīna tantum lentē recēdēbat. Nisi fallor, usque ad ground only slowly. Unless I’m mistaken, Latin was
annum 1844 Latīna erat lingua officiālis parlamentī the official language of the Hungarian parliament
Hungaricī. Post Bellum Mundānum Prīmum, cum until 1844. After the 1st World War, when the
Americānae magnam auctoritātem obtinērent, lingua Americans were becoming very infuential, the
Anglica maximī momentī fiērī coepit. English language started to become predominant.
Cūr linguae vulgārēs linguam Latīnam, quae per tot Why were the vernacular languages finally able to
saecula vigēbat, postrēmō superāre potuērunt? displace Latin, which had been flourishing for so long?
Causae sunt variae sed fortassē inter eas maximī There are various reasons but among them the most
Momentī erat nātiōnālismus, nam lingua Latīna mo- important was probably nationalism, as the Latin
derātōrēs et scholārēs tōtius Eurōpae ūnificābat sed language unified European rulers and intellectuals
intrā quamque gentem illōs ab concīvibus dividēbat. but within each nation divided them from the rest
Fībula Praenestīna
Exemplar ēditiōnis tertiae librī c.t. Principia Mathematica
Dē operibus mediaevālibus et recentiōribus
Post fīnem Imperiī Rōmānī, multī scrīptōres Latīnē After the end of the Roman Empire, many writers con-
scrībere perrēxērunt. Quae opera maximī momentī tinued to write in Latin. Which works are the most
sunt? important ones?
Difficile est respondēre quod tot opera praeclāra It’s difficult to answer that because so many famous
per multa saecula compōnēbantur. Fortasse works were produced over the centuries. Perhaps we
prīmum mentiōnem facere dēbēmus Sanctī should first mention Saint Augustine, who was writing
Augustīnī quī paene eōdem tempore opera sua around the time that the barbarians were taking
scrībēbat, quō barbarī terrīs Rōmānīs potiēban- possession of Roman territory. However, the political
tur. Ēversiō politica tamen eum nōn sollicitābat upheaval didn’t bother him as he believed it was of
quia crēdēbat minimī momentī esse quī regerent, little importance who was ruling, so long as the rulers
dummodo rēctōrēs essent Christiānī. were Christians.
Nōnne Augustīnus ille dē linguīs discendīs quoque Didn’t Augustine also express an opinion on language
sententiam suam expressit? learning?
Ita vērō. Ipse in scholā linguam Graecam didicerat, Yes, indeed. He’d learned Greek himself at school but
quae minimē eum dēlectābat. Methodum enim didn’t much enjoy it. He said that the method of his
grammaticōrum sevērōrum affirmābat multum strict teachers was very different from that by which h
differre ab illā per quam sermōnem māternum he had learned his native tongue. In chapter 23 of the
didicisset. In capitulō vigēsimō tertiō librī prīmō first book of his Confessions, he wrote as follows:
Cōnfessiōnum haec verba scrīpsit:`Difficultās `The constant difficulty of learning a foreign
omnīnō ēdiscendae linguae peregrīnae quasi felle language was like a poison spoiling all the sweetness
aspergēbat omnēs suāvitātēs Graecās fābulōsā- of the Gr eek myths. I didn’t know any of the words
rum narrātiōnum. Nulla enim verba illa nōveram, and I was constantly being threatened with savage
et saevīs terrōribus ac poenīs, ut nōssem, instābā- terrors and punishments to make me learn them.
tur mihi vehementer.'
Eheu, omnibus saeculīs in omnibus terrīs discipulī Oh dear, students have suffered the same kind of terrors
terrōrēs eiusdem generis passī sunt! Crēdō tamen in every century and in every country. However, I think
methodōs hodiernās paulō mitiōrēs esse! Sed ad modern methods are a bit gentler! But let’s get back to
rem ipsam redeāmus. Nōmina aliōrum scrīptōrum he subject. Give me the names of some other authors
mihi dīc.
Libenter dīcam! Inter Anglōs quī dē rēbus in pat- With pleasure! Among English historians who’ve
riā gestīs scrīpsērunt prīmus erat Bēda, monāchus written about their own country, the first was Bede, a
quī annō septingentēsimō trīgēsimō prīmō opus monk who finished his masterpiece, The Ecclesias-
magnum suum, c.t. Historia ecclēsiastica gentis tical History of the English Nation, in the year 731 at
Anglōrum Gyruī in Northumbriā perfēcit. Eōdem Jarrow in Northumberland. The year of his death -
annō fortasse - septingentēsimō trīgēsimō quīntō – 735 – was perhaps also that of the birth of Alcuin, the
Bēda est mortuus atque nātus est Alcuinus, English scholar who worked at the court of the
scholar Anglicus quī in aulā Imperātōris Carōlī emperorCharlemagne in Aachen to raise standards
Magnī Aquisgrānī labōrābat ut Latīnitās tōtius of Latin all over Europe.
Eurōpae meliōrārētur.
Alcuinī mentiōnem in conventū priōre fēcimus. Iam We mentioned Alcuin in the previous meeting. And now
recordor quoque Bēdam verba cuiusdam dē `Anglīs’ ` I also remember that Bede reported someone’s words
et angelīs’ retulisse. about `Angles’ and `angels’.
Rectē dīxistī. Rēs agitur dē Gregōriō, quī annō You’re right. It involved Gregory, who became Pope
quīngentēsimō nōnāgēsimō Pontifex factus est. in the year 590. Bede wrote that before his election he
Bēda scrīpsit eum, ante electiōnem suam, Rōmae saw some prisoners in Rome and asked about their
captīvōs vīdisse et dē gentē eōrum rogāvisse. Cum nationality. When Gregory found out they were
nōvisset eōs Anglōs esse, Gregōrius, `Bene,’ inquit, Angles, he said, `That’s fitting, for they also have
nam et angelicam faciem habent, et tālēs angelō- angelic faces and such people deserve to share the
rum in caelīs decet esse cohaerēdēs.’ angels’ inheritance in heaven.
Dubitō quīn eī quī nunc puerōs Anglōs in scholīs I doubt if people who teach English boys in schools
doceant dē natūrā angelicā discipulōrum suōrum nowadays speak about their pupils’ angelic
loqueantur! Relinquāmus, tamen, pontificēs sanctōs- nature! Anyway, let’s leave popes and saints and talk
que et dē historiā saeculārī colloqueāmur. about secular history,
Sī tālia requīris, prīmum in mentem venit nōmen If that’s what you want, the first name that comes to
Einhardī, quī saeculō nōnō dē Carolō Magnō mind is Einhard, who wrote a biography of
scrīpsit. Hic liber, cui titulus est Vīta Karōlī Magnī Charlemagne, entitled Vīta Karolī Magnī. The book’s
apud http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ein.html at http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ein.html
legī potest. Inter opera Britannica memorandus Among British works, mention should be made of the
est liber quem Asser, epīscopus Cambrēnsis, dē book which Asser, a Welsh bishop, wrote about King
vīta rēgis Aelfredī scrīpsit. Asser, quī ipse mūnere Alfred. Asser, who had himself worked as a scholar at
scholasticō in aulā Aelfredī functus erat, affirmā- Alfred’s court, maintained that his master had been
bat dominum suum nōn tantum `rēgem Angul- not only `king of the Ango-Saxons’ but also `leader of
Saxōnum’ sed etiam `omnium Britanniae īnsulae all the Christians of the island of Britain.’ The text is,
Christiānōrum rectōrem’ fuisse. Hic liber, quem at http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/asserius.html
in http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/asserius.html and the book is a particular favourite of mine because
invenētis, mihi maximē cordī est quod Notting- it mentions Nottingham, my native town, and gives
hāmiae, urbis meae natīvī, mentiōnem facit et names for the place in English, Welsh and Latin:
nōmina Anglicum, Cambricum et Latīnum inclūdit: Nottingham, which is rendered `Tigguocobauc’ in
Snotengaham, quod Britannicē 'Tigguocobauc' British (i.e. modern Welsh tŷ ogofâu) and `speluncā-
interpretātur, Latīnē autem 'spēluncārum domus'. rum domus’(i.e. `house of caves’) in Latin. The
Urbs in saxō mollī aedificāta est, itaque multae city was built on soft rock and so many caves have
spēluncae effossae sunt. been dug out
Nōnne in millenniō secundō post Christum nātum Presumably there were also many historians who con-
multī historicī Latīnē scrībere perrēxērunt? tinued writing in Latin in the second millennium A.D?
Rectē dīxistī. Plūrima exempla afferre possem sed Correct. I could give lots of examples but I will just
tantum mentiōnem Raimondī dē Aguillers faciam, mention Raymond de Aguillers, the author of The
quī Gesta Francōrum et aliōrum Hierosolymitārum deeds of the Franks and of the other Jerusalemites. He
scrīpsit. Rēs dirissimās narrāvit dē caede a mīli- recorded dreadful things about the slaughter carried
tibus Christiānīs post urbem Ierosolymās annō out by the Christian soldiers after their capture of
1099 captam effectā: `in templō et in porticū the city of Jerusalem in 1099:` In the temple and the
Salomōnis (i.e. in templō Islamicō quod Al Aqsa portico of Solomon (ie.in the mosque known as Al
appellātur), equitābātur in sanguine usque ad Aqsa) people were riding in blood up to their knees
genua, et usque ad frēnōs equōrum iustō mīrōque and up to the bridles of their horses; it was a just and
Dei iūdiciō, ut locus īdem eōrum sanguinem wonderful judgement of God that the very same place
exciperet,quōrum blasphēmiās in Deum tam should be filled with the blood of those whose
longō tempore pertulerat.’ Sī lineās dē aliīs blasphemies against God it had for so long endured.'
operibus extractās legere vultis, librum ab Keith If you want to read extracts from other works,
Sidwell scrīptum, Reading Medieval Latin spectāre you can look at Keith Sidwell’s Reading Medieval
potestis, in quō relātiōnēs et nōtae Anglicae Latin which also contains commentary and notes in.
quoque praebentur. English
In aevō mediaevālī nōn tantum historicī sed etiam In the Middle Ages not just historians but also the
rectōrēs dē quibus scrībēbant linguam Latīnam rulers they were writing about used Latin.
adhibēbant.
Ita est. Rēgēs, praelātī atque cancellāriī epistulās Yes, kings, princes of the Church and officials used to
Latīnās mittēbant accipiēbantque. Etiam rēgēs send and receive letters in Latin, Even the kings of
Lithuānicī, quī usque ad medium saeculum Lithuania, who were unwilling to convert to the
decimum quartum fidem Christiānam accipere Christian religion until the middle of the 14th century
nōlēbant, cum Pontifice et rectōribus aliārum had to communicate in Latin with the Pope and the
gentium Latīnē commūnicāre dēbēbant. Nuper- rulers of other peoples. I’ve just recently read the
rimē ipse verba praeclāra rēgis Gedimīnae lēgī, famous words which King Gediminas adressed to the
quae nuntiīs pontificālibus dīxit: `Papam vestram Pope’s representatives: `I do not know your Pope and
nec nōvī nec nōsse cupiō: fidem ac rēligiōnem, have no desire to know him: I shall remain in the faith
quam paternā trāditiōne accēpī, in eā permanēbō, and religion which I received handed down from our
certāns pro illī sanguine usque ad mortem.’ fathers and will fight for with with blood until death.’
Sī tirōnēs textūs mediaevālēs simplicēs dēsīdērant, If beginners want simple medieval texts, what ought
quae sunt legenda? they to read?
Fortasse legendae sunt fābulae quae appellantur Perhaps they should read the stories known as the
Gesta Rōmānōrum et verisimiliter in Germāniā Gesta Romanorum (`The Deeds of the Romans’) and
saeculō decimō quartō ineunte scrīpta sunt. probably written in Germany at the beginning of the
Complūrēs fābulae apud situm Univeritātis Sanctī 14th century. Several of the stories can be read on
Ludovīcī legī possunt – the St. Louis University site:
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/readers/gr/gr1.html
In aliō sitū inveniētis ūnam fābulam nōtīs amplissi- On another site, you’ll find one story with lots of
mīs īnstrūctam, quam paene omnēs tirōnēs sine of notes added, which almost all beginners will be
magistrō intellegere poterunt. able to understand without their teacher. http://www.german-latin-english.com/emperor1.htm
Titulus fābulae est `Dē Superbiā et Arrogantiā The title of the story is `On the Pride and Arrogance
Imperātōris Ioviniānī’. Eadem fābula, nōminibus of the Emperor Iovinian.’ This same story, with
et variīs rēbus minōribus mūtātīs, in versibus ab names and some details altered, can be read in verse
poētā Americānō Henrīcī Longfellow scrīptīs, quī written by the American poet Henry Longfellow, who
titulum `Robert of Sicily’ elēgit, legī potest. chose the title `Robert of Sicily’.
Post fīnem Imperiī Rōmānī, multī scrīptōres Latīnē After the end of the Roman Empire, many writers con-
scrībere perrēxērunt. Quae opera maximī momentī tinued to write in Latin. Which works are the most
sunt? important ones?
Difficile est respondēre quod tot opera praeclāra It’s difficult to answer that because so many famous
per multa saecula compōnēbantur. Fortasse works were produced over the centuries. Perhaps we
prīmum mentiōnem facere dēbēmus Sanctī should first mention Saint Augustine, who was writing
Augustīnī quī paene eōdem tempore opera sua around the time that the barbarians were taking
scrībēbat, quō barbarī terrīs Rōmānīs potiēban- possession of Roman territory. However, the political
tur. Ēversiō politica tamen eum nōn sollicitābat upheaval didn’t bother him as he believed it was of
quia crēdēbat minimī momentī esse quī regerent, little importance who was ruling, so long as the rulers
dummodo rēctōrēs essent Christiānī. were Christians.
Nōnne Augustīnus ille dē linguīs discendīs quoque Didn’t Augustine also express an opinion on language
sententiam suam expressit? learning?
Ita vērō. Ipse in scholā linguam Graecam didicerat, Yes, indeed. He’d learned Greek himself at school but
quae minimē eum dēlectābat. Methodum enim didn’t much enjoy it. He said that the method of his
grammaticōrum sevērōrum affirmābat multum strict teachers was very different from that by which h
differre ab illā per quam sermōnem māternum he had learned his native tongue. In chapter 23 of the
didicisset. In capitulō vigēsimō tertiō librī prīmō first book of his Confessions, he wrote as follows:
Cōnfessiōnum haec verba scrīpsit:`Difficultās `The constant difficulty of learning a foreign
omnīnō ēdiscendae linguae peregrīnae quasi felle language was like a poison spoiling all the sweetness
aspergēbat omnēs suāvitātēs Graecās fābulōsā- of the Gr eek myths. I didn’t know any of the words
rum narrātiōnum. Nulla enim verba illa nōveram, and I was constantly being threatened with savage
et saevīs terrōribus ac poenīs, ut nōssem, instābā- terrors and punishments to make me learn them.
tur mihi vehementer.'
Eheu, omnibus saeculīs in omnibus terrīs discipulī Oh dear, students have suffered the same kind of terrors
terrōrēs eiusdem generis passī sunt! Crēdō tamen in every century and in every country. However, I think
methodōs hodiernās paulō mitiōrēs esse! Sed ad modern methods are a bit gentler! But let’s get back to
rem ipsam redeāmus. Nōmina aliōrum scrīptōrum he subject. Give me the names of some other authors
mihi dīc.
Libenter dīcam! Inter Anglōs quī dē rēbus in pat- With pleasure! Among English historians who’ve
riā gestīs scrīpsērunt prīmus erat Bēda, monāchus written about their own country, the first was Bede, a
quī annō septingentēsimō trīgēsimō prīmō opus monk who finished his masterpiece, The Ecclesias-
magnum suum, c.t. Historia ecclēsiastica gentis tical History of the English Nation, in the year 731 at
Anglōrum Gyruī in Northumbriā perfēcit. Eōdem Jarrow in Northumberland. The year of his death -
annō fortasse - septingentēsimō trīgēsimō quīntō – 735 – was perhaps also that of the birth of Alcuin, the
Bēda est mortuus atque nātus est Alcuinus, English scholar who worked at the court of the
scholar Anglicus quī in aulā Imperātōris Carōlī emperorCharlemagne in Aachen to raise standards
Magnī Aquisgrānī labōrābat ut Latīnitās tōtius of Latin all over Europe.
Eurōpae meliōrārētur.
Alcuinī mentiōnem in conventū priōre fēcimus. Iam We mentioned Alcuin in the previous meeting. And now
recordor quoque Bēdam verba cuiusdam dē `Anglīs’ ` I also remember that Bede reported someone’s words
et angelīs’ retulisse. about `Angles’ and `angels’.
Rectē dīxistī. Rēs agitur dē Gregōriō, quī annō You’re right. It involved Gregory, who became Pope
quīngentēsimō nōnāgēsimō Pontifex factus est. in the year 590. Bede wrote that before his election he
Bēda scrīpsit eum, ante electiōnem suam, Rōmae saw some prisoners in Rome and asked about their
captīvōs vīdisse et dē gentē eōrum rogāvisse. Cum nationality. When Gregory found out they were
nōvisset eōs Anglōs esse, Gregōrius, `Bene,’ inquit, Angles, he said, `That’s fitting, for they also have
nam et angelicam faciem habent, et tālēs angelō- angelic faces and such people deserve to share the
rum in caelīs decet esse cohaerēdēs.’ angels’ inheritance in heaven.
Dubitō quīn eī quī nunc puerōs Anglōs in scholīs I doubt if people who teach English boys in schools
doceant dē natūrā angelicā discipulōrum suōrum nowadays speak about their pupils’ angelic
loqueantur! Relinquāmus, tamen, pontificēs sanctōs- nature! Anyway, let’s leave popes and saints and talk
que et dē historiā saeculārī colloqueāmur. about secular history,
Sī tālia requīris, prīmum in mentem venit nōmen If that’s what you want, the first name that comes to
Einhardī, quī saeculō nōnō dē Carolō Magnō mind is Einhard, who wrote a biography of
scrīpsit. Hic liber, cui titulus est Vīta Karōlī Magnī Charlemagne, entitled Vīta Karolī Magnī. The book’s
apud http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ein.html at http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ein.html
legī potest. Inter opera Britannica memorandus Among British works, mention should be made of the
est liber quem Asser, epīscopus Cambrēnsis, dē book which Asser, a Welsh bishop, wrote about King
vīta rēgis Aelfredī scrīpsit. Asser, quī ipse mūnere Alfred. Asser, who had himself worked as a scholar at
scholasticō in aulā Aelfredī functus erat, affirmā- Alfred’s court, maintained that his master had been
bat dominum suum nōn tantum `rēgem Angul- not only `king of the Ango-Saxons’ but also `leader of
Saxōnum’ sed etiam `omnium Britanniae īnsulae all the Christians of the island of Britain.’ The text is,
Christiānōrum rectōrem’ fuisse. Hic liber, quem at http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/asserius.html
in http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/asserius.html and the book is a particular favourite of mine because
invenētis, mihi maximē cordī est quod Notting- it mentions Nottingham, my native town, and gives
hāmiae, urbis meae natīvī, mentiōnem facit et names for the place in English, Welsh and Latin:
nōmina Anglicum, Cambricum et Latīnum inclūdit: Nottingham, which is rendered `Tigguocobauc’ in
Snotengaham, quod Britannicē 'Tigguocobauc' British (i.e. modern Welsh tŷ ogofâu) and `speluncā-
interpretātur, Latīnē autem 'spēluncārum domus'. rum domus’(i.e. `house of caves’) in Latin. The
Urbs in saxō mollī aedificāta est, itaque multae city was built on soft rock and so many caves have
spēluncae effossae sunt. been dug out
Nōnne in millenniō secundō post Christum nātum Presumably there were also many historians who con-
multī historicī Latīnē scrībere perrēxērunt? tinued writing in Latin in the second millennium A.D?
Rectē dīxistī. Plūrima exempla afferre possem sed Correct. I could give lots of examples but I will just
tantum mentiōnem Raimondī dē Aguillers faciam, mention Raymond de Aguillers, the author of The
quī Gesta Francōrum et aliōrum Hierosolymitārum deeds of the Franks and of the other Jerusalemites. He
scrīpsit. Rēs dirissimās narrāvit dē caede a mīli- recorded dreadful things about the slaughter carried
tibus Christiānīs post urbem Ierosolymās annō out by the Christian soldiers after their capture of
1099 captam effectā: `in templō et in porticū the city of Jerusalem in 1099:` In the temple and the
Salomōnis (i.e. in templō Islamicō quod Al Aqsa portico of Solomon (ie.in the mosque known as Al
appellātur), equitābātur in sanguine usque ad Aqsa) people were riding in blood up to their knees
genua, et usque ad frēnōs equōrum iustō mīrōque and up to the bridles of their horses; it was a just and
Dei iūdiciō, ut locus īdem eōrum sanguinem wonderful judgement of God that the very same place
exciperet,quōrum blasphēmiās in Deum tam should be filled with the blood of those whose
longō tempore pertulerat.’ Sī lineās dē aliīs blasphemies against God it had for so long endured.'
operibus extractās legere vultis, librum ab Keith If you want to read extracts from other works,
Sidwell scrīptum, Reading Medieval Latin spectāre you can look at Keith Sidwell’s Reading Medieval
potestis, in quō relātiōnēs et nōtae Anglicae Latin which also contains commentary and notes in.
quoque praebentur. English
In aevō mediaevālī nōn tantum historicī sed etiam In the Middle Ages not just historians but also the
rectōrēs dē quibus scrībēbant linguam Latīnam rulers they were writing about used Latin.
adhibēbant.
Ita est. Rēgēs, praelātī atque cancellāriī epistulās Yes, kings, princes of the Church and officials used to
Latīnās mittēbant accipiēbantque. Etiam rēgēs send and receive letters in Latin, Even the kings of
Lithuānicī, quī usque ad medium saeculum Lithuania, who were unwilling to convert to the
decimum quartum fidem Christiānam accipere Christian religion until the middle of the 14th century
nōlēbant, cum Pontifice et rectōribus aliārum had to communicate in Latin with the Pope and the
gentium Latīnē commūnicāre dēbēbant. Nuper- rulers of other peoples. I’ve just recently read the
rimē ipse verba praeclāra rēgis Gedimīnae lēgī, famous words which King Gediminas adressed to the
quae nuntiīs pontificālibus dīxit: `Papam vestram Pope’s representatives: `I do not know your Pope and
nec nōvī nec nōsse cupiō: fidem ac rēligiōnem, have no desire to know him: I shall remain in the faith
quam paternā trāditiōne accēpī, in eā permanēbō, and religion which I received handed down from our
certāns pro illī sanguine usque ad mortem.’ fathers and will fight for with with blood until death.’
Sī tirōnēs textūs mediaevālēs simplicēs dēsīdērant, If beginners want simple medieval texts, what ought
quae sunt legenda? they to read?
Fortasse legendae sunt fābulae quae appellantur Perhaps they should read the stories known as the
Gesta Rōmānōrum et verisimiliter in Germāniā Gesta Romanorum (`The Deeds of the Romans’) and
saeculō decimō quartō ineunte scrīpta sunt. probably written in Germany at the beginning of the
Complūrēs fābulae apud situm Univeritātis Sanctī 14th century. Several of the stories can be read on
Ludovīcī legī possunt – the St. Louis University site:
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/readers/gr/gr1.html
In aliō sitū inveniētis ūnam fābulam nōtīs amplissi- On another site, you’ll find one story with lots of
mīs īnstrūctam, quam paene omnēs tirōnēs sine of notes added, which almost all beginners will be
magistrō intellegere poterunt. able to understand without their teacher. http://www.german-latin-english.com/emperor1.htm
Titulus fābulae est `Dē Superbiā et Arrogantiā The title of the story is `On the Pride and Arrogance
Imperātōris Ioviniānī’. Eadem fābula, nōminibus of the Emperor Iovinian.’ This same story, with
et variīs rēbus minōribus mūtātīs, in versibus ab names and some details altered, can be read in verse
poētā Americānō Henrīcī Longfellow scrīptīs, quī written by the American poet Henry Longfellow, who
titulum `Robert of Sicily’ elēgit, legī potest. chose the title `Robert of Sicily’.
Quomodo Iacobus Penrose, pictor Hibernicus, `Bēdam Venerābilem’ imāginārētur
Spēluncae Nottinghamēnsēs
|
Audīvī ūnum ex sodālibus nostrīs carmina quaedam mediaevālia nūper Anglicē reddidisse.
Ita est. Ego quattuor carmina inter saeculum decimum et duodecimum scrīpta ēlēgī et versiōnēs Anglicās addidī. In omnibus dē amōre iuvenīlī et dē temporibus annī rhythmīs simplicibus iūcundīsque cantātur. Audīte omnēs, quaesō, initium prīmī carminis: Redit aestās cunctīs grāta, viret herbīs iam per prāta; nemus frondibus ornātur, sīc per frondēs renovātur. Brūma vīlis, nebulōsa, erat nōbīs taediōsa. cum Aprīlis redit grātus flōribus circumstīpātus, Philomēna cantilēnā replet nemoris amoena, et puellae per plateās intrīcātās dant chorēās. |
I’ve heard that one of our members has recently
translated some medieval poems into English. That’s right. I selected four poems written between the 10th and 12th centuries and added English translations. All of them are about young love and the seasons of the year, with simple, pleasant rhythms. Please listen to the start of the first poem. The summer has returned, gratifying to all, and the grass is growing strongly in the meadows. The woods are decorated with foliage, for thus they are renewed with leaves. The vile mists, the cloudy weather, was so tedious to us. But now with April’s gratifying return flowers spring up on all sides, the nightingale with its song. re-completes the charm of the groves. and the maidens in the village squares dance intricate group dances. |
Certissimē versūs sunt pulchrī! Ubi talia carmina They’re cetainly beautiful lines. Where can you
legī possunt? read poems like that?
Illa carmina dē quibus colloquimur ad omnēs The poems we’re discussing will be sent to all
sodālēs cum epistulā electronicā mittentur. Sī alia members as an email attachment. If you want
requīris, in variīs librīs et sitibus interretiālibus others, lots of poems are available in various
multa carmina praebentur, sed multa sunt quae books and web sites., but there are a lot which
nunquam typīs expressa sunt et tantum in manu- have never been printed and are only found in
scrīptīs inveniuntur. Exempla versuūm classicōrum manuscripts. Examples of classical and of
et mediaevālium in librō eximiō c.t. Penguin Book of medieval poetry ate contained in the excellent
Latin Verse continentur, quī annō millēsimō nōngen- Penguin Book of Latin Verse, which was
tēsimō sexāgēsimō secundō ēditus est. Ēheu, nunc in published in 1962. Unfortunately it can’t be
tabernīs nōn invenīrī potest sed exemplāria vetera ā found in the shops now but old copies can be
vendōribus interretiālibus emī possunt. Eundum est bought from sellers on the Internet. You need to
ad hunc situm : go to this site.
http://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Book-Latin-Verse/dp/B0000CLCVO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329110009&sr=1-1
Bene, sed nunc de operibus Latīnīs recentiōribus collo- Fine, but now let’s talk about more recent works in
quāmur. Sciō in Renascentiā et posteā multōs librōs Latin. I know that many Latin books were
Latīnōs ēditōs esse, et in Germāniā usque ad saeculum published in the Renaissance and afterwards, and .
decimum septimum quotannīs plūra opera Latīna in Germany up till the 17th century more works
quam Germānica typīs expressa esse. were printed in Latin each year than in Germany.
Rectissimē dīxistī. Quamquam post aevum medium You’re absolutely right. Although after the
linguae vernaculārēs in diēs maiōris momentī fiēbantur, Middle Ages the vernacular languages were
hominēs doctī necnōn politicī, ut anteā inter nōs est growing continually in importance, scholars
dīctum, inter sē Latīne colloquī et scrībere perrēx- and statesmen, as we’ve said before, continued
ērunt. Inter scholārēs quī in Renascentiā ipsā to speak and write in Latin among themselves.
flōrēbant, Aenēās Silvius haudquāquam spernendus among the scholars of the Renaissance itself,-
est. Aeneas Silvius shouldn’t be overlooked
Nōnne ille, postquam pontifex ēlectus est, Pius Wasn’t he known as Pius II after he was elected
Secundus appellābātur? Pope?
Ita. Annō mīllēsimō quadrigentēsimō quīnquāgēsimō That’s right. Aeneas ascended St. Peter’s
octāvō Aenēās thrōnum Sanctī Petrī ascendit, pontifi- throne in 1458 and remained pontiff for six
cātum sex annōs usque ad mortem suam gessit. Dum years up till his death. Amazingly, whilst
ecclēsiam regit, mīrābile dictū, dē tōtā vītā suā lībrum presiding over the church he wrote a complete
scrīpsit cui titulus est Commentāriī Rērum Memorā- autobiography under the title Commentaries
bilium. Aenēās, sīcut Iūlius Caesar, dē sē tertiā on Memorable Events. Aeneas, like Caesar,
persōnā sed modō vīvidō scrībēbat. Exemplī grātiā, wrote about himself in the third person but
audīte haec verba dē conventū ecclēsiasticō in quō but in a lively way. For example, listen to these
ipse postrēmō pontifex factus est :"Noctis medium words about the conclave at which he him-
efflūxerat, cum - ecce - Bononiēnsis Aenēam adit et self was finally made pope: `It was past mid-
dormientem excitāns 'quid ais' inquit 'Aenēa? nescīs night when – lo and behold – the Cardinal of
quia iam pāpam habēmus? in lātrīnis convēnērunt Bologna came and woke Aeneas. `What have
aliquot cardinālēs statuēruntque Vilhelmum ēligere'... you to say, Aeneas?’ he said.`Don’t you know
Aenēās: `Fefellistī mē, immō vērō tē ipsum et patriam we’ve now got a pope? Some of the cardinals
tuam Italiam nisi resipis'" [Lib. I,36] Crēdō illum met in the toilets and decided to elect William.
Vilhelmum fuisse cardinālem Francogallicum. Textus Aeneas said: `You’re having me on – unless
integer Latīnus cum versiōne Anglicā adversā in seriē you’ve lost all respect for yourself and Italy
`Bibliothēcā Tattiānā’ nūper ēditus est et complūrēs your country. (Bk. 1, ch. 36). I think `William’
pāginae in Interrētī apud `Librōs Gūglaeānōs’ legī was a French cardinal. The whole text in Latin
possunt. with facing English translation was published
recently and some pages can be read on the
Internet in Google Books
Nōnne Italus quīdam fere illō tempore in Britanniā Didn’t some Italian around the same time have
mūnere fungēbātur et dē histōriā Britannicā scrīpsit? a job in Britain and write on British history?
Fortasse dē Polydōrō Vergiliō loqueris, quī annō Perhaps you’re talking about Polydore Vergil,
millēsimō quīngentēsimō prīmō Britanniam vēnit who came to Britain in 1501 to collect church
ut vectigālia ecclēsiastica colligeret, deinde ā rēge taxes and was then asked by King Henry VII
Henrīcō septimō rogātus est ut histōriam Anglicam to write a history of England. That book,
scrīberet. Quī liber, annō mīllēsimō quīngentēsimō which came out in 1534, is a very important
trīgēsimō quartō ēditus, fōns maximī momentī est source for people working on the reigns of
eīs quī rēs sub rēgibus Henrīcō septimō et Henrīcō Henry VII and Henry VIII.. The Latin text
octāvō gestās investigant. Textus Latīnus ūnā cum is available on the internet together with an
versiōne Anglicā in interrētī praebētur apud English translation at:
http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/polverg/ http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/polverg/
Polydōrus quoque exemplum Iūliī Caesaris secūtus Polydorus also followed Julius Caesar’s
est, nam opus ita incipitur:`Britannia omnis ..., īnsula example, as the book begins like this : `The
in oceanō contrā Gallicum lītus posita, dīviditur in whole of Britan, an island in the ocean
partēs quattuor, quārum ūnam incolunt Anglī, aliam opposite France, is divided into four parts,
Scotī, tertiam Uāllī, quartam Cornubiēnses. Hī omnēs one of which the English inhabit, another the
vel linguā vel mōribus seu īnstitūtis inter se differunt. Scots, the third the Welsh and the fourth the
Cornish. All these differ in language, customs
or institutions.
Inter aequālēs Polydōrī, celeberrimus erat Thomas Among Polydorus’s contemporaries, the most
More, auctor operis Latīnī cui titulus erat Ūtopia. In famous was Thomas More, author of a Latin
hōc librō agitur dē īnsulā fīctā in quō omnia īnstitūta work Utopia. The book is about an imaginary
politica sociāliaque quam optima sunt. island with perfect political and social institutions
Ita, sed disputātur utrum stātum rērum fingeret Yes, but there’s controversy over whether he
quam ipse dēsīderet an īrōnicē scrīberet! was imagining his own ideal or being ironical.
Saeculīs decimō septimō et decimō octāvō quoque multa In the 17th and 18th centuries also many Latin
opera Latīna in Britanniā scrībēbantur. Exemplī grātiā, works continued to be written in Britain. For
Franciscus Bacon, philosophus et homō politicus, dē example, Francis Bacon, the philosopher and
rēgnō rēgis Henrīcī septimī histōriam scrīpsit, quae statesman, wrote a history of the reign of Henry
annō mīllēsimō sescentēsimō vigēsimō octāvō ēdita est. VII, published in 1628 and available at:
In http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/henry/ praebētur. http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/henry/
Iōhannēs Milton, quamquam ob versūs Anglicōs hodiē Although John Milton is famous today for his
celebrātur, carmen longum dē coniūrātiōne Guidōnis English poetry, he also wrote a long Latin poem
Fawkes Latīne composuit, quod legere potes apud Guy Fawkes’ conpiracy, which you can read at:
http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/milton/ Neque est http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/milton/
obliviscendus Vincēns Bourne, poēta annō mīllēsimō and we shouldn’t forget Vincent Bourne, a poet
sescentēsimō nōnāgēsimō quīntō nātus, quī multa born in 1695, who wrote many Latin poems,
carmina Latīna scrīpsit, ut `Planētae sunt habitābilēs’: like `There are habitable planets’:
Nōs sēdēs aliās, aliōs exquīrimus orbēs; We are looking for other homes, other worlds;
nōs ferrī impavidō vastum per ināne volātū great passion impels us to voyage in fearless
Īngēns urget amor; iuvat, ō iuvat īre per ignēs flight though the vast emptiness; it is delight,
aethereōs, lustrāre altī vāga lūmina caelī yes, delight to to go through the aetherial
stellārumque aperīre domōs. fires, to survey the wandering lights of high
heaven and open the mansions of the stars
Carmina illīus et Latīna et Anglica apud `Librōs Gūg- Both his Latin and English poems can be read
laeānōs’ legī possunt. in Google books.
In Eurōpā continentālī quoque usque ad saeculum In mainland Europe as well, Latin was playing
ūndēvigēsimum lingua Latīna mūnere magnī an important role until the 19th century. Every-
momentī fungēbātur. Omnēs sciunt Carōlum Marx body knows Karl Marx wrote an essay for his
in examinātiōne mātūritātis opusculum scrīpsisse, matriculation exam entitled `Whether the prin-
cuius titulus erat `An prīncipātus Augustī cipate of Augustus deserves to be counted
meritō inter fēliciōrēs reīpūblicae Rōmānae aetātēs amongst the Roman state’s happier periods.’
numerētur?’ Nōn multī sunt qui sciant sociālistam Not manyknow that the French socialist Jean
Francogallicum Iōhannem Jaurès dissertātiōnem Jaurès wrote a dissertation `On the first out-
`Dē prīmīs sociālismī Germānicī lineamentīs apud lines of German socialism in Luther, Kant,
Lutherum, Kant, Fichte, Hegel’ scrīpsisse. In fīne Fichte and Hegel.’ At the end of the work he
operis dē linguā Latīnā ipsā sententiam expressit: expressed an opnion on Latin itself:
`...nec mihi displicet ad rēs hodiernās Latīnum `.. I am not unpleased to have used the Latin
ūsūrpāsse sermōnem, quandō in hōc sermōne et iūs language for a modern subject, when it was in
hūmānum antīquae philosophiae mōrālis, expressum this tongue that the human law of ancient
sit, et Christiāna frāternitās suspīrāverit ac cecinerit, moral philosophy was expressed and Christian
et ille Latīnus sermō hodiē adhūc sōlus sit omnium brotherhood breathed and sang, and the Latin
populōrum ūniversus et commūnis sermō et sīc tongue is still today the sole universal and
ūniversālī sociālismō conveniat. ita Latīnus sermō common tongue of all people’s and thus suits
istī integrālī sociālismō, quem Benoît Malon universal socialism. Thus Latin is in harmony
dēscrīpsit, cōnfōrmis est, in eō sociālismum nōn with Malon’s integral socialism, and in it we
quasi exiguam factiōnem sed quasi ipsam hūmāni- see socialism not as a miniscule faction but as
tātem, vidēmus; et sub speciē hūmānitātis et aeterni- humanity itself ; and socialism is glimpsed in
tātis sociālismus adspicitur.’ the guise of humanity and of eternity
Praebenturne haec opera quoque in Interrētī ? Are these works available on the Net as well?
Praebentur. Eundum est ad hōs sitūs: They are. You need to go to these sites:
http://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/Chronologia/Lspost19/Marx/mar_lat1.html
http://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/Chronologia/Lspost19/Jaures/jau_intr.html
Et quid dē saeculō vigēsimō? Nōnne ille Cecilius Lewis, And what about the 20th century? Didn’t C.S.
quī fābulās dē Narniā scrīpsit, cum sacerdōte quōdam Lewis who wrote the Narnia stories correspond
Italō commercium epistulārum Latīne faciēbat ? in Latin with an Italian priest.
Ita vērō. Nōmen sacerdōtis erat Iōhannēs Calabria. Yes, indeed. The priest’s name was Giovanni
Nēsciēbat Lewis linguam Italicam didicisse ut versūs Calabria. He didn’t know that Lewis had
Dantis legeret, itaque epistulam Latīnam ad eum annō learned Italian to read Dante’s poetry, and
mīllēsimō nōngentēsimō quadrāgēsimō septimō scrīpsit. so in 1947 he wrote a letter to him in Latin.
Deinde complūrēs per annōs inter sē Latīne commūni- Then they continued communicating in Latin
cābant. Epistulae, ūnā cum versiōne Anglicā abhinc for several years. The letters were published
duodecim annōs ēditae sunt et adhūc emī possunt. 12 years ago and are still on sale.
http://www.amazon.com/Latin-Letters-C-S-Lewis/dp/1890318345/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329274791&sr=1-1
Īnsula Ūtopia ā Thomā More dēscrīpta
Iōhannēs Jaurès (1859-1914)
Rēctōrēs nostrī et regere volentēs
Donaldus Tsang, Rēctor Suprēmus Honcongēnsis, mox Donald Tsang, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, will
munus dēpositūrus est itaque comitia habēbuntur soon retire and so elections will be held to
ad successōrem ēligendum. Crēdō in hīs comitiīs nōn choose his successor. I believe that not all citizens
omnēs cīvēs iūs suffrāgiī ferendī habēre. will have the right to vote in this election.
Rēctissimē dīxistī. Secundum Lēgem Fundamentālem, You’re absolutely right. According to the Basic
Regiōnis Speciālis Administrātīvae Honcongēnsis, Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Rēctor Suprēmus ab Collēgiō Ēlectōrālī creātur, in Region, the Chief Executive is elected by an
quō inclūduntur legātī dīversārum sociētātum ElectoralCollege, including representatives of
ordīnumque, praecipuē commerciālium. various associations and organisations,
especiallycommercial ones.
Cūr rēs ita cōnstitūta sunt? Why have things been arranged like that?
Regimen centrāle verētur nē populus, sī iūs rēctōrem The central government is afraid that ifthe
suum ēligendī habeat, candidātō faveat quō regimen people were allowed to choose their own ruler
ipsum nōn fīdeat. Prōmissum est, tamen, annō millē- they might favour someone the government
simō septimō decimō omnēs suffrāgandī iūs habitūrōs itself doesn’t trust. It’s been promised, though,
esse. that in the year 2017 everybody will have the
right to vote in the election.
Quī sunt candidātī? Who are the candidates?
Trēs hominēs nōminātiōnem adeptī sunt: Henrīcus Three persons have obtained a nomination:
Tang, Sīvaeus Leung et Albertus Ho. Inter quōs Henry Tang, C. Y. Leung and Albert Ho. Among
Albertus, quī Factiōnem Dēmocraticam dūcit, tantum these, Albert, who leads the Democratic Party,
participat ut contrā comitia in `parvō circulō’ habita is only taking part to have an opportunity to
reclāmandī occāsiōnem habeat. Cum Factiō Dēmocra- protest against the `small circle’ election.
tica regiminī centrālī nōn est grāta, haudquāquam As the Democratic Party is not acceptable to the
fierī potest ut magna pars Collēgiī Ēlectōrālis eī faveat. government, there is no way a majority
of the Electoral College would back him.
Sententiā tuā, vincētne Henrīcus an Sīvaeus? In your opinion, will Henry or C.Y. win?
Ōlim Henrīcus, quī complūrēs annōs munera magnī At one point, Henry, who has held important
momentī in regimine Honcongēnsī suscipit, crēdēbātur positions in the Hong Kong government for
esse candidātus quō regimen centrāle favēret. Nūper- several years, was thought to be the candidate
rimē, tamen, rēs dē vītā prīvātā eius dīvulgātae sunt, the central government favoured. Very recently,
propter quās multī dubitant quīn dignus sit officiō however, there have been disclosures about
honestissimō. Ut ipse cōnfessus est, postquam his private life which make many doubt his
matrimōnium intrāvit, in relātiōne sexuālī cum amīcā fitness for the highest office. He admitted,
erat necnōn, sī fāmae est crēdendum, pater factus est he was involved in an extra-marital affair
fīliī illegitimī. Patefactum quoque est `palātium’ sub- and, if rumour is to be believed, he fathered an
terrāneum quod sine licentiā lēgālī sub vīllā ad uxōrem illegitimate son. Also revealed was an under-
eius pertinentem cōnstructum est. `ground `palace’ constructed without legal
permission beneath a villa owned by his wife.
Tālēs rēs sānē efficere possunt ut grātia hominis politicī That kind of thing can certainly make a politician
apud populum dēminuātur, sed nesciō cūr opīniōnem less popular among the people but I don’t know
regiminis centrālis mūtent. why it changes the central government’s view.
Recordārī dēbēs rēctōrēs Sīnārum, quamquam nōndum You have to remember that although China’s
velint dēmocratiam tōtam in Honcongum intrōdūcere, rulers don’t yet want to allow full democracy in
tamen velle Rēctōrem Suprēmum regiōnis nostrae Hong Kong, they still want a Chief Executive
populō acceptum esse. Haudquāquam volunt centēna acceptable to the people. They don’t want
mīlia reclamātōrum viās complēre, quae rēs annō bīs hundreds of thousands of demonstrators throng-
mīllēsimō tertiō, cum Tung Cinva nōbīs praesidēbat, ing the streets, as of course happened when
profectō accidit. Tung Chee Hwa was in charge in 2003.
Itaque nunc amīcī nostrī Pēcingēnsēs Sīvaeō favent? So now are our friends in Beijing backing C.Y?
Multī autumant rēs ita sē habēre et fortasse prīnceps Many are claiming that is the case and perhaps
minister Sīnēnsis ipse, etiamsī verbīs ambiguīs ūsus the Chinese premier himself signalled it, though
est, signum dedit. Crēdō tamen multōs negōtiātōrēs he used ambiguous words. However, I believe
adhūc Henrīcō magis cōnfīdere quod timeant nē Sīvaeus many businessmen still trust Henry more
cōnsilia regiminis hodiernī, quae ipsōs plērumque because they are afraid C.Y. might change the
iuvant, mūtāre tentet. present government’s policies, which in general
they themselves support.
Donaldus Tsang, Rēctor Suprēmus Honcongēnsis, mox Donald Tsang, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, will
munus dēpositūrus est itaque comitia habēbuntur soon retire and so elections will be held to
ad successōrem ēligendum. Crēdō in hīs comitiīs nōn choose his successor. I believe that not all citizens
omnēs cīvēs iūs suffrāgiī ferendī habēre. will have the right to vote in this election.
Rēctissimē dīxistī. Secundum Lēgem Fundamentālem, You’re absolutely right. According to the Basic
Regiōnis Speciālis Administrātīvae Honcongēnsis, Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Rēctor Suprēmus ab Collēgiō Ēlectōrālī creātur, in Region, the Chief Executive is elected by an
quō inclūduntur legātī dīversārum sociētātum ElectoralCollege, including representatives of
ordīnumque, praecipuē commerciālium. various associations and organisations,
especiallycommercial ones.
Cūr rēs ita cōnstitūta sunt? Why have things been arranged like that?
Regimen centrāle verētur nē populus, sī iūs rēctōrem The central government is afraid that ifthe
suum ēligendī habeat, candidātō faveat quō regimen people were allowed to choose their own ruler
ipsum nōn fīdeat. Prōmissum est, tamen, annō millē- they might favour someone the government
simō septimō decimō omnēs suffrāgandī iūs habitūrōs itself doesn’t trust. It’s been promised, though,
esse. that in the year 2017 everybody will have the
right to vote in the election.
Quī sunt candidātī? Who are the candidates?
Trēs hominēs nōminātiōnem adeptī sunt: Henrīcus Three persons have obtained a nomination:
Tang, Sīvaeus Leung et Albertus Ho. Inter quōs Henry Tang, C. Y. Leung and Albert Ho. Among
Albertus, quī Factiōnem Dēmocraticam dūcit, tantum these, Albert, who leads the Democratic Party,
participat ut contrā comitia in `parvō circulō’ habita is only taking part to have an opportunity to
reclāmandī occāsiōnem habeat. Cum Factiō Dēmocra- protest against the `small circle’ election.
tica regiminī centrālī nōn est grāta, haudquāquam As the Democratic Party is not acceptable to the
fierī potest ut magna pars Collēgiī Ēlectōrālis eī faveat. government, there is no way a majority
of the Electoral College would back him.
Sententiā tuā, vincētne Henrīcus an Sīvaeus? In your opinion, will Henry or C.Y. win?
Ōlim Henrīcus, quī complūrēs annōs munera magnī At one point, Henry, who has held important
momentī in regimine Honcongēnsī suscipit, crēdēbātur positions in the Hong Kong government for
esse candidātus quō regimen centrāle favēret. Nūper- several years, was thought to be the candidate
rimē, tamen, rēs dē vītā prīvātā eius dīvulgātae sunt, the central government favoured. Very recently,
propter quās multī dubitant quīn dignus sit officiō however, there have been disclosures about
honestissimō. Ut ipse cōnfessus est, postquam his private life which make many doubt his
matrimōnium intrāvit, in relātiōne sexuālī cum amīcā fitness for the highest office. He admitted,
erat necnōn, sī fāmae est crēdendum, pater factus est he was involved in an extra-marital affair
fīliī illegitimī. Patefactum quoque est `palātium’ sub- and, if rumour is to be believed, he fathered an
terrāneum quod sine licentiā lēgālī sub vīllā ad uxōrem illegitimate son. Also revealed was an under-
eius pertinentem cōnstructum est. `ground `palace’ constructed without legal
permission beneath a villa owned by his wife.
Tālēs rēs sānē efficere possunt ut grātia hominis politicī That kind of thing can certainly make a politician
apud populum dēminuātur, sed nesciō cūr opīniōnem less popular among the people but I don’t know
regiminis centrālis mūtent. why it changes the central government’s view.
Recordārī dēbēs rēctōrēs Sīnārum, quamquam nōndum You have to remember that although China’s
velint dēmocratiam tōtam in Honcongum intrōdūcere, rulers don’t yet want to allow full democracy in
tamen velle Rēctōrem Suprēmum regiōnis nostrae Hong Kong, they still want a Chief Executive
populō acceptum esse. Haudquāquam volunt centēna acceptable to the people. They don’t want
mīlia reclamātōrum viās complēre, quae rēs annō bīs hundreds of thousands of demonstrators throng-
mīllēsimō tertiō, cum Tung Cinva nōbīs praesidēbat, ing the streets, as of course happened when
profectō accidit. Tung Chee Hwa was in charge in 2003.
Itaque nunc amīcī nostrī Pēcingēnsēs Sīvaeō favent? So now are our friends in Beijing backing C.Y?
Multī autumant rēs ita sē habēre et fortasse prīnceps Many are claiming that is the case and perhaps
minister Sīnēnsis ipse, etiamsī verbīs ambiguīs ūsus the Chinese premier himself signalled it, though
est, signum dedit. Crēdō tamen multōs negōtiātōrēs he used ambiguous words. However, I believe
adhūc Henrīcō magis cōnfīdere quod timeant nē Sīvaeus many businessmen still trust Henry more
cōnsilia regiminis hodiernī, quae ipsōs plērumque because they are afraid C.Y. might change the
iuvant, mūtāre tentet. present government’s policies, which in general
they themselves support.
Henrīcus Tang
_ Sīvaeus Leung
Dē `Lupō’ et `Porcō’
Post conventum nostrum proximē praeteritum After our last meeting, the election was held and
comitia facta sunt, ex quīs Sīvaeus victor discessit. C.Y. emerged as the winner. So in July he will
Itaque mensē Iūliō munus Rēctōris Suprēmī Honcon- take up office as Hong Kong’s Chief Executive.
gēnsis suscipiet.
Rectē dīxistī sed putō nōn `Rector Suprēmus’ That’s right, but I think it’s not the phrase
iūnctūram sed `Administrātor Prīncipālis’ apti- `Rector Supremus’ but `Administrator Princi-
ōrem esse ad `Chief Executive’ iūnctūram alis’ that’s more suitable as a translation into
Anglīcam Latīnē reddendam. Nōn enim possidet Latin of the English `Chief Executive‘. In fact
dux noster potentiam tōtam, quippe quī dēbet et our leader doesn’t enjoy unlimited power as he
mandāta Pecingēnsia accipere et Concilium Legi- has to take orders from Beijing and to get the
slātīvum sibi conciliāre. Legislative Council (`Legco’) on his side.
Nōn dissentio, sed in proximō conventū nōn sine I don’t dispute that, but in the last meeting I was
irōniā loquēbar! Tamen hodiē `Administrātor Prīnci- speaking ironically! Still, let’s make it ‘Admini-
pālis’ dīcāmus. Magna pars Conciliī Electōrālis strator Pincipalis.‘ The majority of the Election
suffrāgia Sīvaeō dedit sed dūcentī octōginta quīnque Committee gave their votes to C.Y. but 285 of the
ex mīlle ducentīs membrīs Henrīcō fāvērunt. Putāsne 1,200 members still backed Henry. Do you think
fautōrēs Sīvaeī eum ēlēgisse quod cōnsilia eius compro- C.Y.‘s supporters choose him because they liked
bārent an quod regiminī centrālī placēre vellent? his policies or to please the central government?
Scīmus diēbus ultimīs ante comitia habenda officiālēs We know in the final days before the election
Pekingēnsēs multīs electōribus suāsisse ut Sīvaeō Beijing officials urged many electors to support
favērent necnōn officiālēs regiminis centrālis C.Y. and that Beijing representatives
Honcongī dispositōs temptāvisse prohibēre quīn stationed in Hong Kong tried to prevent reports
nuntīī dē activitātibus suīs in actīs diurnīs of their activities being published in the
ēderentur. Quae cum ita sint, clārum est per newspapers. In the light of that, it’s clear it was
regimen centrāle stetisse ut Sīvaeus Administrātor due to the central government that C.Y. was
Prīncipālis creātus sit. Tamen nōn omnēs electōrēs elected Chief Administrator. Still, not all the
cōnsiliīs Pekingēnsibus pārēre volēbant. Verbī grātiā, electors were willing to obey Beijing’s advice
cōnstat Cāsingum Lee, negōtiātōrem ingentium For example, Lee Ka-shing, a very wealthy and
divitiārum maximaeque auctoritātis, officiālibus influential businessman, is known to have told
dīxisse sē Henrīcum nōn relictūrum esse. officials he wouldn’t abandon Henry.
Etiamsī sunt multī optimātēs quibus Sīvaeus nōn Even if many of the establishment don’t like C.Y.,
placet, nōnne satis grātiae apud plēbem adeptus est? surely he’s popular enough with ordinary people ?
Rēctōrēs Sīnārum certē spērant rēs sē ita habēre China’s rulers certainly hope that’s the case and
neque dubium est quīn Sīvaeus grātior sit populō no doubt C.Y. is more popular than Henry.
quam Henrīcus. Tamen, cum hic ā multīs (sive Still, while the latter is (rightly or wrongly)
iūstē sive iniūstē) ignāvus stultusque putētur, ille thought lazy and stupid by many, the latter is
crēditur plūs calliditātis quam probitātis clēmen- believed to be more clever than honest or com-
tiaeve possidēre. Itaque ante comitia apud passionate. Consequently, in the run-up to
populum Henrīcus `Porcus’ appellābātur, Sīvaeus election Henry was popularly known as `Pig’
`Lupus.’ Praetereā, multī crēdunt ducem novum C.Y. as `Wolf.’ Besides, many believe that the
membrum Factiōnis Commūnisticae sēcrētō factum new leader is a secret member of the Com-
esse itaque nimis alacriter mandāta regiminis munist Party and so will be too keen to seek and
centrālis petitūrum et factūrum esse. Quam sus- to carry out instructions from the central
piciōnem Henrīcus confirmāre cōnātus est, cum government. henry tried to strengthen this
paulō ante comitia affirmāvit Sīvaeum annō bis suspicion by claiming shortly before the election
mīllēsimō tertiō in conventū Conciliī Administrātīvī during meeting of the Executive Council in 2003,
suāsisse ut gasum lacrimogenum et proiectōrēs that C.Y. advocated the use of tear gas and
aquāticī ad reclāmātōrēs inhibendos usurpārentur. water canon to control demonstrators.
Nōnne Sīvaeus ipse identidem negāvit sē membrum Hasn’t C.Y. himself repeatedly denied that he is a
Factiōnis Commūnisticae esse? a member of the Communist Party?
Ita vērō sed cōnstat eum in iuventūte sēcrētārium Indeed he has, but it’s well-known that at a young
designātum esse Cōnsiliī Cōnsultātīvī Lēgī Fundamen- age he was appointed secretary of the Basic Law
tālī Scrībendae. Dīvulgāta quoque est fāma Sīvaeum, Consultative Committee. It's also rumoured
cuius pater erat, custos pūblicus humilis, pecūniam that C.Y, who’s father was a low-ranking
ā Factiōne Comūnisticā accēpisse ut in ūniversitāte police officer, received money from the party so
Britannicā stūdēret. he could study at a British University.
Reclāmātiō mēnse Iūliō facta
Erāsne inter reclāmātōrēs quī Kalendīs Iūliīs per viās Were you among the demonstrators who took
Honcongī prōcēdēbant? to the streets of Hong Kong on 1st July?
Ita vērō. Hōc annō in Hortīs Victōriānīs, ut semper, I was indeed. This year we gathered, as usual,
congregātī sumus. Deinde usque ad sēdēs nōvās in Victoria Park. Then we marched to the govern-
regiminis in Nāvālī sitās prōgrediēbāmur. Multae ment’s new headquarters in Admiralty. It was
hōrae actae sunt antequam omnēs ad fīnem pervēn- many hours before we reached the destination
imus quod custōdēs pūblicī nōs nōn sinēbant per because the police didn’t allow us to march in all
omnēs orbitās viārum ambulāre. the lanes of the roads..
Nōnne Honcongēnsēs quōquō annō illō diē contrā Don’t Hong Kong people demonstrate against
rectōrēs ita reclāmant? their rulers on that date every year?
Rectē dīxistī. Prōpositum maximī momentī est pos- You’re right. The most important objective is to
tulāre ut Administrātor Prīncipālis et omnēs legislā- demand that the Chief Executive and all the
tōrēs suffragiīs populī creentur. Hoc annō multī legislative councillors should be elected by uni-
irascēbantur quod suspicēbantur Sivaeum esse versal suffrage. This year many people were
membrum clandestīnum Factiōnis Communisticae angry because they suspected C.Y. was a secret
itaque ante Kalendās Iūliās in sitibus interretiālibus member of the Communist Party and so before 1st.
saepe apparēbat sententia 反狼抗共 (Obsistite Lupō, July websites often carried the slogan反狼抗共
Resistite Commūnistīs!). Diē ipsā multī vōcibus strī- (`Oppose Wolf, resist the Communists’). On the
dentibus flagitābant ut Sivaeus munus depōneret. Day itself many people called noisily for C.Y. to
Inter eōs tamen quī in viīs prōgrediuntur, ut annīs resign. However, among the marchers, there were,
priōribus, aliī aliās rēs poscēbant. Exemplī grātiā, as in previous years, people demanding different
ipse vīdī paucōs fautōrēs autonomiae Tibetānae things. I myself saw a few `Free Tibet’ supporters
et aliōs quī rogābant ut omnēs incolae in scholīs and others asking for all residents to be able to
occāsiōnem linguae Sīnicae bene discendae habērent. learn Chinese properly in school.
Post conventum nostrum proximē praeteritum After our last meeting, the election was held and
comitia facta sunt, ex quīs Sīvaeus victor discessit. C.Y. emerged as the winner. So in July he will
Itaque mensē Iūliō munus Rēctōris Suprēmī Honcon- take up office as Hong Kong’s Chief Executive.
gēnsis suscipiet.
Rectē dīxistī sed putō nōn `Rector Suprēmus’ That’s right, but I think it’s not the phrase
iūnctūram sed `Administrātor Prīncipālis’ apti- `Rector Supremus’ but `Administrator Princi-
ōrem esse ad `Chief Executive’ iūnctūram alis’ that’s more suitable as a translation into
Anglīcam Latīnē reddendam. Nōn enim possidet Latin of the English `Chief Executive‘. In fact
dux noster potentiam tōtam, quippe quī dēbet et our leader doesn’t enjoy unlimited power as he
mandāta Pecingēnsia accipere et Concilium Legi- has to take orders from Beijing and to get the
slātīvum sibi conciliāre. Legislative Council (`Legco’) on his side.
Nōn dissentio, sed in proximō conventū nōn sine I don’t dispute that, but in the last meeting I was
irōniā loquēbar! Tamen hodiē `Administrātor Prīnci- speaking ironically! Still, let’s make it ‘Admini-
pālis’ dīcāmus. Magna pars Conciliī Electōrālis strator Pincipalis.‘ The majority of the Election
suffrāgia Sīvaeō dedit sed dūcentī octōginta quīnque Committee gave their votes to C.Y. but 285 of the
ex mīlle ducentīs membrīs Henrīcō fāvērunt. Putāsne 1,200 members still backed Henry. Do you think
fautōrēs Sīvaeī eum ēlēgisse quod cōnsilia eius compro- C.Y.‘s supporters choose him because they liked
bārent an quod regiminī centrālī placēre vellent? his policies or to please the central government?
Scīmus diēbus ultimīs ante comitia habenda officiālēs We know in the final days before the election
Pekingēnsēs multīs electōribus suāsisse ut Sīvaeō Beijing officials urged many electors to support
favērent necnōn officiālēs regiminis centrālis C.Y. and that Beijing representatives
Honcongī dispositōs temptāvisse prohibēre quīn stationed in Hong Kong tried to prevent reports
nuntīī dē activitātibus suīs in actīs diurnīs of their activities being published in the
ēderentur. Quae cum ita sint, clārum est per newspapers. In the light of that, it’s clear it was
regimen centrāle stetisse ut Sīvaeus Administrātor due to the central government that C.Y. was
Prīncipālis creātus sit. Tamen nōn omnēs electōrēs elected Chief Administrator. Still, not all the
cōnsiliīs Pekingēnsibus pārēre volēbant. Verbī grātiā, electors were willing to obey Beijing’s advice
cōnstat Cāsingum Lee, negōtiātōrem ingentium For example, Lee Ka-shing, a very wealthy and
divitiārum maximaeque auctoritātis, officiālibus influential businessman, is known to have told
dīxisse sē Henrīcum nōn relictūrum esse. officials he wouldn’t abandon Henry.
Etiamsī sunt multī optimātēs quibus Sīvaeus nōn Even if many of the establishment don’t like C.Y.,
placet, nōnne satis grātiae apud plēbem adeptus est? surely he’s popular enough with ordinary people ?
Rēctōrēs Sīnārum certē spērant rēs sē ita habēre China’s rulers certainly hope that’s the case and
neque dubium est quīn Sīvaeus grātior sit populō no doubt C.Y. is more popular than Henry.
quam Henrīcus. Tamen, cum hic ā multīs (sive Still, while the latter is (rightly or wrongly)
iūstē sive iniūstē) ignāvus stultusque putētur, ille thought lazy and stupid by many, the latter is
crēditur plūs calliditātis quam probitātis clēmen- believed to be more clever than honest or com-
tiaeve possidēre. Itaque ante comitia apud passionate. Consequently, in the run-up to
populum Henrīcus `Porcus’ appellābātur, Sīvaeus election Henry was popularly known as `Pig’
`Lupus.’ Praetereā, multī crēdunt ducem novum C.Y. as `Wolf.’ Besides, many believe that the
membrum Factiōnis Commūnisticae sēcrētō factum new leader is a secret member of the Com-
esse itaque nimis alacriter mandāta regiminis munist Party and so will be too keen to seek and
centrālis petitūrum et factūrum esse. Quam sus- to carry out instructions from the central
piciōnem Henrīcus confirmāre cōnātus est, cum government. henry tried to strengthen this
paulō ante comitia affirmāvit Sīvaeum annō bis suspicion by claiming shortly before the election
mīllēsimō tertiō in conventū Conciliī Administrātīvī during meeting of the Executive Council in 2003,
suāsisse ut gasum lacrimogenum et proiectōrēs that C.Y. advocated the use of tear gas and
aquāticī ad reclāmātōrēs inhibendos usurpārentur. water canon to control demonstrators.
Nōnne Sīvaeus ipse identidem negāvit sē membrum Hasn’t C.Y. himself repeatedly denied that he is a
Factiōnis Commūnisticae esse? a member of the Communist Party?
Ita vērō sed cōnstat eum in iuventūte sēcrētārium Indeed he has, but it’s well-known that at a young
designātum esse Cōnsiliī Cōnsultātīvī Lēgī Fundamen- age he was appointed secretary of the Basic Law
tālī Scrībendae. Dīvulgāta quoque est fāma Sīvaeum, Consultative Committee. It's also rumoured
cuius pater erat, custos pūblicus humilis, pecūniam that C.Y, who’s father was a low-ranking
ā Factiōne Comūnisticā accēpisse ut in ūniversitāte police officer, received money from the party so
Britannicā stūdēret. he could study at a British University.
Reclāmātiō mēnse Iūliō facta
Erāsne inter reclāmātōrēs quī Kalendīs Iūliīs per viās Were you among the demonstrators who took
Honcongī prōcēdēbant? to the streets of Hong Kong on 1st July?
Ita vērō. Hōc annō in Hortīs Victōriānīs, ut semper, I was indeed. This year we gathered, as usual,
congregātī sumus. Deinde usque ad sēdēs nōvās in Victoria Park. Then we marched to the govern-
regiminis in Nāvālī sitās prōgrediēbāmur. Multae ment’s new headquarters in Admiralty. It was
hōrae actae sunt antequam omnēs ad fīnem pervēn- many hours before we reached the destination
imus quod custōdēs pūblicī nōs nōn sinēbant per because the police didn’t allow us to march in all
omnēs orbitās viārum ambulāre. the lanes of the roads..
Nōnne Honcongēnsēs quōquō annō illō diē contrā Don’t Hong Kong people demonstrate against
rectōrēs ita reclāmant? their rulers on that date every year?
Rectē dīxistī. Prōpositum maximī momentī est pos- You’re right. The most important objective is to
tulāre ut Administrātor Prīncipālis et omnēs legislā- demand that the Chief Executive and all the
tōrēs suffragiīs populī creentur. Hoc annō multī legislative councillors should be elected by uni-
irascēbantur quod suspicēbantur Sivaeum esse versal suffrage. This year many people were
membrum clandestīnum Factiōnis Communisticae angry because they suspected C.Y. was a secret
itaque ante Kalendās Iūliās in sitibus interretiālibus member of the Communist Party and so before 1st.
saepe apparēbat sententia 反狼抗共 (Obsistite Lupō, July websites often carried the slogan反狼抗共
Resistite Commūnistīs!). Diē ipsā multī vōcibus strī- (`Oppose Wolf, resist the Communists’). On the
dentibus flagitābant ut Sivaeus munus depōneret. Day itself many people called noisily for C.Y. to
Inter eōs tamen quī in viīs prōgrediuntur, ut annīs resign. However, among the marchers, there were,
priōribus, aliī aliās rēs poscēbant. Exemplī grātiā, as in previous years, people demanding different
ipse vīdī paucōs fautōrēs autonomiae Tibetānae things. I myself saw a few `Free Tibet’ supporters
et aliōs quī rogābant ut omnēs incolae in scholīs and others asking for all residents to be able to
occāsiōnem linguae Sīnicae bene discendae habērent. learn Chinese properly in school.
Reclāmātōrēs per viās īnsulae Honcongī prōcēdunt
Crēdō multōs quī tantum Anglicē communicāre sciant I believe that many people who only know English
muneribus honestīs Honcongī fungī. Cūr necesse est still have good jobs in Hong Kong. Why does
omnibus linguam Sīnicam discere? everyone have to learn Chinese?
Sī rēs tantum agitur dē muneribus honestiōribus in If it’s just a question of the higher posts in multi-
sociētātibus internatiōnālibus vel acadēmicīs, cōn- national companies or seats of learning, I agree
sentiō linguam Anglicam saepe sufficere. Sed in that English is often enough. However, in middle-.
muneribus mediōcribus plērumque necesse est ranking positions it’s generally necessary not
Sīnicē nōn tantum colloquī sed etiam legere scrībere- only to be able to speak Chinese but also to read
que scīre. Difficultātēs maximās patiuntur Honcon- and write it. The greatest difficulties are faced
gēnsēs dē stirpē Indicā, Pacistānicā vel Nepālicā ortī, by Hongkongers of indian, Pakistani or Nepali,
quōrum līberī in scholās locālēs recipiuntur sed, whose children are admitted into local schools
nisi litterās Sīnicās ab aetāte minimā discunt, ē clas- but, unless they started learning written Chinese
sibus normālibus exclūsī nōn linguae Sīnicae sed at a very early age, are excluded from normal
Francogallicāe stūdent. Classes and study French rather than Chinese.
Iam `Lupus’ duōs mēnsēs civitātem nostram adminis- `Wolf’ has now been running our city for two
trat. Oriunturne contrōversiae novae? months. Are there any new disputes emerging?
Hīs diēbus multī reclāmant contrā disciplīnam novam Recently a lot of people have been protesting
nōmine `ēducātiōnem nātiōnālem’ quam regimen vult against a new subject called `national education’
in omnibus scholīs instituere. Prōpositum est efficere which the government wants to introduce into the
ut Hōncongēnsēs dē Sīnā plūra sciant et vehementius schools. The aim is to make Hong Kong people
sentiant sē Sīnēnsēs esse. Perīculum, tamen, est nē know more about China and feel more Chinese
regimen rēvērā in animō habet discipulīs suādere ut However, the danger is that the government really
factīs et cōnsiliīs regiminis centrālis Factiōnisque intends to persuade students to support the act-
Commūnisticae faveant, itaque multī affirmant istam ions and policies of the central government and
disciplīnam nihil aliud esse quam methodum quā the Communist Party. So many claim that subject
mentēs populī in servitūdinem redūcantur! Ob tālēs is just a means of brainwashing people. Because
sollicitūdinēs, inter omnēs ministrōs nostrōs apud of such worries, out of all our ministers the most
populum minimam grātiam habet Eduardus Ng, unpopular is Edward Ng, who has the job of
cuius mūnus est novam disciplīnam intrōdūcere. introducing the new subject.
Dē feriīs aestīvīs huius annī (2012)
Honcongīne feriās ēgistī an iter fēcistī? Did you spend the holidays here or go on a trip?
Ad Eurōpam cum uxōre fīliāque iī ut duās septimānās I went to Europe with my wife and daughter to
in Britanniā, ūnam in Francogalliā habitārēmus. Mīrā- spend two weeks in Britain and one in France.
bile dictū, dum familiārēs amīcōsque in Britanniā vīsi- Amazingly, we had good weather almost all the
tābāmus, paene semper caelō benignō fruēbāmur! time while we were visiting friends and relations.
Quid in Francogalliā fēcistis? What did you do in France?
Vōlēbāmus reliquiās Rōmānās in regiōne merīdionālī We wanted to see Roman remains in the south,
Galliae vidēre quae ōlim `Gallia Narbōnēnsis ‘ appel- which was once known as `Gallia Narbonensis.’
lābātur. Itaque prīmum ad urbem Nîmes (vel, ut So we went first to Nîmes (or, to use the ancient
nōmen antīquum memorēm) Colōniam Augustam name Colonia Augusta Nemausus.) We looked at
Nemausum) pervēnimus. Amphitheātrum in tōtā the amphitheatre, which is the best preserved in
Eurōpā optimē cōnservātum inspeximus, et aquae- the whole of Europe and also visited the very
ductum praeclārissimum vīsitāvimus per quem well-known aqueduct, which once used to carry
ōlim aqua ad urbem dūcēbātur. Nōn tantum aquae- water to the city. We didn’t just admire the aque-
ductum in rīpīs flūminis stantēs admirātī sumus sed duct from the banks of the river but also walked
etiam per canālem in tabūlātō suprēmō ambulāvimus. along the channel on the top level. For most of its
Suprā partem magnam illīus canālis restant quadrāta length it still has the slabs by which it was
quibus tectus erat nē aqua vī sōlis ēvapōrārētur sed covered to prevent the water evaporating in the
in dīversīs locīs tectum nōn iam manet itaque aspectus sun but at various points the roof is missing and
amoenissimus flūminis et collium praebēbātur. Intrā so you get a marvellous view of the river and the
canālem ipsum iuxtā mūrōs massās ingentēs lapidis hills. Inside the channel itself we saw against the
calcāriī vīdēbāmus quae ex aquā fluente gradātim walls huge lumps of limestone which had been
dēpositae sunt. gradually deposited by the flowing water.
muneribus honestīs Honcongī fungī. Cūr necesse est still have good jobs in Hong Kong. Why does
omnibus linguam Sīnicam discere? everyone have to learn Chinese?
Sī rēs tantum agitur dē muneribus honestiōribus in If it’s just a question of the higher posts in multi-
sociētātibus internatiōnālibus vel acadēmicīs, cōn- national companies or seats of learning, I agree
sentiō linguam Anglicam saepe sufficere. Sed in that English is often enough. However, in middle-.
muneribus mediōcribus plērumque necesse est ranking positions it’s generally necessary not
Sīnicē nōn tantum colloquī sed etiam legere scrībere- only to be able to speak Chinese but also to read
que scīre. Difficultātēs maximās patiuntur Honcon- and write it. The greatest difficulties are faced
gēnsēs dē stirpē Indicā, Pacistānicā vel Nepālicā ortī, by Hongkongers of indian, Pakistani or Nepali,
quōrum līberī in scholās locālēs recipiuntur sed, whose children are admitted into local schools
nisi litterās Sīnicās ab aetāte minimā discunt, ē clas- but, unless they started learning written Chinese
sibus normālibus exclūsī nōn linguae Sīnicae sed at a very early age, are excluded from normal
Francogallicāe stūdent. Classes and study French rather than Chinese.
Iam `Lupus’ duōs mēnsēs civitātem nostram adminis- `Wolf’ has now been running our city for two
trat. Oriunturne contrōversiae novae? months. Are there any new disputes emerging?
Hīs diēbus multī reclāmant contrā disciplīnam novam Recently a lot of people have been protesting
nōmine `ēducātiōnem nātiōnālem’ quam regimen vult against a new subject called `national education’
in omnibus scholīs instituere. Prōpositum est efficere which the government wants to introduce into the
ut Hōncongēnsēs dē Sīnā plūra sciant et vehementius schools. The aim is to make Hong Kong people
sentiant sē Sīnēnsēs esse. Perīculum, tamen, est nē know more about China and feel more Chinese
regimen rēvērā in animō habet discipulīs suādere ut However, the danger is that the government really
factīs et cōnsiliīs regiminis centrālis Factiōnisque intends to persuade students to support the act-
Commūnisticae faveant, itaque multī affirmant istam ions and policies of the central government and
disciplīnam nihil aliud esse quam methodum quā the Communist Party. So many claim that subject
mentēs populī in servitūdinem redūcantur! Ob tālēs is just a means of brainwashing people. Because
sollicitūdinēs, inter omnēs ministrōs nostrōs apud of such worries, out of all our ministers the most
populum minimam grātiam habet Eduardus Ng, unpopular is Edward Ng, who has the job of
cuius mūnus est novam disciplīnam intrōdūcere. introducing the new subject.
Dē feriīs aestīvīs huius annī (2012)
Honcongīne feriās ēgistī an iter fēcistī? Did you spend the holidays here or go on a trip?
Ad Eurōpam cum uxōre fīliāque iī ut duās septimānās I went to Europe with my wife and daughter to
in Britanniā, ūnam in Francogalliā habitārēmus. Mīrā- spend two weeks in Britain and one in France.
bile dictū, dum familiārēs amīcōsque in Britanniā vīsi- Amazingly, we had good weather almost all the
tābāmus, paene semper caelō benignō fruēbāmur! time while we were visiting friends and relations.
Quid in Francogalliā fēcistis? What did you do in France?
Vōlēbāmus reliquiās Rōmānās in regiōne merīdionālī We wanted to see Roman remains in the south,
Galliae vidēre quae ōlim `Gallia Narbōnēnsis ‘ appel- which was once known as `Gallia Narbonensis.’
lābātur. Itaque prīmum ad urbem Nîmes (vel, ut So we went first to Nîmes (or, to use the ancient
nōmen antīquum memorēm) Colōniam Augustam name Colonia Augusta Nemausus.) We looked at
Nemausum) pervēnimus. Amphitheātrum in tōtā the amphitheatre, which is the best preserved in
Eurōpā optimē cōnservātum inspeximus, et aquae- the whole of Europe and also visited the very
ductum praeclārissimum vīsitāvimus per quem well-known aqueduct, which once used to carry
ōlim aqua ad urbem dūcēbātur. Nōn tantum aquae- water to the city. We didn’t just admire the aque-
ductum in rīpīs flūminis stantēs admirātī sumus sed duct from the banks of the river but also walked
etiam per canālem in tabūlātō suprēmō ambulāvimus. along the channel on the top level. For most of its
Suprā partem magnam illīus canālis restant quadrāta length it still has the slabs by which it was
quibus tectus erat nē aqua vī sōlis ēvapōrārētur sed covered to prevent the water evaporating in the
in dīversīs locīs tectum nōn iam manet itaque aspectus sun but at various points the roof is missing and
amoenissimus flūminis et collium praebēbātur. Intrā so you get a marvellous view of the river and the
canālem ipsum iuxtā mūrōs massās ingentēs lapidis hills. Inside the channel itself we saw against the
calcāriī vīdēbāmus quae ex aquā fluente gradātim walls huge lumps of limestone which had been
dēpositae sunt. gradually deposited by the flowing water.
Aquaeductus Gardēnsis dē parte superiōre flūminis vīsus
Aspectus interior canālis
Per tōtam septimānam Nemausī habitābātis? Were you in Nîmes for the whole week?
Minimē. Post quattuor diēs Perpiniānum, urbem in No. After four days we went on to Perpignan
Catalōniā Citeriōrē prope Montēs Pyrēnaeōs fīnēsque in French Catalonia near the Pyrenes and the
Hispāniae sitam, prōgressī sumus, ubi cum amīcīs Spanish border, where we spent three very
trēs diēs iucundissimē ēgimus. Hospēs noster prīnci- pleasant days with friends. Our main host was
pālis Latinista nōtissimus erat, quī dē regiōne ipsā a very well-known Latinist, who has an enormous
atque histōriā eius scientiam maximam possidet. knowledge of the region itself and of its history.
Epistulam Latīnam quam ille abhinc complūrēs A Latin letter he wrote some years ago about a
annōs dē itinere pedestrī per montēs factō scrīpserat hike through the mountains is available on our
apud situm nostrum Honcongēnsem legere potestis: own Hong Kong website at:
http://linguae.weebly.com/epistula-de-expeditione-montana.html
Ille nōbīs quoque expeditiōnem breviōrem cōnstituit, He arranged a shorter `expedition’ for us, with
cuius meta erat ruinae castellī Visigōthicī prope the ruins of a Visigothic castle near Sorèdes as
Sorēdum. Cum orbita abruptissima esset usque ad destination. As the path was very steep, we didn’t
castellum ipsum nōn pervēnimus sed prandium get as far as the castle itself but we had a picnic
subdiālem cōnsumpsimus, aspectū montium et campī lunch and enjoyed the view of the mountains and
infrā iacentis fruītī sumus. Hospes noster nōs cer- of the plain lying below us. Our host told us that
tiōrēs fēcit hanc tōtam regiōnem ōlim partem fuisse this region had once been part of the Visigothic
regnī Hispānicī ā Visigōthīs conditī, quod saeculō kingdom established in Spain, which in the 7th
septimō usque ad Rhodanum flūmen extendēbat. century extended as far as the River Rhone.
Vamba, rēx praeclārus Visigōthōrum, exercitum Wamba, a famous king of the Visigoths, led his
suum trāns montēs Pyrēnaeōs dūxit ut seditiōnem army over the Pyrenes to put down a rebellion,
supprimēret, tandem amphitheātrum Nemausiānum, finally storming the amphitheatre at Nîmes, which
quod castellum factum erat, expugnāvit. had been turned into a fortress.
_
Minimē. Post quattuor diēs Perpiniānum, urbem in No. After four days we went on to Perpignan
Catalōniā Citeriōrē prope Montēs Pyrēnaeōs fīnēsque in French Catalonia near the Pyrenes and the
Hispāniae sitam, prōgressī sumus, ubi cum amīcīs Spanish border, where we spent three very
trēs diēs iucundissimē ēgimus. Hospēs noster prīnci- pleasant days with friends. Our main host was
pālis Latinista nōtissimus erat, quī dē regiōne ipsā a very well-known Latinist, who has an enormous
atque histōriā eius scientiam maximam possidet. knowledge of the region itself and of its history.
Epistulam Latīnam quam ille abhinc complūrēs A Latin letter he wrote some years ago about a
annōs dē itinere pedestrī per montēs factō scrīpserat hike through the mountains is available on our
apud situm nostrum Honcongēnsem legere potestis: own Hong Kong website at:
http://linguae.weebly.com/epistula-de-expeditione-montana.html
Ille nōbīs quoque expeditiōnem breviōrem cōnstituit, He arranged a shorter `expedition’ for us, with
cuius meta erat ruinae castellī Visigōthicī prope the ruins of a Visigothic castle near Sorèdes as
Sorēdum. Cum orbita abruptissima esset usque ad destination. As the path was very steep, we didn’t
castellum ipsum nōn pervēnimus sed prandium get as far as the castle itself but we had a picnic
subdiālem cōnsumpsimus, aspectū montium et campī lunch and enjoyed the view of the mountains and
infrā iacentis fruītī sumus. Hospes noster nōs cer- of the plain lying below us. Our host told us that
tiōrēs fēcit hanc tōtam regiōnem ōlim partem fuisse this region had once been part of the Visigothic
regnī Hispānicī ā Visigōthīs conditī, quod saeculō kingdom established in Spain, which in the 7th
septimō usque ad Rhodanum flūmen extendēbat. century extended as far as the River Rhone.
Vamba, rēx praeclārus Visigōthōrum, exercitum Wamba, a famous king of the Visigoths, led his
suum trāns montēs Pyrēnaeōs dūxit ut seditiōnem army over the Pyrenes to put down a rebellion,
supprimēret, tandem amphitheātrum Nemausiānum, finally storming the amphitheatre at Nîmes, which
quod castellum factum erat, expugnāvit. had been turned into a fortress.
_
Prandium montānum
Nōnne etiam post aevum Visigōthicum Catalōnia Didn’t French Catalonia remain under Spanish
Citerior sub diciōne Hispānōrum manēbat? Audīvī control even after the Visigothic period? I’ve heard
tantum saeculō septemdecimō rēgiōnem Francogal- that the region only became French in the 17th
licam factam esse century.
Rectissimē dīxistī. Fortasse, tamen, nōn dīcendum That’s absolutely right. However, we probably
est rēgiōnem illam ab Hispānīs rēctam esse sed shouldn’t say that the region was ruled by the
potius illō tempore incolās citrā vel ultrā Pyre- Spanish but rather at that time the people living
naeōs habitantēs mōribus linguīsque nōn magno- on either side of the Pyrenees were not very
pere inter sē distulisse. different from each other in culture or language.
Dē Lemurālibus antīquīs hodiernīsque
Quōmodo dīcitur Latīnē `Halloween’? Eratne apud What is the Latin for `Halloween’? Did the
Rōmānōs festum ad umbrās pertinēns et simile illī Romans have a ghost festival similar to the one
quod nōs nūper celebrābāmus? we’ve just been celebrating?
Fortasse reddendum est `Lemurālia’ vel `Lemūria’, Perhaps the best equivalent is `Lemurālia’ or
nōmen festī quod mēnse Maiō diēbus nōnō, ūn- `Lemūria’, the name of a festival that was
decimō et decimō tertiō habēbātur. Diēbus illīs celebrated on the 9th, 11th and 13th of May. On
patrifamiliās per domum retrō ambulandum et those days the head of the household had to
suprā umerōs fabae reiciendae erant ut lemurēs, walk backwards through his home and throw
scīlicet mānēs malignī, expellerentur. Secundum beans over his shoulders to drive out the
poētam Ovidium, vocābulum `Lemūria’ anteā lemurēs (evil spirits of the dead). Ovid says the
fōrmam `Remūria’ habēbat et auctor festī erat word `Lemuria’ was once `Remūria’and the
Rōmulus, quī umbram frātris Remī, ā sē ipsō festival was started by Romulus to appease
interfectī, pācificāre volēbat. Dīcendum autem est the ghost of his brother Remus but this
philologōs hodiernōs huic theōriae nōn crēdere. theory is not accepted by modern philologists.
Ut vidētur, Lemurālia antīqua hodiernaque valdē It seems the old and the modern Lemuralia are
inter sē differunt, nam Rōmāni crēdēbant per tālēs very different, as the Romans believed that these
rītūs perīculā vēra prohibenda esse, nostra tamen rituals were necessary to avert real dangers but
Lemūria nihil aliud est quam occāsiō lūdendī et our Lemuria is just an opportunity to play games
epulandī. and have a party!
Rēctissimē dīxistī. Iam paucissimī sunt quī umbrās You’re absolutely right. There are now very few
lemurēsque rēvērā timent. Saltātiōnibus fruimur, people who are really afraid of ghosts and evil
vestīmenta mīrābilia induimus, multa edimus bi- spirits. We go to dances, wear strange costumes,
bimusque, līberōs vagantēs et `Dolum an dōnum!’ eat and drink a lot and welcome children who
clāmantēs benignē excipimus. roam around shouting `Trick or treat!’
Narrābantne Rōmānī fābulās dē umbrīs et monstrīs Did the Romans tell stories about ghosts and
mīrābilibus? strange monsters?
Ita vērō. Fortasse ipse recordāris fābulam dē versi- Yes. Perhaps you yourself remember the story
pelle quam in capitulō septimō Cursūs Latīnī Canta- of the werewolf t almost all of usread in stage 7
brigiensis paene omnēs lēgimus. Haec est versiō of the Cambridge Latin Course. This is a
simplificāta partis librī c.t. Satyricon, quem com- simplified vesion of a section of the Satyricon
posuit Petrōnius, ōlim amīcus deinde victima of Petronius, Nero’s one-time friend and later
Nerōnis. Secundum Petrōnium, centuriō cui viātor victim. According to him. the centurion the trav-
in viā obvēnit nōn erat novus sed in casā ipsīus eller met on the road was no stranger but lived
viātōris habitābat. Petrōniī verba ipsissima audīte: in the traveller’s house. In the aithor’s words:
Vēnimus inter monimenta: homō meus coepit ad We came into the graveyard: my man headed
stēlās facere; sedeō ego cantābundus et stēlās nu- for the tombstones; I sit down singing and
merō. Deinde ut respexī ad comitem, ille exuit sē count the gravestones. Then as I looked at my
et omnia vestīmenta secundum viam posuit. Mihi companion, he undressed and put all his clothes
anima in nāsō esse; stābam tanquam mortuus. At by the road. My heart was in my mouth; I was
ille circumminxit vestīmenta sua, et subitō lupus standing there like a dead man. Then he urin-
factus est. Nōlite mē iocārī putāre; ut mentiar, ated around his clothes and suddenly turned
nūllīus patrimōnium tantī faciō. Sed, quod coe- into a wolf. Don’t think I’m joking; I wouldn’t
peram dīcere, postquam lupus factus est, ululāre lie for any amount of money. But, as I was say-
coepit et in silvās fūgit. Ego prīmitus nesciēbam ing, after he became a wolf he howled and fled
ubi essem; deinde accessī, ut vestīmenta eius into the woods. At first I didn’t know where I
tollerem: illa autem lapidea facta sunt. Quī morī was; then I went over to pick up his clothes -
timōre nisi ego? Gladium tamen strinxī et in tōtā they had turned to stone! If any one’s been
viā umbrās cecīdī, donec ad vīllam amīcae perve- scared to death, it was me. However I drew my
nīrem. sword and felled shadows all the way to my
girl’s house.
Quid accidit postquam narrātor ad vīllam pervēnit? What happened after the traveller reached the
Dē hāc rē omnīnō tacet Cursus Cantabrigiēnsis. villa? The Cambridge Course doesn’t tell us.
Amīca viātōrī dīxit lupum ingentem paulō anteā The girlfriend told the traveller that a little
pecus suum oppugnavisse sed lanceā servī vul- little while before a giant wolf had attacked their
nerātum effūgisse. Cum viātor domum suam cattle but ran off when it had been wounded by
redisset, invēnit centuriōnem, fōrmā hūmānā a slave's spear. When the traveller returned
restitūtā, in lectō iacentem. In collō illīus cōn- home, he found the centurion in human form
spexit vulnus lanceā effectum. again and lying in bed. On his shoulder he saw
the wound made by the spear.
_
Citerior sub diciōne Hispānōrum manēbat? Audīvī control even after the Visigothic period? I’ve heard
tantum saeculō septemdecimō rēgiōnem Francogal- that the region only became French in the 17th
licam factam esse century.
Rectissimē dīxistī. Fortasse, tamen, nōn dīcendum That’s absolutely right. However, we probably
est rēgiōnem illam ab Hispānīs rēctam esse sed shouldn’t say that the region was ruled by the
potius illō tempore incolās citrā vel ultrā Pyre- Spanish but rather at that time the people living
naeōs habitantēs mōribus linguīsque nōn magno- on either side of the Pyrenees were not very
pere inter sē distulisse. different from each other in culture or language.
Dē Lemurālibus antīquīs hodiernīsque
Quōmodo dīcitur Latīnē `Halloween’? Eratne apud What is the Latin for `Halloween’? Did the
Rōmānōs festum ad umbrās pertinēns et simile illī Romans have a ghost festival similar to the one
quod nōs nūper celebrābāmus? we’ve just been celebrating?
Fortasse reddendum est `Lemurālia’ vel `Lemūria’, Perhaps the best equivalent is `Lemurālia’ or
nōmen festī quod mēnse Maiō diēbus nōnō, ūn- `Lemūria’, the name of a festival that was
decimō et decimō tertiō habēbātur. Diēbus illīs celebrated on the 9th, 11th and 13th of May. On
patrifamiliās per domum retrō ambulandum et those days the head of the household had to
suprā umerōs fabae reiciendae erant ut lemurēs, walk backwards through his home and throw
scīlicet mānēs malignī, expellerentur. Secundum beans over his shoulders to drive out the
poētam Ovidium, vocābulum `Lemūria’ anteā lemurēs (evil spirits of the dead). Ovid says the
fōrmam `Remūria’ habēbat et auctor festī erat word `Lemuria’ was once `Remūria’and the
Rōmulus, quī umbram frātris Remī, ā sē ipsō festival was started by Romulus to appease
interfectī, pācificāre volēbat. Dīcendum autem est the ghost of his brother Remus but this
philologōs hodiernōs huic theōriae nōn crēdere. theory is not accepted by modern philologists.
Ut vidētur, Lemurālia antīqua hodiernaque valdē It seems the old and the modern Lemuralia are
inter sē differunt, nam Rōmāni crēdēbant per tālēs very different, as the Romans believed that these
rītūs perīculā vēra prohibenda esse, nostra tamen rituals were necessary to avert real dangers but
Lemūria nihil aliud est quam occāsiō lūdendī et our Lemuria is just an opportunity to play games
epulandī. and have a party!
Rēctissimē dīxistī. Iam paucissimī sunt quī umbrās You’re absolutely right. There are now very few
lemurēsque rēvērā timent. Saltātiōnibus fruimur, people who are really afraid of ghosts and evil
vestīmenta mīrābilia induimus, multa edimus bi- spirits. We go to dances, wear strange costumes,
bimusque, līberōs vagantēs et `Dolum an dōnum!’ eat and drink a lot and welcome children who
clāmantēs benignē excipimus. roam around shouting `Trick or treat!’
Narrābantne Rōmānī fābulās dē umbrīs et monstrīs Did the Romans tell stories about ghosts and
mīrābilibus? strange monsters?
Ita vērō. Fortasse ipse recordāris fābulam dē versi- Yes. Perhaps you yourself remember the story
pelle quam in capitulō septimō Cursūs Latīnī Canta- of the werewolf t almost all of usread in stage 7
brigiensis paene omnēs lēgimus. Haec est versiō of the Cambridge Latin Course. This is a
simplificāta partis librī c.t. Satyricon, quem com- simplified vesion of a section of the Satyricon
posuit Petrōnius, ōlim amīcus deinde victima of Petronius, Nero’s one-time friend and later
Nerōnis. Secundum Petrōnium, centuriō cui viātor victim. According to him. the centurion the trav-
in viā obvēnit nōn erat novus sed in casā ipsīus eller met on the road was no stranger but lived
viātōris habitābat. Petrōniī verba ipsissima audīte: in the traveller’s house. In the aithor’s words:
Vēnimus inter monimenta: homō meus coepit ad We came into the graveyard: my man headed
stēlās facere; sedeō ego cantābundus et stēlās nu- for the tombstones; I sit down singing and
merō. Deinde ut respexī ad comitem, ille exuit sē count the gravestones. Then as I looked at my
et omnia vestīmenta secundum viam posuit. Mihi companion, he undressed and put all his clothes
anima in nāsō esse; stābam tanquam mortuus. At by the road. My heart was in my mouth; I was
ille circumminxit vestīmenta sua, et subitō lupus standing there like a dead man. Then he urin-
factus est. Nōlite mē iocārī putāre; ut mentiar, ated around his clothes and suddenly turned
nūllīus patrimōnium tantī faciō. Sed, quod coe- into a wolf. Don’t think I’m joking; I wouldn’t
peram dīcere, postquam lupus factus est, ululāre lie for any amount of money. But, as I was say-
coepit et in silvās fūgit. Ego prīmitus nesciēbam ing, after he became a wolf he howled and fled
ubi essem; deinde accessī, ut vestīmenta eius into the woods. At first I didn’t know where I
tollerem: illa autem lapidea facta sunt. Quī morī was; then I went over to pick up his clothes -
timōre nisi ego? Gladium tamen strinxī et in tōtā they had turned to stone! If any one’s been
viā umbrās cecīdī, donec ad vīllam amīcae perve- scared to death, it was me. However I drew my
nīrem. sword and felled shadows all the way to my
girl’s house.
Quid accidit postquam narrātor ad vīllam pervēnit? What happened after the traveller reached the
Dē hāc rē omnīnō tacet Cursus Cantabrigiēnsis. villa? The Cambridge Course doesn’t tell us.
Amīca viātōrī dīxit lupum ingentem paulō anteā The girlfriend told the traveller that a little
pecus suum oppugnavisse sed lanceā servī vul- little while before a giant wolf had attacked their
nerātum effūgisse. Cum viātor domum suam cattle but ran off when it had been wounded by
redisset, invēnit centuriōnem, fōrmā hūmānā a slave's spear. When the traveller returned
restitūtā, in lectō iacentem. In collō illīus cōn- home, he found the centurion in human form
spexit vulnus lanceā effectum. again and lying in bed. On his shoulder he saw
the wound made by the spear.
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Sī tālēs fābulae tē tenent, certissimē legendus est liber c.t. De Bello Lemures, or The Roman War Against the Zombies of Armorica.
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If stories like this interest you, then you should certainly read De Bello Lemures, or the Roman War against the Zombies of Armorica.
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1449568696/ref=nosim/unrvromanempi-20
Nōnne est error in titulō illō? Scrībendum est `bellō Isn’t there a mistake in that title? It should really
Lemurālī.’ be Lemurālī.
Ita vērō. Haec rēs auctōrī ipsī clārum est, quī, cum Yes, it should. The author himself is aware of that.
ipse fābulam fīnxisset, ioculōsē simūlāvit sē textum When he’d thought up the story he pretended for a
mediaevālem invēnisse et memorāvit Latīnitātem joke that he had found it in a medieval text and
scrībae īnfimam esse. `Lemurēs’ autem vocābulum, wrote that the scribe’s Latin was very poor. Never
nōn contrā normās classicās ēlēctum est, nam in librīs theless, the choice of the word Lemurēs itself isn’t
antīquīs nōn invenītur aliud verbum quō Anglicum against classical norms, as the ancient texts don’t
`zombie’ reddātur. Hodiē, tamen, habēmus verbum have any other word to translate English `zombie’.
neo-Latīnum `vemortuus’, quae frequenter apud However, today we have neo-Latin vemortuus,
Gregem Latīnē Loquentium adhibēbātur. Nōnne tu which was used frequently in the Grex Latine Lo-
ipse partēs vemortuī in spectāculō ēgistī? quentium. Haven’t you yourself played the part of
a zombie in a show?
Nōn vemortuus sed diabolus eram neque aliud fēcī I wasn’t a zombie but the devil and all I did was
quam vōcem imprimere ut adderētur taeniae in quā record my voice for a video in which the world
mundus vī diabolicā diē ultimō calendāriī Maiānī dēs- was destroyed by the devil’s power on the last
struī vidēbātur. Ubi diē 20 Decembris anniversārium day of the Mayan calendar. During the 20
Macāviae in diciōnem Sīnēnsem redditae celēbrābātur, December celebration of the anniversary of
haec taenia in forō Macāviēnsī ostendēbātur. Sī rēs Macau’s return to Chinese sovereignity, the
tē tenet, taeniam apud interrēte adhūc vidēre potes video was shown in a square there. If you are
eundum est ad hoc vinculum: interested, you can see it by following this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgeSVbPCK4
Verba ipsa, quae in taeniā nōn clārē audiuntur, the words themselves aren’t clear on the video
haec sunt: Mediā nocte, orbem terrārum morte, but here they are: At midnight, I will take over
metū et excidiō in potestātem meam redigam! Sōl the world with death, fear and destructuion! The
tempestāte devorābitur! Magnetismus terrestris rever- sun be destroyed by storm! The terrestrial mag-
tētur. Tellus in tenebrās clādēsque incidet! netism will reverse. Earth will fall into darkness
and disaster!
Dē dēclārātiōne pontificālī
Audīvistī Summum Pontificem ministeriō suō Latīnē You’ve heard the Supreme Pontiff resigning his
renūntiantem. Quālis est Latīnitās eius? office in Latin. What’s his Latin like?
Crēdō eum linguam optimē scrībere atque bene I believe he writes the language excellently and
modō ecclēsiasticō dīcere. In locīs quibusdam, tamen, speaks well in the church pronunciation.
nimis celeriter loquēbātur atque ipse ūnum errōrem However, he sometimes went too fast and he made
grammaticum fēcit. Erat etiam error typographicus one grammar mistake. There was also a typo in
in textū orīgināliter in sitū Vaticānō positō sed iam ibi the text orignally uploaded to thr Vatican site but
correctiōnēs factae sunt. Sī pāginam interrētiālem now corrections have been made. If they visit
http://linguae.weebly.com/latinitas-pontificalis.html
vīsitāvērunt, omnēs quōs nūgae grammaticae dēlec- all those who enjoy grammatical trivialities can
tant occāsiōnem errōrēs corrigendī ipsī habēbunt. have a chance to correct the errors themselves.
Benedictus linguā Latīnā ūsus est ut `decisiōnem Benedict made use of Latin to communicate `a
magnī momentī prō Ecclēsiae vītā’ commūnicāret sed decision of great importance for the life of the
in vītā cottīdiānā aedium Vaticānārum nōnne lingua church in daily life at the Vatican, isn’t Italian of
Italica maiōris est momentī quam Latīna? greater importance than Latin?
Rectē dīxistī. Post annōs sexagēsimōs in diēs minuitur That’s right. After the 1960s the number of those
nūmerus eōrum quī Latīnam bene intelligant itaque who understand Latin well has continually gone
lingua Italica, quae in colloquīs infōrmālibus semper down and so Italian, which always had the domi-
praevalēbat, in rēbus officiālibus quoque plērumque nant role in informal conversation, is also now
adhibētur. Abhinc annōs sexaginta rēs valdē dissimilēs generally used for official purposes also. That
fuisse ē hīs verbīs ā Piō XII annō millēsimō nōngen- things were very different sixty years ago is appa-
tēsimō prīmō dictīs apparet: Quid dignē celēbret hunc rent from the words spoken by Pius XII in1951:
imperiālem sermōnem - βασιλικη γλωσσα ā Graecīs How can one adequately celebrate this imperial
appellābātur - quae vēra nōn ēnūntiat sed sculpit, quae language – basilike glossa as the Greeks styled it -
in ēdictīs et sententiīs pecūliārī splendet gravitāte, quae which does not proclaim but engraves truths,
in Latīnā Ecclēsiā līturgicō fruitur ūsū, quae dēnique which gives its own special splendour and weight
Catholicae Ecclēsiae est magnī pretiī vinculum? to decrees and statements, which is employed in
Nūllus sit sacerdōs, qui eam nesciat facile et expedītē the Latin Church’s liturgy and which is a bond of
legere et loquī! great value for the Catholic Church. Let no priest
be unable to read and speak it easily and fluently!
Nōnne est error in titulō illō? Scrībendum est `bellō Isn’t there a mistake in that title? It should really
Lemurālī.’ be Lemurālī.
Ita vērō. Haec rēs auctōrī ipsī clārum est, quī, cum Yes, it should. The author himself is aware of that.
ipse fābulam fīnxisset, ioculōsē simūlāvit sē textum When he’d thought up the story he pretended for a
mediaevālem invēnisse et memorāvit Latīnitātem joke that he had found it in a medieval text and
scrībae īnfimam esse. `Lemurēs’ autem vocābulum, wrote that the scribe’s Latin was very poor. Never
nōn contrā normās classicās ēlēctum est, nam in librīs theless, the choice of the word Lemurēs itself isn’t
antīquīs nōn invenītur aliud verbum quō Anglicum against classical norms, as the ancient texts don’t
`zombie’ reddātur. Hodiē, tamen, habēmus verbum have any other word to translate English `zombie’.
neo-Latīnum `vemortuus’, quae frequenter apud However, today we have neo-Latin vemortuus,
Gregem Latīnē Loquentium adhibēbātur. Nōnne tu which was used frequently in the Grex Latine Lo-
ipse partēs vemortuī in spectāculō ēgistī? quentium. Haven’t you yourself played the part of
a zombie in a show?
Nōn vemortuus sed diabolus eram neque aliud fēcī I wasn’t a zombie but the devil and all I did was
quam vōcem imprimere ut adderētur taeniae in quā record my voice for a video in which the world
mundus vī diabolicā diē ultimō calendāriī Maiānī dēs- was destroyed by the devil’s power on the last
struī vidēbātur. Ubi diē 20 Decembris anniversārium day of the Mayan calendar. During the 20
Macāviae in diciōnem Sīnēnsem redditae celēbrābātur, December celebration of the anniversary of
haec taenia in forō Macāviēnsī ostendēbātur. Sī rēs Macau’s return to Chinese sovereignity, the
tē tenet, taeniam apud interrēte adhūc vidēre potes video was shown in a square there. If you are
eundum est ad hoc vinculum: interested, you can see it by following this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgeSVbPCK4
Verba ipsa, quae in taeniā nōn clārē audiuntur, the words themselves aren’t clear on the video
haec sunt: Mediā nocte, orbem terrārum morte, but here they are: At midnight, I will take over
metū et excidiō in potestātem meam redigam! Sōl the world with death, fear and destructuion! The
tempestāte devorābitur! Magnetismus terrestris rever- sun be destroyed by storm! The terrestrial mag-
tētur. Tellus in tenebrās clādēsque incidet! netism will reverse. Earth will fall into darkness
and disaster!
Dē dēclārātiōne pontificālī
Audīvistī Summum Pontificem ministeriō suō Latīnē You’ve heard the Supreme Pontiff resigning his
renūntiantem. Quālis est Latīnitās eius? office in Latin. What’s his Latin like?
Crēdō eum linguam optimē scrībere atque bene I believe he writes the language excellently and
modō ecclēsiasticō dīcere. In locīs quibusdam, tamen, speaks well in the church pronunciation.
nimis celeriter loquēbātur atque ipse ūnum errōrem However, he sometimes went too fast and he made
grammaticum fēcit. Erat etiam error typographicus one grammar mistake. There was also a typo in
in textū orīgināliter in sitū Vaticānō positō sed iam ibi the text orignally uploaded to thr Vatican site but
correctiōnēs factae sunt. Sī pāginam interrētiālem now corrections have been made. If they visit
http://linguae.weebly.com/latinitas-pontificalis.html
vīsitāvērunt, omnēs quōs nūgae grammaticae dēlec- all those who enjoy grammatical trivialities can
tant occāsiōnem errōrēs corrigendī ipsī habēbunt. have a chance to correct the errors themselves.
Benedictus linguā Latīnā ūsus est ut `decisiōnem Benedict made use of Latin to communicate `a
magnī momentī prō Ecclēsiae vītā’ commūnicāret sed decision of great importance for the life of the
in vītā cottīdiānā aedium Vaticānārum nōnne lingua church in daily life at the Vatican, isn’t Italian of
Italica maiōris est momentī quam Latīna? greater importance than Latin?
Rectē dīxistī. Post annōs sexagēsimōs in diēs minuitur That’s right. After the 1960s the number of those
nūmerus eōrum quī Latīnam bene intelligant itaque who understand Latin well has continually gone
lingua Italica, quae in colloquīs infōrmālibus semper down and so Italian, which always had the domi-
praevalēbat, in rēbus officiālibus quoque plērumque nant role in informal conversation, is also now
adhibētur. Abhinc annōs sexaginta rēs valdē dissimilēs generally used for official purposes also. That
fuisse ē hīs verbīs ā Piō XII annō millēsimō nōngen- things were very different sixty years ago is appa-
tēsimō prīmō dictīs apparet: Quid dignē celēbret hunc rent from the words spoken by Pius XII in1951:
imperiālem sermōnem - βασιλικη γλωσσα ā Graecīs How can one adequately celebrate this imperial
appellābātur - quae vēra nōn ēnūntiat sed sculpit, quae language – basilike glossa as the Greeks styled it -
in ēdictīs et sententiīs pecūliārī splendet gravitāte, quae which does not proclaim but engraves truths,
in Latīnā Ecclēsiā līturgicō fruitur ūsū, quae dēnique which gives its own special splendour and weight
Catholicae Ecclēsiae est magnī pretiī vinculum? to decrees and statements, which is employed in
Nūllus sit sacerdōs, qui eam nesciat facile et expedītē the Latin Church’s liturgy and which is a bond of
legere et loquī! great value for the Catholic Church. Let no priest
be unable to read and speak it easily and fluently!
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Quamquam ūsus linguae Latīnae iam intrā atque extrā Ecclēsiam dēminūtus est, nōnne renūntiātiō pontificālis effēcit ut in nūntiōrum dīvulgātiōne multa dē linguā dīcerentur atque scrīberentur?
Ita vērō. Etiam hīc in urbe nostrā rēs se ita habēbat. Ut omnēs scītis, in actīs diurnīs quibus titulus South China Morning Post dē Circulō nostrō quoque scrīptum est. Rēlātiō illa adhūc in Interrētī lēgī potest: |
Although the use of Latin has diminished both inside and outside the Church, hasn’t the papal
resignation resulted in lots of coverage for Latin in the news media? It has indeed. Even here in our own city that was the case. As you all know, there was also a report about our Circulus in the South China Morning Post. The report can still be read on the Internet: |
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Apud situm Sociētātis Radiophonicae Britannicae ēditum est relātiō titulō Pope resignation: Who speaks Latin these days?, in quā Reginaldus Foster, fautor nōtissimus Latīnitātis vīvae, Nicholas Ostler, quī librum c.t. Ad Infinitum: a Biography of Latin scrīpsit, atque Maria Beard, profestrix histōriae antīquae in Universitāte Cantabrigiēnsi sententiās suās expressērunt. Ad hoc vinculum eundum est:
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The BBC’s website carried a report entitled `Pope resignation: Who speaks Latin these days?, in which Reginald Foster, a celebrated proponent of Living Latin,, Nick Ostler, the author of Ad Infinitum: a Biography of Latin, and Mary Beard, Professor of ancient history in Cambridge University, expressed their opinions. This is the link to go to:
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Reginaldus Foster Nicholas Ostler Maria Beard
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Nōnne Marīa Beard (dīcendum est `Barba’?) ōlim dē Nūntiis Latīnīs Helsinkiēnsibus satis incomiter locūta est?
Rēctē dīxistī. In columnā quam in actīs diurnīs quibusdam Britannicīs scrībere solet, affirmāvit `Finnōs illōs amoenōs’ nūntiīs Latīne reddendīs et `paucīs exspectantibus’ ēmittendīs ōtium suum inutiliter terere. Rēvērā multī professōrēs Latinitātem Vīvam nōn magnī aestīmant vel etiam contemnunt. Dē causīs tālium sententiārum sodālis quīdam Gregis Latīne Loquentium haec scrīpsit: `Prīmum Latīnē loquendō neque inter doctōrēs prōmovēbimur neque habilitābimur, ut ita dīcam. Deinde professōrēs scrīpta interpretārī volunt, Latīnē autem loquī dē rēbus cottīdiānīs puerōrum esse existimant neque hominum litterātōrum. Postrēmō linguam Latīnam ab aliīs, quī neque doctōrēs neque professōrēs sunt, tractārī nōlunt’. Ipse tertiam causam nōn magnī esse momentī crēdō, sed fortasse aliquid vēritātis est in prīmā secundāque. Nihilōminus eī quibus Latīnitās vīva est maximē cordī opera sua alacriter facere pergunt. Verbī grātiā, mēnsē Martiō apud Prosōpobiblion |
Didn’t Mary Beard (or should it be Barba’?) once say something rather rude about the Helsinki `Nuntii Latini’?
That’s right. In her regular column for a British newspaper, she claimed that `those charming Finns’ were wasting their spare time translating the news into Latin and broadcasting it `to the waiting handful’ In fact many professors of Latin do not think much of `LivingLatin’ or even hold it in contempt. One member of the Grex Latine Loquentium wrote this: on the reasons for such attitudes: `First, we won’t get our Ph.D. nor get `habilitated’ (so to speak) by speaking Latin. Then the profesors want to inter- pret texts and they think that speaking Latin about everyday matters is for children, not for intellect- tuals. Finally, they don’t want Latin handled by others who are not doctors or professors. Myself, I think the third reason is not very important but perhaps there’s something in the first and second Still, those who are real fans of Living Latin continue their work with enthusiasm. For example, in March on Facebook |
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posita est taenia in quā discipulī graduum variōrum Latīnē interrogantur. Neque tamen obliviscendum est ūnum ex sodālibus nostrīs hīs dialogīs ipsīs ūtitur ut pelliculās iūcundās ad ūsum tirōnum apud Tutubulum pōnat. Ecce vincula ad quīndecim partēs pelliculae`Dē Tē Ipsō' dūcentia:
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there was a video posted with students at various levels interviewed in Latin. And we
should not forget one of our members is using these dialogues to upload some delightful videos to YouTube. Here is the link to the fifteen parts of `De Te Ipso': |
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Etiam Marīa ipsa Barba nūperrimē confessa est sē Latīnē colloquī parātam esse dummodo prīmum satis vīnī rubrī biberit!
Bene dīctum est! Nōs quoque pōcula tollāmus! Prōsit! |
Even Mary Beard herself recently confessed she's ready to talk in Latin if she’s had enough red wine first!
Well said! Let’s raise our glasses, too! Cheers! |
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Satis cōnstat plūrimōs fautōrēs Latīnitātis vīvae dēlectāre cibō vīnōque fruentēs ūsum linguae exercēre. Suntne multī quī nōn tantum cōnsūmere sed etiam coquere sciunt?
Ita vērō. Exemplī grātiā, in `Septimānīs Latīnīs’ duce Robertō Maier habitīs et in conventibus Lexintoniēn- sibus quae administrat Terentius Tunberg, participātō -rēs cibum ūnā parant. In TūTubulō taeniam magnēto- scopicam inveniētis in quō alius magister, Iāsōn Slanga, dē arte coquendī Latīnē loquitur |
Everyone knows most `living Latin’ enthusiasts
like to practise the language while enjoying food and wine. Are there many who can cook as well as consume? Yes, indeed. For example, in the `Latin Weeks’ held under Robert Maier’s leadership and in the Lexington conventicula which Terentius Tunberg organises, the participants prepare food together. On YouTube you’ll find a video in which another teacher, Jason Slanga, talks in Latin about the art of cooking. |
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Nūperrimē autem sodālis quīdam Gregis Latīnē
Loquentium de mūnere culīnāriō suō amoenissimē scrīpsit: Mihi datur ut coquō familiārī parāre apparātum ad bene cēnandum. Cum uxor vēnerit necesse erit ut cibī omnēs (nempe esicia, holera, iūscellum fervidum ex pīsīs cum spinaciīs carrōtīsque factum, pānis persicus āliīs caesīs atque oleō sparsus, acētāria ex herbīs facta) cum suīs vāsīs atque ūtēnsilibus omnibus sint parāti et positī in mēnsā. Īdem scrīptor in aliā epistulā dē labōribus suīs addidit: Equidem artem parandī cibōs dēlectābilēs amō quamvīs senectūte īnstante nōnnumquam labōribus prae fornāculā domesticā atque ōnere obsōnandī saltem sexcenties per hebdomadem aliquantulum fatīger. Bene scrīptum est neque tamen intellegō quid significent `esicia’, `āliīs’ atque `pānis persicus’ `Esicia’ est vocābulum mediaevāle, cuius sunt aliae fōrmae multae, ut `esocius’, `isicius’, `isox’, `esox’. Vocābulum clāssicum, quod in operibus Plīniī invenītur, est `salmō.’ `Āliīs’ est figūra ablātīva `ālium’ nōminis, quod `allium’ quoque scrībitur et Anglicē `garlic’ dīcitur. `Pānis persicus’ est tālis pānis quālis in Persiā comeditur. Linguā Persicā `naan’ dīcitur, ut sciunt omnēs quī apud caupōnās Indicās in urbe nostrā cēnāre solent! Tū ipse coquere scīs? Multōs per annōs sōlus habitābam itaque cibōs simplicēs coquere didicī. Postquam uxōrem in cōnūbium dūxi, complūrēs diēs coquī mūnere functus sum, sed in arte culīnāria adeo deeram ut coniūnx mōx constituerit ipsa culīna potīrī! Dē cibō satis! Apud Gregem nūper dē vīnō āctum est? Certissimē. Ecce versūs quōs composuit alius sodālis. Bacchus profectō deus est vīnī, Amphītrītē dea maris. Quid mē Bacche iubēs? Adsum! tua iussa capessam: Pōcula multa bibam sīn minus inteream Sint mihi tot cyathī quot mōbilis Amphītrītē Piscēs in gremiō quā patet usque gerit! Pōma quot autumnus, gignit quot brūma pruīnās Flōrēs quot vernō tempore terra pārit! Optimē! Pōcula tollāmus ad salūtem auctōris exoptandam et exemplum eius nōbile sequāmur! Deinde apud TūTūbulum pelliculam novam ā Lūciō nostrō ēditō spectēmus, in quō obsōnātur et pastam et lycopersica duōbus hominibus coquit |
t And very recently a member of the Grex Latine
Loquentium wrote very charmingly about his kitchen job. `It’s down to me as the family cook to prepare the equipment for dining well. When my wife gets back it’s necessary that all the food (salmon, vegetables, hot broth made from peas with spinach and carrots, Persian bread sprinkled with, chopped-up garlic and oil, herb salad) with all its dishes and utensils have been got ready and put on the table.’ The same writer in another letter added this about his tasks : `Personally I love the art of preparing delicious food even though, as old age bears down, I may sometimes be a little tired from labours before the domestic stove and the burden of shopping at least six hundred times a week, It’s well written but I don’t understand what `esicia’, `aliīs’ and `pānis persicus’ mean. `Esicia’ is a medieval word, which has many other forms such as `esocius’, `isicius’, `isox’, `esox’. The classical word, which is found in Pliny’s works, is `salmon’. `Aliīs’ is the ablative form of the noun `āliium’, which is also spelt `allium’ and called `garlic’ in English. `Pānis persicus’ is the kind of bread that’s eaten in Iran. In the Farsi language, it’s called `naan’ as all those who dine regularly in the Indian restaurants in this town know. Can you cook yourself? For many years I lived alone and so learned to cook simple food. After I married my wife, for several days I did the cooking, but I was so deficient in the culinary art that my spouse soon decided to take charge of the kitchen herself. Enough about food! Has there been any discussion of wine in the Grex recently? Most certainly. Here are verses another member composed. Bacchus, of course, is the god of wine and Amphitrite the goddess of the sea. What are your orders for me, Bacchus? I’m here! I’ll follow your commands. I’ll drink many cups but if less, let me perish! Let my ladles be as many as the fish the moving sea, where laid open, carries in its bosom! as the apples autumn brings, or frosts winter, As the flowers the earth brings forth in spring. Excellent! Let’s raise our glasses to drink the author’s health, then follow his noble example! Then let's watch a YouTube video published by our Luke, in which he goes shopping and cooks pasta and tomatoes for two people. |
Dē operibus Latīnīs dē
rēbus Americānīs scrīptīs
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Didicistīne linguam Latīnam in patriā tuā,
Mexicō ? Minimē, tantum Honcongī stūdēre incēpī sed, cum lingua Hispānica simillima est Latīnae, sententiās simplicēs intellegere nōn mihi est difficile. Audīvī post Americam Merīdiōnālem in potestātem Hispānōrum Lusitānōrumque redāctam litterās Latīnās multōs per annōs ibi flōruisse. Ita vērō. Multa opera Latīna in Americā scrīpta sunt sed fortasse opus Americānum nōtissimum nōn in Americā ipsā sed in Eurōpā compositum est. Dē carmine cuī titulus Rusticātiō Mexicāna loquor, quod sacerdōs Iēsuīta Guātemālēnsis, nōminē Raphael Landivar, post ordinem suam suppressam in Eurōpam relēgātus, annō millēsimō septingentēsimō octōgēsimō prīmō ēdidit. In prooemiō amōrem patriae suae magnā cum eloquentiā expressit: Salvē, cāra Parēns, dulcis Guātīmala, salvē, Dēlicium vītae, fōns et orīgo meae; Quam iuvat, alma, tuās animō persolvere dōtēs, Temperiem, fontēs, compita, templa, larēs. Iam mihi frondōsōs videor discernere montēs, Ac iūgī viridēs mūneris vēris agrōs. Pulchrī sunt versūs sed crēdō auctōrem vōcālēs longās et brevēs cōnfūdisse. Nōnne dīcere dēbēmus `Guātimāla’ et orīgō’? Fortasse rectē dīxistī sed poētīs per occāsiōnem licet verba ipsa mūtāre. Nōnne Vergilius et Ovidius `Italia’ verbum in `Ītalia’ trānsfōrmāvērunt? Certissime est aliquid Vergiliānum in carmine Raphaelis. Rosa Williams, in symbolā in Interrēti positā, hōs versūs (XIV, 272-76) citat: Sed iam laeta vocat rursum mē cervus ad arva Cervus ab umbrōsīs veniēns ad flūmina silvīs Cornigeram sēcum dūcēns per dēvia turbam. En tibi septēnōs praestantī corpore cervōs, Ingentem superant quī vastā mōle juvencum Quībuscum versūs a Vergiliō ipsō in librō prīmō Aenēidos (189-93) scrīptīs comparat: ductōrēsque ipsōs prīmum, capita alta ferentēs cornibus arboreīs, sternit, tum volgus, et omnem miscet agēns tēlīs nemora inter frondea turbam; nec prius absistit, quam septem ingentia victor corpora fundat humī, et numerum cum nāvibus aequet] Scrīpsitne auctor tantum dē animālibus plantīsque? Minimē, etiam dē dīversīs activitātibus incolārum scrīpsit. In librō XV, exemplī grātiā, dē lūdīs agitur, et haec pictūra in opere ē typīs expressō inclūditur, in quā iuvenēs fūnibus revinctī et circum stīpitem revolventēs dēpinguntur: |
Did you learn Latin in your own country, Mexico ?
No, I only started studying in Hong Kong but, as Spanish is very similar to Latin, it isn’t difficult for me to understand simple sentences. I’ve heard that after South America fell under Spanish and Portuguese control, Latin literature flourished there for many years. Indeed so. Many Latin works were written in America but perhaps the most famous American work was not produced in America itself but in Europe. I’m talking about the poem entitled Country Life in Mexico, which was published in 1781 by a Guatemalan Jesuit priest, Raphael Landivar, who was exiled to Europe after the suppression of his order. In his introduction he expressed his love for his native land with great eloquence: Hail, dear parent, sweet Guatemala, hail The delight, source and origin of my life How pleasant, mother, to think of your gifts Climate, springs, byways, churches, spirits Now I seem to behold your leafy mountains And green fields, gift of spring ploughing The verses are beautiful but I think the author has mixed up his long and short vowels. Shouldn’t we say `Guātimāla’ and `orīgō’? Perhaps you’re right but poets are sometimes allowed to change the actual words. Didn’t Virgil and Ovid turn `Italia’ into `Ītalia’? There’s certainly something Virgilian in Raphael’s poem. Rose Williams cites these lines on the Internet: Now the deer calls me again to happy fields A deer coming to rivers from forest shade Bringing the horned herd in winding line See! Seven deer with outstanding bodies Whose vast bulk surpasses a huge bullock With these she compares lines written by Virgil himself in Book I of the Aeneid: And first the leaders, holding heads high with tree-like horns he slays, then the rest, confusing all with spears midst leafy glades nor stops till in triumph seven great bodies He lays low in number equaling his ships Did the author just write about animals and plants? No, he also wrote about the inhabitants’ various activities, and this picture in included in the printed text. In it, youngsters are shown fastened with ropes and revolving round a pole. |
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Dīxistī auctōrem Guātemālēnsem fuisse. Mīror, igitur, eum in titulō nōn `Americānā’ sed `Mexicānā’ scrīpsisse.
Respōnsum dedit auctor ipse in praefātiōne suā: `Rusticātiōnis Mexicānae' huic carminī praefīxī titulum, tum quod fere omnia in eō congesta ad agrōs Mexicānōs spectant, tum etiam quod dē Mexicī nōmine tōtam Novam Hispāniam in Eurōpā appellārī sentiam, nūllā dīversōrum rēgnōrum ratiōne habitā. Sī carmen legere vīs, imāginēs secundae ēditiōnis (annō millēsimō septingentēsimō octōgēsimō) apud Interrēte in hōc sitū positum est:. |
You said that the author was a Guatemalan, so I’m surprised he wrote `Mexicana’ not `Americana’ in his title.
The author himself answered in his preface : I titled the poem `Rusticatio Mexicana’ both because almost all its contents are concerned with the Mexican countryside and as I feel that all of New Spain is called `Mexico' in Europe, without taking any account of the different regions. If you want to read the poem, a reproduction of the whole of the original edition has been uploaded to this site: |
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Annō bis millēsimō prīmō apparuit ēditiō ex typīs ūniversitātis Guātimālēnsis cui nōmen inditum est ex auctōre ipsō. Textuī Latīnō addita sunt prolegomena longa versiōque Hispānica, sed in Interrētī praebentur tantum versūs orīginālēs cum prolegomenīs
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In 2001 an edition was published by a Guatemalan university names after the author himself. As well as the Latin text, this included a long Spanish introduction and translation, but only the original verses and the introduction can be accessed on the Internet:
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Est etiam ēditiō recēns, ab Andreā Laird cūrāta, in quā textus Latīnus, versiō Anglica et explicātiōnēs amplae praebentur:
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There’s also a recent edition brought out by Andrew Laird, with the Latin text, English translation and extensive commentary:
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Quamquam liber huius scholāris nōn in Interrētī īnspicī potest, relātiōnem ūtilem hīc inveniēs:
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Although thus scholar’s book can’t be viewed on
the Internet, you’ll find this account useful: |
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Dignus quoque lectū est tractātus ā Rosā Williams, Latīnistā Americānā nōtissimā, scrīptus, cuius mentiōnem anteā fēcī:
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Also worth reading is the essay by the prominent American Latinist Rose Williams which I mentioned before:
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Suntne alia opera eiusdem generis quae adhūc exstant?
Sciō Iosēphum Rodericium Mellium in Italiā carmen scrīpsisse c.t. Dē Rēbus Rusticīs Brasilicīs Quattuor Librī sed incertus sum ūtrum ipse Brasiliēnsis an Lusitānus fuerit. Opus annō millēsimō septingentēsimō octōgēsimō prīmō ēditum est, sed ēditiō posterior Olispone millēsimō septingentēsimō nōnagēsimō octāvō ē typīs expressa est, quam iam in Interrētī legī potest: |
Are there other works of the same type still extant?
I know José Rodriques de Mello wrote a poem in Italy called De Rebus Rusticīs Brasilicis Quattuor Libri but I’m not sure if he himself was Portuguese or Brazilian. The work was first published in 1781 but a later edition was printed in Lisbon in 1798 and this can now be read on the Internet: |
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In hāc ēditiōne inclūditur quoque carmen `Dē Sacchāriī Opificiō’, quod composuit Prudentius Amiralius. Versūs Melliī, in quibus dē cultūrā nicotiī et bovum agitur, nūper iterum ēditī sunt et per Interrēte emī possunt:
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This edition also includes the poem `On the Production of Sugar’ by Prodencio do Amiral. Mellio’s work, which deals with the cultivation of nicotine and keeping cattle, has recently been re-published and can be bought on the Internet.
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Fortasse viatōrēs Eurōpaeī, quī postquam Americam vīsitāvērunt Eurōpam rediērunt, librōs Latīnōs scrīpsērunt.
Ita vērō. Forsitan nōs hodiē maximē tenent relātiō pictūraeque incīsae quās ēdidit Francofortiī annō millēsimō quīncentēsimō nōnagēsimō prīmō Leodiēnsis quīdam, nōmine Theodōrus de Bry. Affirmāvit et relātiōnem et pictūrās ab Iacobō le Moyne factās esse, quī in expeditiōne Francogallicā annō millēsimō quīncentēsimō sextagēsimō quartō ad Floridam iter fēcerat et, colōniā Protestantōrum Francogallōrum ob causās et ēconomicās et religiōsās, āb Hispānīs exstinctā, vix ad Eurōpam vīvus effūgerat. Inter perītōs dispūtātur ūtrum pictūrae ā le Moyne in Floridā rēvērā pictae sint sed certissimē dēmōnstrant imāginem Indōrum Americānōrum quae in mentibus Europaeīs haesit. Fortasse nōtissima est haec pictūra, in quā prīnceps Indus ducī Francogallōrum līmitem saxeum dēmōnstrat `insignibus Rēgis Galliae insculptum’ et annō proximō ab aliō Francogallicō, nōmine Iōhanne Ribaldō, conditum. |
Perhaps European travellers, who returned to Europe after visiting America, also wrote in Latin.
Yes, indeed. Perhaps most interesting today are the account and engravings published in Frankfurt in 1591 by a man from Liège, Theodor de Bry. He claimed that both account and pictures were by Jacques le Moyne, who had travelled to Florida in the 1564 expedition and, after the French Protestant colony was destroyed by the Spaniards for economic and religious reasons barely escaped with his life to Europe. Experts dispute whether the pictures were really drawn by le Moyne in Florida but they most certainly illustrate the image of American Indians that stuck in European minds. Perhaps the best-known is this picture in which an Indian chief shows the French leader the stone marker`engraved with the King of France’s arms’ which was set up the previous year by another Frenchman, Jean Ribault. |
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Liber, cui est titulus Brevis nārrātiō eōrum quae in Floridā Americae prōvinciā Gallīs accidērunt, apud Interrēte in prīmō ex hīs sitibus legere potes. Sī tantum pictūrās īnspicere vīs, eundum est ad secundum:
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You can read the book, A short account of that which happened to the French in the American province of Florida, on the Internet on the first of these sites. If you just want to look at the pictures, go to the second:
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http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=PlZEAAAAcAAJ&pg
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/native/lemoyne/lemoyne.htm
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/native/lemoyne/lemoyne.htm
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Postrēmō mentiō facienda est operis recentiōris, ā magistrō Latinitātis nōmine Herbertō Nutting annō nōnagentēsimō duodecimō ēditi. In hōc librō, cui titulus est A First Latin Reader, sunt multae fābulae iūcundae simplicēsque dē historiā Americae Septentriōnālis agentēs. Ecce paragraphus prīmus:
`Quōdam in oppidō Ītaliae ōlim nātus est puer, quī Columbus appellābātur. Diū in patris officīnā labōrāvit. Sed prope erat mare, et puer saepe ad lītus ībat, ut vidēret nāvēs, quae ē portū ad terrās ībant dīversās. In nāvibus erant hominēs multī, et Colombus mare ipse trānsīre saepe voluit; tum autem pecūniam nūllam habēbat. Sed posteā, cum iam iuvenis esset, usque as Britanniam et Āfricam nāvigāvit.' Hoc liber aut in Interrētī legī aut in computātrum dēprōmī potest: |
Finally, mention should be made of a more recent work, brought out in 1912 by an American Latin teacher called Herbert Nutting. This book, entitled A First Latin Reader, includes many entertaining and simple stories dealing with North American history. Here is the first paragraph:
`Once in a certain town in Italy there lived a boy who was called Columbus. He worked for a long time in his father's workshop. Bit the sea was nearby and the boy often used to go to the shore to see the ships, which went out from the port to various lands. There were many people on the ships, and Columbus often wanted to cross the sea himself; however at that time he had no money. But later, when he was already a young man, he sailed as far as Britain and Africa.' The book can either be read on-line or downloaded to your own computer: |
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Dē Centrālī Occupandā
Susceptiō quae `Centrālis Occupanda’ appellātur iam paene quattuor septimānās habētur. Iam in viīs nōn tot reclāmātōrēs manent quot in prīncipiō convēnerant sed studentēs locōs quōsdam adhūc claudunt necnōn interdum conflictūs intrā illōs et custōdēs vigilēs vel susceptiōnis adversāriōs oriuntur. Quid de hīs rēbus arbitrāris? Ipse crēdō quae reclāmātōrēs poscunt iūsta esse neque tamen susceptiōnem prūdentem esse, nam regimen centrāle nōn cessūrum est et magna pars cīvium nostrōrum, quamquam systema electōrāle ā regimine prōpositum nōn comprobant, nōn adeō stomachantur ut ad systema melius adipsiscendum ācriter certent. |
The `Occupy Central’ movement has now been running for four weeks. There are not now as many protestors as came together at the start but students are still blockading certain areas and there are sometimes clashes between them and the police or opponents of the movement. What do you think about the situation? Personally I believe that the demonstrators’ demands are just but that the movement is not realistic as the central government is not going to give way and the majority of citizens, while not approving the electoral system proposed by the regime, are not sufficiently dissatisfied to fight hard for a better one. |
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Reclāmātōrēs affirmant rēctōrēs Pekingēnsēs nōn fēcisse
quae anteā prōmīsissent; fautōres tamen regiminis centrālis necnōn quīdam officiālēs Britannicī quī ante annum 1997 dē Honcongō Sīnīs reddendō cum Sīnēnsibus colloquēbantur dīcunt omnia secundum Lēgem Fundamentālem Hongongī facta esse. Rēs est intricāta quod per dēfīnītiōnem verbī `dēmocratiae stat. In lēge scrīptum est administrātōrem prīncipālem nostrum annīs prīmīs post Honcongum redditum ā conciliō speciālī, posteā `suffrāgiō ūniversālī secundum modōs dēmocraticōs’ ēlēctum īrī sed fore ut candidātī ipsī semper ā conciliō nōminātīvō nōminārentur. Concilium illud ita cōnstitūtum est ut maior pars ā ordinibus commerciālibus aliīsque ēligātur, quās cōnstat ā regimine centrālī facile movērī. Annō 2017 Administrātor Prīncipālis ā populō ēligētur sed nēminī candidātus fierī licēbit nisi saltem quīnquāgintā centēsimae conciliī nōminātīvī eum nōmīnāvērunt. Sententiā meā atque, ut crēdō, plūrimōrum Honcongēnsium tāle systema dēmocraticum vocārī nōn potest, nam tantum eī quos regimen centrāle comprobābit candidātī fīentur. Itaque factiōnēs dēmocraticae iūs`nōminātiōnis cīvilis’ postulant, per quem omnēs quī numerum quemdam fau- tōrum dēmōnstrābunt, candidāti esse possint. Cūr regimen Pekingēnse nōn vult Honcongēnsēs modō vērē dēmocraticō Administrātōrem Prīncipālem ēligere? Quisquis illō officiō fungētur, etiamsī cōnsilia regiminis centrālis interdum culpābit, in plūrimīs rēbus cum illō collabōrābit nam inter regiōnem nostram et Sīnam continentālem vincula ēconomica tam dēnsa sunt? Nōnne autem Pekingēnsēs intelligunt quō sevēriōrēs sē in rēbus Honcongēnsibus ostendant eō vehementius Taivāniēnsēs reūnificātiōnem recūsātūrōs esse? Sunt illīus sevēritātis causae variae. Ut mercātōrēs Honcongēnsēs, quōs sibi coadiūtōrēs adiunxērunt, timent nē sī cīvēs quemlibet ēligere possint, vectigālia augeantur ut plūs pauperibus dētur. Verentur quoque ne, autonomiā in ūnā regiōne auctā, iūra similia in aliīs partibus, praecipuē in Tibetō et Singangō poscantur et potestās factiōnis commūnisticae dīminuātur. Omnēs scīmus in mentibus eōrum haerēre memoriam Ūniōnis Sovieticae dissolūtae necnōn inceptōrum hodiernōrum ad Britanniam atque Hispāniam dīvidendam spectantium. |
The demonstrators claim the Beijing leaders
have not done what they had promised earlier; however, the regime’s supporters and some British officials who discussed the return of Hong Kong to China with the Chinese before 1979 say everything has been done according to Hong Kong’s Basic Law. It’s a complicated question because it depends on your definition of `democracy.’ The law says that our Chief Executive would be elected by a special committee in the first years after the handover and then `by universal suffrage according to democratic procedures’ but that the candidates themselves would always be nominated by a nominating committee. That committee has been constituted so that the majority are selected by commercial and other organisations who are known to be under the influence of the central government. In 2017 the Chief Executive will be elected by the people but nobody will be allowed to stand unless at least 50% of the committee has nominated them. In my opinion and, I believe, that of most Hong Kongers, such a system cannot be called democratic as only those the central government approves will become candidates. So the democratic parties are demanding `civil nomination’, with all those able to demonstrate a certain level of popular support allowed to stand. Why does the Beijing government not want Hong Kongers to choose a Chief Executive in a truly democratic manner? Whoever gets the job might sometimes criticise the central government but will co-operate with them in most things as we are so intertwined economi- cally with the mainland. And doesn’t Beijing realize that the stricter they are on Hong Kong issues, the more vehemently the Taiwanese will oppose reunification? There are various reasons for the hard line. Like the Hong Kong tycoons who they’ve co-opted to work with them, they fear that if the citizens can choose anyone they like, taxes could be increased so more can be spent on the poor. They are also afraid that if one region is given more freedom, similar rights might be demanded in others, particularly Tibet and Xinjiang. We all know that they’re obsessed by the memory of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and also the recent movements aimed at splitting Britain and Spain. |
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Difficillimum igitur sit reclāmātōribus ea quae dēsīderant efficere. Impōnēturne sine violentiā inceptō fīnis?
Quamquam ūnus reclāmātor ab custōdibus verberārī per televisiōnem vīsus est et adversāriī reclāmātōrum vim interdum adhibuērunt, tumultūs maximī nōn ēvēnērunt. Plērīque custōdēs pūblicī mitiōrēs sunt quam in aliīs terrīs, mitiōrēs quoque sunt reclāmātōrēs nostrī quam peregrīnī. Exspectō inceptum sēnsim ēvānitūrum esse. Spērō sententiam tuam rēctam esse. Dē Festīs Vernālibus apud Sīnēnsēs et Rōmānōs Erāntne tibi multa ante Novum Annum Sīnicum facienda? Ita vērō. Necesse erat tōtam diaetam purgāre et omnia in locō suō pōnere. Ipse omnēs librōs ē librāriīs extrahere dēbēbam ut pluteōs necnōn librōs ipsōs purgārem sed labor maior erat uxōrī, quippe cui nōn tantum omnia alia verrenda mundandaque sed etiam cibus et flōrēs nōbīs atque aviae emendi erant. Cēnāvistisne diē ultimō annī veteris cum familiāribus? Ita, ut semper illō diē fit,apud socrum meam ūnā cum sorōre uxōris atque marītō eius cēnāvi. Deinde fīliam meam ad Forum Flōrāle condūxistī, ubi balūnam et lūsōrium ēmit. Quid diē prīmā Novī Annī fēcistī? Ad diaetam aviae īvimus ut inter trālāticiō nōs et ūnā cēnārēmus. Diē secundā uxōris materteram et eius familiam eius vīsitāvimus, vesperī iterum apud aviam cēnāvimus et spectāculum pyrotechnicum, quod illā diē quotannīs in portū Victōriānō fit, televisiōne spectāvimus. |
So it would be very difficult for the demonstra-
tors to achieve what they want. Will the movement be brought to an end without violence ? Although one demonstrator was shown on TV being beaten by the police and opponents of the demonstrations have sometimes used force, no large-scale riots have taken place. Most of the police are gentler than in other countries and the demonstrators are gentler than foreign ones. I expect the movement will gradually fade. I hope you’re right about that. Did you have a lot of things to do before Chinese New Year? Indeed yes. We needed to clean the whole flat a and put everything in its proper place. I myself had to take out all the books from the book- cases so that I could clean the shelves as well as the books but my wife had more work as she not only had to sweep and clean all the other things but also buy food and flowers for us and for grandma. Did you dine with your relatives on the last day of the old year? Yes, as always on that day, we had dinner at my mother-in-law’s with my sister-in-law and her husband. Then I took my daughter to the Flower Market, where she bought a balloon and a toy. What did you do on New Year day? We went to grandma’s flat to exchange greet- ings in the traditional way and have dinner together. On the second day we visited my wife’s aunt and in the evening again dined at grandma’s and watched on television the fire- works show that always takes place in Victoria Harbour on that day. |
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Estne necesse vōbīs multam `Pecūniam Faustam’ dare?
Profectō danda est familiāribus nātū minōribus, līberīs amīcōrum necnōn custōdibus nōn sōlum in aedificiō nostrō sed etiam in aliīs quae vīsitāre solēmus. Quid aliud facitis ad festum celebrandum? Titulōs trālāticiōs, ut `Dracōnis Equīque Spīritus’ (`龍馬精神) `Corpus Sānum’ (身體建康) et `Exeuntī Ineuntīque Pāx’ (出入平安) in chartīs rubrīs scrīptōs parietibus affigimus. |
Did you have to give a lot of `Lucky Money’?
Of course we have to give it to younger relatives, friends’ children and also the security guards not just in our own building but also in other ones which we visit regularly. What else do you do to celebrate the festival? We stick on the wall traditional sentences written on red paper, for example `Dragon and horse spirit' (Lung Ma Jing San),`Bodily Health’ (San Tai Kin Hong) and `Peace as You Leave and Enter’ (Cheut Yap Ping On). |
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Sīnēnsēs novum annum vere instaurant. Quid dē Rōmānīs antīquīs?
Crēdimus annum Rōmānum in prīncipiō ā mēnse Martiō incēpisse, quam ob rem nōmina Quīnctīlis, Sextīlis, September, Octōber, November, December mēnsibus data sunt quae, cum initium annī ad Iānuārium mōtum esset, septimus, octāvus, nōnus, decimus, ūndecimus et duodecimus factī sunt. Quandō Iānuārius prīmus factus est? Rēs est incerta. Trāduntur Rōmulus urbem mēnse Martiō condidisse et eundem mēnsem initium annī fēcisse, successor eius, Nūma Pompilius mēnsibus decem patris Iānuārium Februāriumque addidisse et Iānuārium prīmum fēcisse. Huic fābulae, tamen, historicī diffīdunt, hoc sōlum prō certō habent, cōnsulēs, ōlim Īdibus Martiīs, ab annō 153 ante Christum nātum Kalendīs Iānuāriīs officium suscēpisse. Crēdimus diem mūtātam esse quod saepe necesse esset cōnsulibus, rēbus urbānīs compositīs, ad Hispāniam pervenīre antequam tempus pugnandī inciperet. Etiamsī aevō classicō mēnsis Martius nōn erat initium annī, fortasse festum vernāle adhūc celebrābātur? Rectē dīxistī, nam festum Annae Perennae, quae Īdibus Martiīs incidēbat, quasī continuātiō erat rītuum quae ōlim nōn tantum veris sed etiam annī initium celebrābant. Quamquam erant inter Rōmānōs ipsōs quī crēdēbant illam deam esse Annam Tyriam, sorōrem Dīdōnis, rēvēra nōmen eius `annus’ vocābulō cognātum est. In opere Ovidiī, cui titulus Fastī, poēta modum celebrandī hīs versibus dēscrīpsit: Īdibus est Annae festum geniāle Perennae nōn procul ā rīpīs, advena Thӯbri, tuīs plēbs venit ac viridēs passim disiecta per herbās pōtat, et accumbit cum pare quisque suā. sub Iove pars dūrat, paucī tentōria pōnunt, sunt quibus ē rāmīs frondea facta cas’ est; pars, ubi prō rigidīs calamōs statuēre columnīs, dēsuper extentas imposuēre togās. sōle tamen vīnōque calent annōsque precantur quot sūmant cyathōs, ad numerumque bibunt. (ex Librō III, 523-532) Ēheu, exemplum antīquum nōn sequendum est! Ut mittam sodālem tantum octō annōrum, etiam nōs plūs sexagintā nātī ēbriissimī fiāmus, si tot pōcula hauriāmus quot annōs futūrōs dēsīderāmus! |
The Chinese start the New Year in the spring.
What about the ancient Romans? We believe that the Roman year originally began in March, for which reason the names Quinctilis, Sextilis, September, October, November and December were given to the months which became the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth after the start of the year was moved to January. When was January made the first? That’s uncertain. Romulus is traditionally said to have founded the city in the month of March and made that month the start of the year and his successo Numa Pompilius to have added January and February to his father’s ten months and made January the first one. However, historians are sceptical about this story and the only thing they regard as certain is that the consuls once came into office on the Ides (15th) of March but from 153 B.C. on the Kalends (1st) of January. We believe the date was changed because it was often necessary for the consuls, after making arrangements in the capital, to reach Spain before the military campaigning season began, Even if March was not the start of the year, perhaps a spring festival was still celebrated? You’re right as the festival of Anna Perenna. which fell on the Ides of March, was a kind of continuation of the rituals which once marked not only the start of spring but also of the year. Although some Romans thought that goddess was Anna from Tyre, the sister of Dido, the name is really cognate with the word `annus’ (year). In Ovid’s Fastī, the poet described the celebrations in these verses: `On the Ides is the pleasant festival of Anna Perenna. Not far from your banks, stranger Tiber, the common people come and drink, scattered all over the green grass and each one lies back with his partner. Some brave the open air, a few pitch tents, and some make a leafy hut from branches. Some, after erecting canes for rigid columns, place spread-out togas on them. Still they are warm from the sun and the wine and they pray for as many years as they consume glasses, and drink till they get to the number.’ Oh dear, the ancient example should not be followed! To say nothing of the member who is only eight, even those of us over sixty would get very drunk if we downed as many cups as we want future years! |
Fōns Annae Perennae / Fountain of Anna Perenna
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Dē Festō Mediī Autumnī
Quōmodo Honcongēnsēs Festum Mediī Autumnī celebrant ? Multī sunt qui mōrēs veterēs adhūc sequantur. Tōta familia solet diē ipsō domī ūna cēnāre deinde, sī caelum serēnum est, hortum pūblicum adeunt aut collem proximum ascendunt ut omnēs lūnam plēnam spectantēs placentās lūnārēs edant et līberī lanternīs lūdant. Tū ipse Honcongō trigintā annōs habitās. Recordārisne prīmum festum Mediī Autumnī quod hīc dēgistī ? Ita vērō. Magister eram in schola secundāria et occupātissimus. Cum sōlus illō tempore habitārem, cōnstituī ad summum Montem Victōriānum pedibus ascendere ut celebrātiōnēs vidērem. Illō modō nunquam anteā īveram, nam tantum trāmine fūniculārī vectus ascenderam, sed semper sursum progressus ad summum montem sine difficultāte pervēnī. Clāriter recordor mē statim institōri cuidam incurrisse, quī, simulatque faciem umbrivirī cōnspexit, vās metallicum cervisiae ē cistā extractum mihi obtulit. Neque tamen accēpi nam valdē sitiēbam et primum necesse erat mihi potiōnem sine alcoholī bibere. Deinde familiās lanternāsque aliquamdiū spectāvī et domum sērius revertī. Difficultās nōn erat, nam quotannīs nocte Mediī Autumnī trāmina subterrānea per tōtam noctem hominēs vehunt et postrīdiē est fēria pūblica. Quid dē orīgine festī illīus scīmus ? Temporibus antiquissimīs Sīnēnsēs lūnam deam coluisse videntur, sub dynastiā Tangia prīmum nōbilēs deinde plebs coēpērunt sub dīvō sedentēs dum lūnam admīrantur convīvium participāre. Aevō Sungiō diēs decima quīnta mēnsis octāvī cōnstitūta est ad hanc cēlebrātiōnem quotannīs habendam. Dē hīs rēbus in hāc pāginā legere poteris : https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival-history-origin.htm Et quid dē placentīs lūnāribus ? Trādunt cum Sīnēnsēs contrā dynastiam Mongoliānam rebelliōnem facere cōnstituissent ducēs mandāta in tālibus placentīs cēlāta ad populum mīsisse. |
How do Hong Kong people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival? There are many who still follow the old customs. On the day itself the whole family normally has dinner at home together, then, if the weather is goof, they go to a park or climb a nearby hill so that they can all eat moon cakes whilst looking at the full moon and the children can play with lanterns, You have been living in Hong Kong yourself for thirty years. Do you remember the first Mid-Autumn festival you spent here? Yes, indeed. I was a secondary school teacher and very busy. As at that time I was living on my own, I decided to go up to the top of Victoria Peak on foot so I could look at the celebrations. I had never before done it like that, as previously I had only gone up on the Peak Tram, but I just kept on going up-hill and I reached the top without any problem. I remember very clearly that I immediately came across a hawker, who, as soon as he saw a gweilo face, pulled out a can of beer from his box and offered it to me. However, I didn't take it because I was extrmely thirsty and needed a non-alcoholic drink first. Then i spent some time looking at the families and the lanterns and returned home rather late. There was no problem with this because every year on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival the MTR trains keep carrying passengers right through the night and the next day is a public holiday. What do we know about the origin of the festival? In very ancient times the Chinese seem to have worshipped the moon as a goddess and under the Tang dynasty (618-907) first the nobles and then the common people started to sit outside and join in a party whilst they admired the full moon. In the Sung period (960-1279) the 15th day of the 8th month was fixed as the day for holding an annual celebration. You can read about this in the following page: https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival-history-origin.htm And what about moon cakes? The traditional story is that when the Chinese had decided to rebel against the Mongol (Yuen) dynasty their leaders sent instructions to the people hidden in cakes of that kind, |
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Suntne aliae fābulae ad hoc festum pertinentēs ?
Ita vērō. Dīcunt fēminam quandam, nōmine Seung Ngor (嫦娥, Chang E), potiōnem immortālitātis, ā Rēgīnā Caelī ipsā marītō eius datam, cōnsumpsisse et statim ad lūnam volāvisse. Seung Ngo ibi cum cuniculō ingentī et furciferō quōdam, quī arborem caedere semper frūstrā cōnātur, aeternō vīvit. Alii affirmant fēminam potiōnem ā marītō dolōsē abstulisse, aliī crēdunt illam bibisse nē medicīna ā discipulō marītī abriperētur. Videnda sunt hae pāginae : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e https://www.ancient.eu/article/894/most-popular-gods--goddesses-of-ancient-china/ Et quid tū ipse hōc annō faciēs ? Vesperī festī discipulōs docēre dēbēbō sed postrīdiē barbacoae tuae intererō neque, ut abhinc trigintā annōs, cervisiam recūsābō. |
Are there other stories connected with this festival?
Yes indeed. People say that a woman named Seung Ngor consumed the elixir of immortality given to her husband by the Queen of Heaven herself and then immediately flew to the moon. Seung Ngor lives there for ever in the company of a giant rabbit and of a criminal who is always trying in vain to cut down a tree.. Some state that the woman stole the elixir from her husband by a trick, others believe that she drank it to stop a student of her husband from stealing it. See the following pages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e https://www.ancient.eu/article/894/most-popular-gods--goddesses-of-ancient-china/ And what will you yourself do this year? I will have to teach students on the evening of the festival but the following day I'll be at your barbecue, and, unlike thirty years ago, I won't refuse a beer! |
| wordchamp1.mp3 |
Recording of the first fifty phrases/sentences
The next fifty (`Est prīma...hōra' TO `Quia novae experientiae...') can be heard on this wave file.
| vr0003.wav |
Recordings of other sections are being slowly added with links to the RECITATIONES IMPRESSAE (`recorded readings') page added alongside the titles. If you wish to read to read and listen on-line simultaneously you may need to open separate tabs on your browser. Alternatively, the audio (WAV) files can be downloaded and stored on your hard disk before you return to this page.
Other sources for conversational Latin:
Other sources for conversational Latin:
| nos_in_schola_latine_loquimur.pdf |
| oral_latin.doc |
