Welcome to Gaia! ::

Should anyone ever be interested, as in... crazy enough, to attempt to learn Latin, I do know a little of it.

Make no mistake, I am no expert, and I am still learning myself. It will be some time before I am done with my own study of the subject, but I beleive I know enough basics to teach them slowly.

Why learn Latin?

-English is based largely off Latin vocabulary. Learning Latin improves your understanding of english words, and your ability to break them down.

-It was the language of europe during, and for a long time after, the Roman Empire. Many scholars wrote in Latin, and as a result, being able to read Latin gives you the ability to read their origional words, not interpreations.


The disadvantages to learning Latin:

-Most of your time will be spend memorizing things. Latin requires a good deal of memorizing patterns in order to be able to decypher what a Latin sentence says. In short, Latin is very time consuming... and works slightly different from the languages that decended from it. To that end, be prepared to put in a lot of work.



As of right now, I have to work on a lesson plan for this class. In the meantime, if anyone is remotely interested... feel free to post in the meantime while I get things situated in trying to plan out this class in the most effective way. I will try to get a lesson up as soon as possibly can please be patient. Gratias vobis ago (I thank you).

[Note.... I have permission from Ninamarth to post this.. ]]

Lesson 1: Pronunciation (Part 1 of 3)

Short "a":

Short "a" makes a sound like the "a" in "era". A similar sound is found in the exclimation "ah!" in which the "a" makes a similar sound.
Latin examples: via, datum

Long "a":

The long "a" makes a sound like like in the word "Fraternity". It is similar to the short "a" but just with a little more emphasis really in the word, and said for a tiny bit longer. They sound similar, except the long "a" is not skipped over as quickly as the short.

Latin examples: basium

Short "e":

The short "e" is fairly simple. It makes a sound similar to the word "bet". It is a short "eh" sound. Do not overemphasise it.

Latin examples: terra

Long "e":

Makes a sound similar to the letter "a" in "pay". Obviously different form short "e".

Latin examples: regina

Short "i":

Short "i" makes a sound like in "bit". Its a short "ih" almost, but "bit" examples it well.

Latin examples: ammito

Long "i":

Long "i" makes an "e" like sound. Like how letter "e" makes it's sound in "seem". Therefore, I sounds like you would say the letter "e".

Latin examples: populi

Short "o":

Short "o" makes the sound "mortal". It is not an overemphasized "o" like long "o".

Latin examples: post

Long "o":

Long "o" is more or less a longer said, and more emphaized "o". Similar to the difference between long and short "a". An example would be the way "o" is used in "over" and its emphasis there.

Latin examples: nomen

Short "u":

Short "u" makes a sound like the "hut"... or even the word "sum" (which is also a Latin word). Sum perhaps is a better example... as in the sum of 1 and 1 is 2.

Latin example: certus

Long "u":

Long "u" makes a sound similar to the "oo" in "brood". That "ooo" sound is what you are going for.

Latin examples: nuper

Next lesson: Pronunciation (Part 2 of 3)

Which class do you want to take part in: Latin basics
Why would you like to join that Class : I think it would be helpful
How often are you online in Gaia: three or four times a week
How long will you take part in the class: until it ends or something happens that makes me think that I don't need any more latin. 9yeh right)