Reading Latin: Text
Peter V. Jones,Keith C. Sidwell | 1986-08-29 00:00:00 | Cambridge University Press | 176 | Education
Reading Latin is a Latin course designed to help mature beginners read Latin fluently and intelligently, primarily in the context of classical culture, but with some mediaeval Latin too. It does this in three ways; it encourages reading of continuous texts from the start; it offers generous help with translation at every stage; and it integrates the learning of Classical Latin with an appreciation of the influence of the Latin language upon English and European culture from Antiquity to the present. The text, richly illustrated, consists at the start of carefully graded adaptations from original Classical Latin texts. The adaptations are gradually phased out until unadultered prose and verse can be read. The Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises volume supplies all the help needed to do this, together with a range of reinforcing exercises for each section, including English into Latin for those who want it. At the end of each section, a selection of Latin epigrams, mottoes, quotations, everyday Latin, word-derivations, examples of mediaeval Latin and discussions of the influence of Latin upon English illustrate the language's impact on Western culture. Reading Latin is principally designed for university and adult beginners, and also for sixth-formers (eleventh and twelth graders in the USA). It is also ideal for those people who may have learned Latin many years ago, and wish to renew their acquaintance with the language. Its companion course, Reading Greek is one of the most widely used mature beginners' courses in the world.
Reviews
My hope is to review "Reading Latin, Text" that I took many years ago. The "Text" appears to be friendly and the content interesting;..... enough so that I may be able to communicate in Latin with 2 of my grandkids who are taking it in school.
it is amazing how this "dead" language comes back from the dead when you use this Text with its companion:"Reading Latin, Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercise"
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I've been looking for a book to teach myself Latin, mainly to help with my research while completing my Masters in Ancient History. Until now I haven't had a lot of luck until I found this book referenced. It is great and when you use it along with its companion Latin Grammar, the skies become clear and the rain stops falling. I hope that you like it as much and find it as useful as did I.
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Very moving, deep and entertaining....come on, its a text book, it does what its supposed to do.
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I've taught Latin for more than 10 years now, using both Wheelock's and Sidwell-Jones' Reading Latin, and I far prefer the latter.
Wheelock's follows the traditional grammar-translation method. It's grammar explanations are succise and clear, but that's the best that can be said about it. Language is meant to convey information. Somebody using Wheelock's Latin will find that hard to believe. The sole purpose of the single sentences that are supposed to help students practice reading Latin is to try to cram as much of a unit's new grammar in as possible. The so-called "real" Latin sentences at the end of each unit have been shortened to the point of unrecognizability.
In contrast, Sidwell-Jones are adherents of the reading method. They base their texts on three wonderful comedies by Plautus and later, e.g., on Cicero's Speeches against Verres. They start with simplified Latin sentences, but as the course goes on, the sentences become more complex and closer to the original. Relatively soon, they also manage to expose students to short bits of poetry (Catullus, Martial, later Vergil) and even to some early Christian texts (on of my favorites is the story of St. Patrick and the Loch Ness monster).
Anyway, whereas it was extremely difficult to keep students' interest alive while using Wheelock's Latin, it is no problem with Sidwell-Jones' Reading Latin. The book teaches not just grammar but makes a whole culture come alive.
Regarding the unorthodox presentation of the grammar, I also agree with my colleague, Professor Turpin. There are good reasons why the passive is introduced after the deponent. Most students have a hard enough time consciously to form the passive in English, so it makes sense to introduce first the deponent verbs with their passive forms, but active meaning and then later the real passive verbs with the same forms, but passive meanings.
In my experience, Reading Latin students have more fun learning the language, and they learn something about Roman culture as well. Finally, when Reading Latin students go on to intermediate Latin texts, they have an easier time with long, continuous texts than Wheelock students because that's what they have been reading all along. I am extremely grateful to Keith Sidwell and Peter Jones for writing such a successful Latin textbook.
Reviews
Having attempted previously to learn Latin on my own from Wheelock's, I can say that this text is far superior for anyone attempting self-study. The texts are enjoyable and, at times, funny (Plautus), scary (In Verrem), beautiful (Ovid, Virgil, etc.), and moving (Cirero, Ad familiares, 2.16). Rather than the dry, boring sentences and mutilated sententiae you find in Wheelock's, Reading Latin uses engaging texts and prepares you to read unadapted Latin as quickly as possible. Furthermore, I found introducing the deponent verbs before the passive rather nice. Upon encountering deponent/passive endings, it's better not to assume immediately that the verb is passive as Wheelock's trains you to. Along this line, the order of presentation is overall very good. Rather than presenting a new tense in pieces, for each conjugation, Reading Latin gives them to you all at once, making it far easier to remember the patterns. I finished the entire text in 3 months, spending only about 3 hours on it per day. While I'm not reading anything quickly yet, I can read Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, et al. using only patience and a dictionary (alas, vocabularly takes a while to build up no matter what language you learn).
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