I am new to Latin and too cheap to purchase Wheelock’s Latin if I can get basic Latin for free. Are these “older” texts as good as Wheelock’s? Thank you.
Yes they are good. Some of them are still in print today and are very well respected. Still, Wheelock’s might be a good choice for you because one current disadvantage with our Latin content is that there are no keys to check your progress.
If you are learning on your own my suggestion is to choose material with exercises and keys available. You can then always use the Latin grammars found on Textkit for follow-up reading and clarification.
What do you mean “key?”
Hi Again,
I mean an answer key for grammar, translation and composition exercises.
jeff
These Latin grammars, especially Allen and Greenough, are very good as reference, but I would caution you not to try and pick up the language just from them. Wheelocks, or some other such text is best for beginners. Once you have mastered the basics of syntax (a basic study of wheelock), then you ought to move on to reading some basic original prose, such as Caesar. Then, depending on taste, you could tackle Cicero, Virgil, or perhaps Catullus; composition is not a common goal these days, but if such is your interest, i would suggest Bradley’s Arnold or North and Hillard.
I am hoping to read the Latin Bible; I think it is the Vulgate. I don’t know if there is another one or not.
Oh.
The vulgate is sandwiched somewhat uncomfortably (from a linguistic standpoint) between classical latin (wealth of forms, constructions, syntactical eccentricities) and medieval (church) latin, which tends to be a lot looser and less demanding of specific grammatical structures, particularly the less frequently used ones. I would still reccomend wheelock’s as an excellent source for grasping the basics of the language. You might then want to take a look at a book on medieval latin (which can usually be had at a borders/barnes and noble quality chain bookstore). In addition, there are several texts published which are designed to specifically prepare students for the vulgate. but at any rate, since the vulgate was written for the masses, with wheelock’s and a dictionary you’ll be more than prepared to tackle it. The vocabulary is actually quite repetitive, so you’ll get faster as you go along and eentually may be able to just read it straight.
Daddion,
I have not downloaded the Latin texts here to examine them yet, but I do not have a very high opinion of Wheelock’s Latin. See my “Rant against Wheelock” post for details.
Salve Daddion.
I have read a great deal of the Vulgate which I got from amazon. I actualy print up and make books (using illuminatoin techinques scribal calligraphy) and got the bulk of my text from a volume called “Biblia Sacra Vulgata” which is a collusion of variant versions of the Vulgate. Reading the medaeval bible in latin is an experience like few others and is especialy valuable for those interested in ecclesiastic history or religous studies. The style of latin is that of “vulgar” or “common” latin and it is not terribly medaeval in its grammar but more “late roman.” This simply means that the style you would need to learn for this Bible is only a hop skip and jump away from what you learn in any standard classical latin grammar. As a matter of fact Wheelock has in print a book called “Wheelock Latin Reader” which has a section on “vulgar latin” or latin from what was known as the patristic christian period of latin litterature. And it gives readings out of the book of Job and some in the New Testament.
To give you a very superficial idea of the differences betwenn common vulgar latin of this period and of the classical era would be frequent use of words like “quod” and “quia” to introduce a subjunctive verbin indirect statemens like the following:
“dixitque Deus, fiat lux et facta est lux et vidit Deus lucem QUOD esset bona et divisit lucem ac tenebras”
(and God said, “let there be light” and there was light and God saw THAT the light was good and divided the light from the darkness)
In this sentence the word Quod is being used in exactly the same why we use “that” in english translation. This is extremely frequient not only in common latin of this patristic period but expecialy of the full fledged medaeval latin which comes later. Classical latin would have used an accusitive plus infinitive for the above construction and the writer of the vulgate Saint Jerome “santcus hieronymos” was fully conversant and competent in classical style.
All of this is to be found in the Wheelock Latin Reader or in a book specificly dealing with Medaeval latin. The book progresses to give readings and instructions on latin which can be described as fully “medieval” as well as the patristic genre. By this period there were some major changes in the uses of verbs and some of the points of grammar that make the language much more similar to modern romance tongues like italian and spanish. We start seeing what is called “analytical verbs” an example of which would be to say “manens eram” for (i was waiting) rather than the usual “manebam.”
I have to say that i have been very pleased and learned a tremendous amount from the Wheelock series of books, but they are by far not he only grammars I use and i dont think they should be rejected wholesale for minor shortcomings. It is my standard practice to draw from as many books as possible while choosing the best book as a “primary source.” The wheelock grammar cost only around 14 bucks last time i checked. I do recomend it fully and its sequel the Wheelock Latin Reader.
Hi,
I have Wheelock’s Latin, have Dale Grote’s companion to Wheelock on order and also have Henle, SJ Latin – both the Grammar and Henle Latin 1.
I am curious as to other’s opinion on Henle – I hear very good things about it from Home Schoolers, and the Grammar is certainly first rate.
Yes, I found myself saying “How can I learn Latin for free? Is this real? Can these old texts teach properly?”
Some like Wheelock, others like D’Ooge; some hate wheelock, others hate D’Ooge. It depends which appoints your bishop 
But Latin For Beginners is my personal choice. Actually I think it to be a wonderful credit to the author and to this site. It has clear explanations, exercises, 1/2 a key (we’re working on it but it’ll take you months to reach where it is anyhow) and vocabulary. I would print it out, get an exercise book and do it once a day.
Whichever you may choose, good luck! santé!
How might I acquire this “1/2 a key” for Latin for Beginners that you speak of?
hmm…has ingrid not put it up on textkit? A month ago I wrote a couple pages of it…in fact I have a great deal more to write. But it does exist, on my computer in fact; I just think that I am not the one to distribute - it belongs to textkit…
I agree that it should belong to textkit. When it becomes public I will definately be making use of it! 
But, if you do have any problems in the D’Ooge exercises (which you shouldn’t really - everything is explained soundly) then you can always post a topic here.
I will don’t worry. Although as you say he gives pretty sound explanations.
heh I’m just waiting for someone to come along and diss the book. Always happens, your being so polite at my shameless D’Ooge “demonstrare” is asking for it.
It’s hard to resist sometimes. People are naturally compelled to try to balance out pride and insult.
What I like most about D’Ooge’s book is the very frequent exercises. For someone impatient like me, it is nice to be able to focus on doing exercises rather than reading overly-verbose explanations. D’Ooge’s explanations are clear and consise, and his exercises plentiful.
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hmm…has ingrid not put it up on textkit? A month ago I wrote a couple pages of it…in fact I have a great deal more to write. But it does exist, on my computer in fact; I just think that I am not the one to distribute - it belongs to textkit…
[/quote]
I’m still busy with it, I’ve been away from keyboard for a while for personal reasons (I do have a family, you see . )I’ve got to the first part of Niobe’s story, everything what comes before is ready. I’ll try to speed things up so I can post the first part soon (or send it to Jeff, because the Adobe converted at work seems to dislike me).
Ingrid