I was just wondering if anyone can help. I am about to take up Latin. I know Hebrew, Arabic, and Koine Greek. So, I wanted to take up Latin as well. I do want to learn Clasical Latin. However, my spiritual quest is palpable. I want to learn first how to read my Biblia Sacra Vulgata by Jerome. So which form of Latin would be best? I know Ecclesiastical is used for the Catholic Church litergy, etc. But is it the same as Jerome’s Latin? And how do they differ with Classical? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks to all! Good day.
Truly,
Avraham
In my opinion, Latinists are fortunate in that they really deal with only one language, while Greek presents itself in several distinct dialects.
If you learn the grammar of Classical Latin you will likely be able to get through most of the later literature, as long as you pay attention to vocabulary differences and are not surprised by some grammatical irregularities. However, if you know the Bible well your familiarity with the text might prevent you from getting a good grasp of Latin per se. Not a good thing if you plan on reading something else. So, I would not rush into reading the Vulgate.
My suggestion would be to start with Latin: An Intensive Course by Rita Fleischer.
Great! Thanks Deses for the pointers. Much appreciated.
The Latin of the Vulgate is essentially a simpler form of Classical Latin i.e. everything is more explicit (much less indirect statement, more prepositions). If you study Latin using a classical curriculum, you will have no problem with the Vulgate save with some of the vocabulary. I will tell you, though, that the Gospels in the Vulgate are much easier to translate than some of the Pauline Epistles. I do not know if it is the content itself or just the translation, but the letters to the Corinthians were no walk in the park.
Hei Avraham, ma nishma? As one who embarked first for Latin, only later Greek, and afterwards Hebrew, I agree with the poster who said that learning Classical Latin first before moving onto medieval Latin is ideal. I really do recommend Wheelock’s to work through, and given a Greek background, you should have no problem whatsoever.
If I may post a complete aside, how does learning Hebrew compare with Greek and Latin? I know they are in completely different linguistic categories. How difficult is it to learn Biblical Hebrew after coming from the classical languages? I’d like to learn Hebrew after I’ve made substantial progress with my Latin and Greek.
I’m not as far along on Hebrew as Avraham is, but since I started with Latin and Greek, I can say that it’s definitely a different category than IE languages. It’s not too difficult once you wrap your head around certain constructions, though.
Indeed, Greek and Latin are not related to Hebrew. However, Hebrew is certainly an easy language. For those of you who are linguists (I know many of you are from some fancy terms used anound here 
), you will know what the term economic means. Hebrew is the most economic language I ever studied. It is simple, by nature. Though often vague in the definite Latin/Greek/English mind-set. The alphabet scares people at first. However, it is one of the two easiest alphabets I’ve learned (Latin doesn’t count 
). The second being Japanese Katagana. Once you get past the alphabet, (which theoretically, is possible to learn in a couple of days,) the rest is pretty simple. I am no expert in Greek, having just completed my Koine Grammar, but Hebrew is my specialty. And let me tell you, Greek was tough. You see, in Hebrew (and Arabic mind you), every word comes from a three letter root word. It is then possible for that 3 letter root to be conjugated into a verb, noun, adverb, adjective, future, past, present, plural, singular, masculine, feminine, et cetera. All from one simple root. Once you learn the series of verbal conjugating paradigms, you can figure out just about anything. You can, for instance, learn one root word, and instantly you know a hundred words. Can sound a little daunting, but in the end, it really comes out easier. Certainly go for it. I would suggest a Biblical Hebrew first, and then modern if desired. I started with “The First Hebrew Primer” By EKS. I’ve also used this as a teaching course in a couple of Hebrew classes of mine. It’s designed for adults, but it is very simple and easy to use with an excelent large font. It’s a Jewish publishing company. The course is not overtly religious;and I think they come from a authentic perpective for one pursuing biblical texts. Give it a try. And good luck!מזל טוב‎(mazel tov!)
Chris: Hakol beseder. V’atah? Oomah horicha? I’m excited about Latin. I’ve perused some grammars here. After Greek, Latin indeed looks easy to me. Thanks for the pointers everyone. And good day to all!
Truly,
Avraham
Approximately how many words are contained in the lexicon of Biblical Hebrew?
How many words? Or shoreshim? Thant is, the root words? Hmmm… Good question. I never counted. Let me see. One, two, three… sorry. I am not sure. But from what I can find, it appears the ammount of root words number 2,050. Also it is important to point out that many words in Hebrew are used very infrequently, sometimes only once. Such as ROOR, the root for spitting or emitting a bodily fluid. It is used only once in the Hebrew Scriptures(no wonders ). It seems to be a concensus that despite the root numbers being at 2,050 , a knowledge of about 500 Hebrew words will allow for a standard in fluency in reading. Pretty amazing considering that once conjugated, the words in the Hebrew Old testament are supposed to number about 600,000. Good luck and good day!
Truly,
Avraham
Why did I read this post, now I want to learn hebrew.
ברך הו ה?דן העל?, ברך שמך ועד׃
!!!תוד ?ברה?
Hi all
Greetings from Spain.
The Vulgata is written in Vulgar Latin, but if you study Classical Latin it will be easier to understand Vulgar Latin , also called Later Latin.
But if you begin with Vulgar Latin it will be more difficult for reading classical texts.
I must disagree with such a use of the term Vulgar Latin.
Why?
The term Vulgar Latin often circumscribes the many varieties of spoken Latin (including the everyday language of classical times). Jerome’s writings are influenced by the changing linguistic situation, but his Latin still tends to follow literary patterns. It is hardly the spoken language of his time.
Care to support this assertion?
EgoIoYoEu:
"ב?מת ברוך ה
Sorry guys. I ended up going with Ecclesiastical Latin. One of the reasons was, is that it did not seem quite as extensive as Classical Latin. And with my work on Hebrew, Arabic, and Koine greek, I was scared of a new, hard language. However, fear not. I got a really cool Ecclesiastical Latin Grammar, first year, from this Franciscan Monk. It’s really easy. I’m already 30% finished with it! It is coming along great! My latin is now the easiest grammar I’m doing. Of course, probably because there are a lot of words that english derived from, some similar to Greek, and just already working on grammars surely helps. The only thing is, every sentance in Ecclesiastical Latin talks about Mary (id est: Deus Mariae gratia magna dat? I I got tha right…). But I’m open-minded and enjoy all people’s beliefs. But instead of taking the 2nd year, I think I will then just go into both Classical Latin and Greek. They should be a tad easier after Ecclesiastical Latin and Koine Greek. I should be done with this one in just a couple weeks. Thanks all!
Maybe instead of Vulgar Latin we can just call it Innapropriate Latin?
Aw, shucks, you really should have gone into regular Latin. Ecclesiastical Latin is Medieval, and I didn’t think you were into Medieval studies.
Oooh, them’s fightin’ words around here. 
Suggested reading will most definitely include J. Herman’s “Vulgar Latin”, it’s a very good introduction to the development of Latin at its popular roots.
I suspect that you already know that modern language studies classify archaic Latin, classical Latin, late Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin, Medieval Latin, and vulgar Latin. Classical Latin is usually held to be the normative form of the language, even though it is obviously a highly artificed form.
Btw, certainly one of the main reasons to start with Classical Latin is the sheer bulk of available material (and not only from the Classical period: much Renaissance and later Latin directly models itself after the classical style and practice).