Does everybody wish we had more than 30 members to exchange ideas, topics and translations? Also can anyone tell me how to type umlautes on a laptop? Feel free to reply or E-mail me. . .Thanks 
Hi there - count me in for wanting more participation. But I installed the forum so I guess thatās a given.
Forums take a lot of time to get off the ground. This forum has been crawling alongā¦ 
- but Iām patient.
thanks for your interest..
jeff
Youāve just convinced me - I have been checking out this site very regularly but never got further than downloading the excellent grammars etc. Now Iām signed in!
wow - thanks!
ask and you shall recieve - how true it is.
Maybe we can this thing goingā¦
thanks,
jeff
Iāve just done my first yearās exam in Latin for the Open University. I come home to find this site. Great. The question I have is: Is āReading Latinā the best way to start. We had a lot of modified Plautus. Is a dialogue the best way to start - or should we concentrate on prose? If not RL what do you think is the best?
Graham
Umlauts - depends on what word processor you are using. I use MS Word - insert - symbol - find the glyph.
Hope this helps
Graham
In regards to inputting umlauts (on windows) it depends on the application you are using. However, I have seen (but not used) windows freeware and shareware that run as additional software which one may concurrently run in order to input non-ascii characters. Unfortunately, most support for windows and mac require additional financial overhead (i.e., money) for more features.
Moreover, whenever using MS Word, instead of always selecting the appropriate glyph (in this case an umlaut), one may just make a macro of this, and then associate it with a Key Binding (or in windows-speak Shortcut key?).
By the way, if you use unix based systems, then emacs does the job for free and one can download the Cgreek package and GNU international fonts package, and configure the OS and emacs accordingly.
Greetings! I am so happy I found this site! Years ago in school I studied Latin, but in college focused on modern languagesā¦now Iām trying to refresh my memory and build proficiency in Latin, and try Greek from scratch. The materials and forum on this site are wonderful, and Iām thankful to have found you all!
Erica 
hi Erica,
Glad to hear that. If you wish to begin Greek - look for Whiteās First Greek Book, which we will have posted within a week or two. It is a very good beginnerās greek book.
jeff
Thanks Jeffā¦I am glad you mentioned the right book to begin with, as there are so many out there and I want to avoid as much frustration as possible. A friend of mine here studied classics and is going to help me with pronunciation issues, but I was not sure where to begin.
For Latin, Iām just using Wheelock to review (it is the book I used in highschool, in addition to Jennyās 1st/2nd Year Latin). After I navigate through the 40 chapters, does any one out there have any suggestions as to what I should take a crack at?
By the way, are you familiar with Carl P. Ruckās books on Intensive Latin and the Greek counterpart, something like āA New Approach to Classical Greekā (sorry Iām not sure about the titleā¦)? Just curious. Thanks!
Thereās always Wheelockās Reader which now has a really good edition with the notes facing the text.
Great! Thanks for the suggestion re: Wheelock Reader; I didnāt notice it in stock at the bookstore, but will order it.
Welcome Erica !
For doing that Greek thing from scratch , I recommend Anne Grotonās āFrom Alpha to Omega 2nd ed.,ā which I used a couple years back. You could equally try Mastronardeās āIntroduction to Attic Greek,ā but its a bit llike an abridgement of Smythās Grammar with exercises. You can go to www.Amazon.com and probably buy a cheap used edition in good condition.
By the way, when you start reading greek, it will be easier than Latin, which is the tradeoff for the amount of grammar and vocabulary you have to know. In other words, learning the grammar and initial vocabulary of Latin is usually much easier than Greek but then becomes challenging when you start to read, due to ambiguity [such as the lack of definite articles and other signs] in the Latin language.
As far as reading Latin, the Wheellock reader is a good start, but you can also try your hand at Caeserās De Bello Ciuili [On Civil War] . You would definitely want a commentary, and there happens to be a free version and the text at www.Perseus.org.
And when you really get going in reading Latin, I definitely recommned Ciceroās De Republica edited by James E.G. Zeitzel. You 'll clearly be able to see how our founding fathers were influenced in forming our Republic.
To my last posting above,
CORRECTION: Ciceroās De Republica , edited by James E.G. Zetzel [ not Zeitzel ].
Thank you for the suggestions and encouragement! I will of course let the forum know how things progress, and undoubtedly ask questions.
Tom, do I wish we had more than 30!!!? We have about 125 now, I donāt know how many there were when you posted this message, but in spite of the numbers since I have signed up I have often felt like I have been talking to myself. :
Is anybody else breathing in here? Come on you Lazari, up, rise and come forth!!! Well, it worked for Christ.
I canāt believe the number of people who have stopped by the polls asking about favourite authors and didnāt bother to cast a vote. It hurts my feelings. And that out of 125 only 6 had an opinion about Achilles on Rayaās Poll!!!
What to do? What to do?
by the way,
I added you on ICQ 
talk to you soon,
Seba
As far as continuation of independent Latin studies after completing an introductory textbook, I would consider reading some poetry. I just think that, without a teacher to add extra insight to things, perhaps it might be a little more interesting than historical or philosophical prose. If you are going to read prose, at least read something that was meant to be heard, like Ciceroās orations. Then again, I donāt know your preferences.
Also - Iām a new member, and I think this is a magnificent and laudable endeavor. Very well done. I wish it success, and hope that I can contribute to it.
I promise to yap/post enough to leave no one fear that they are talking to themselves.
I post! Itās just that sometimes I canāt think of anything intelligent to say, and I donāt like posting just to hear myself talk.
Also, I was sick a few days ago, for about a week, and I didnāt get any language work done, so naturally I had no questions to ask. Iām getting back into it nowā¦I think the forums will wake up soon. ;D
Keesa
ha, you dragged up a really old thread from when the forums were really boring. Then I showed upā¦ ;D