Latin for Dummies

by Clifford A. Hull, Steven R Perkins, Steven R. Perkins, et al.

Book Overview

Earn-lay atin-Lay? No, not that kind of Latin You can learn trueLatin, with conjugations, declensions, and all those extrasyllables - and it's easier than you think.In fact, most people mistakenly think of learning Latin as perhapsthe most useless, tedious, and difficult thing to do on earth. Theycouldn't be more wrong.

Latin For Dummies takes you back for a quick jauntthrough the parlance of ancient Rome, as well as discussing theprogress of Latin into church language, and its status today as the"dead" language that lives on in English, Spanish, Italian, and most other Western tongues. Written for those withzero prior knowledge of Latin, this snappy guide puts the basics atyour fingertips and steers clear of the arcane, schoolmarmstereotype of endless declensions and Herculean translations.Easy-to-understand sections describe:
* Latin you already know
* Grammar
* Pronunciation
* Latin in action
* Latin in law
* Latin in medicine
* Latin for impressing your friends
* And much more

No dusty tome or other such artifact, Latin For Dummiesmakes learning fun and brings the language to life by presentingconversations in various Roman settings, as well as providing funfacts and stories about classical life. And if you feel you mayactually have a negative aptitude for the language, don'tworry; pronunciations and translations follow every expression, anda helpful mini-dictionary graces the book's last pages.You'll also find out about:
* The quotable Roman
* Latin graffiti
* Latin authors who's who
* Gladiator Latin
* Latin in love, marriage, and family
* From the mouth of Julius Caesar
* Romans on drink
* Helpful Latin-related Web sites
* Fun and games exercises

Designed to introduce and familiarize you with the languagerather than make you the next Cicero, Latin For Dummiesgives you all the tools you need to work at your own pace to learnas much or as little as you like. So noli timere (no-leetih-may-reh) - "have nofear" - and carpe diem ("pick upLatin For Dummies today")

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076455431X
• ISBN13: 9780764554315
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Another Great Dummy book

I need to learn both Spanish and French. Within a year I need to know just enough to get by. I felt that the task was a little high. A friend that speaks 9 languages made a suggest. Learn Latin first because it is the root of Spanish, French and English. I have gone through the entire Latin course and I am now on to Spanish. Gee, am I glad I did the Latin first. My friend was right. I had tried to learn Spanish before and I was lost. By learning some Latin learning Spanish is now much easier. I did the Rosetta Stone and read this book on the side. The two together make a great combination.

I'm a Latin Dummy!

This was a great introduction to Latin for someone who has never studied it before. I have always wanted to learn Latin but really needed a starter course. The only problem is there is A LOT of information and they go through it quickly. I wouldn't recommend this book as the only one you read to learn Latin but it is a great introduction and overview. It is also very fun to read, not like an actual textbook. I am now moving on to Wheelock!

Fabulous Introduction to Latin

This book is designed for absolute beginners. Whether you're interested in mastering Latin language, or you'd like to get better insight in English, given the fact that more than half of English words have Latin roots, this book will introduce you to Latin in a light-hearted way. You'll enjoy the book from cover to cover, as you learn not only some basics of Latin language, but also read many interesting stories about Roman customs and culture. You will learn about some well-known writers, as well as the common Latin terms used in law, medicine, zoology, botany and church. The authors have made sure not only to help you learn something, but also to keep you entertained with many humorous tidbits and an addition of fun and games to test your knowledge.

A fun way to start learning Latin

I've always wanted to learn Latin so this is the first book I tried, as it looked fun and approachable. Well, I can tell you it does make Latin seem fun and an approachable language. I would recommend this book for the absolute beginner, who would otherwise not have access to Latin classes at school, university or otherwise, and wants to learn alone at home without feeling intimidated. Though presented in a light hearted way, the book's authors actually are Latin teachers in real life. While giving a basic and strong grounding in grammar and vocabulary, the humourous cartoons are hilariously funny and literary quotes and interesting snippets of historical information are included through the book. This book really makes you want to fall in love with Latin as a language. I'm very glad I picked this book as my starting point.