Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency: Phrase Book and Dictionary [Paperback]

et al John C. Traupman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 086516438X | ISBN-13: 978-0865164383 | Edition: 3

Conversational Latin is an excellent dual-language resource for exploring ancient and contemporary topics ranging from the weather to politics in lively dialogs with authentic Roman expression. Each chapter offers 3 conversations in varying degrees of difficulty supported by topical vocabulary. Latin as a living and vital language is showcased in this indispensable supplement to any standard Latin course of study. Traupman’s book provides facing English translation; a comprehensive glossary; and appendices on “Yes and No in Latin,” “Colors and Numbers,” and “Sayings and Proverbs.” A companion audio-cassette is available. Here's a perfect way to get started speaking Latin: The Conversational Latin cassette is an hour long recording of select conversations from chapters 1-2 (all three levels) of the text. The quality of the recording is imperfect (hence our low price) but acceptable. Designed originally to accompany the 2nd edition, this cassette continues to be a valuable audio companion to Conversational Latin in the 3rd edition. Special Features Traupman’s text enables students to engage in one of the most productive practices in the acquisition of language skills – conversing. Latin is the language that gave birth to the modern romance languages; it can and should be spoken to enhance the learning experience. Conversational Latin includes Multi-level dialogs with authentic Roman expression Facing English translation Accent marks for all words over two syllables (new to 3rd edition) Macrons for all words (new to 3rd edition) A variety of contemporary and ancient topics (enlarged for 3rd edition: sports section and classroom commands) Topical vocabulary for each chapter (increased school vocabulary for 3rd edition) A comprehensive glossary that includes the topical vocabularies for the chapters (new to 3rd edition) Appendices on “Yes and No in Latin,” “Colors and Numbers,” and “Sayings and Proverbs”

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Traupman has given us a well-designed textbook in English for spoken Latin, which exploits a wide range of subject matter." -- Terence O. Tunberg, University of Kentucky

"With Traupman's work . . . . we can quickly and successfully kill the 'dead language' albatross. . . ." -- John Starks, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers; 3 edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086516438X
• ISBN-13: 978-0865164383
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,180,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book is wonderful, November 19, 2002

By 

Benjamin P. Wing "saudade seeker" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency (Audio Cassette)

for all those of you tired of endlessly having to translate sentences like "famous consuls, don't use all your wealth to fill the forum with statues of impious men" -- and of not ever learning how to say "yes" and "no" [!!] -- this book is it. it shows how latin would actually have been spoken [or at least as best as the author can reconstruct].

there are sections on every conceivable aspect of daily life: greetings, basic colloquial expressions, food, clothing, animals, the weather, the calendar, family, emotions, etc. etc. there also a number of useful sections that i would have loved to have seen in my latin textbooks -- general vocabulary ["get", "put", "must", etc.], numbers, colors, proverbs, and of course the infamous "how to say yes and no" [btw those of you amazed that a language can deal without such words might find it interesting that modern brazilian portuguese works almost exactly the same way].

in my experiences learning languages it has become abundantly clear to me that you cannot really learn a language unless you are forced to speak it. this is the only way to make your language knowledge become active -- otherwise it will always remain passive, and no matter how much you read, you will never really be comfortable with the language. this is, unfortunately, exactly the state that most latin teaching is in; a book like "conversational latin" is exactly what's needed to rectify the situation.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what students want!, July 23, 2003

By 

"wumouse" (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency (Paperback)

You hear it time and time again, "why are you taking Latin? That's a dead language!" And though Latin is the language of the Classics, conjuring up images of ancient poets and orators, John Traupman's book proves that Latin is indeed still living. Unlike most texts, the chapters in "Conversational Latin" are not arranged in order of difficulty. Rather, they are organized by topic, and within each chapter the sample conversations progress in difficulty. This makes it easier for students, because they can look up topics quickly, rather than trying to remember how hard that conversation was. This also makes it easier for teachers, who can draw from this book wherever a topic coincides with something covered in class.

The vocabulary used in this book is not difficult, including some new words that are not usually covered in textbooks. However, these new words are strangely familiar. . .e.g. "sescentas gratias"--"thanks a million," or "Patientia, patientia. Tempus omnia sanat"--"Patience, patience. Time heals everything." Every word has all the accents so that students can pronounce them correctly. With topics from telling time to gossip about a new girlfriend, "Conversational Latin" is a great addition to any classroom, enriching the study of Latin through speaking and listening interesting conversations.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I've seen, August 15, 2001

By 

Bill Winkelman (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency (Paperback)

This book fully recognizes the importance of the oral in the learning of any spoken language. Even the reading of Latin needs to draw from the oral, something utterly neglected in the past. That explains what teachers of the deaf have been telling me about the struggles of their deaf students in learning to read English. Students of a language must hear the language at normal conversational speed and with the correct inflection for them to gain a sense of it as a language. Their learning of it is sealed only when they themselves speak it that way. Imitation of fluent usage-- and that includes sign language-- is the only way to learn any language, and that includes Latin. So what if nobody is speaking Latin routinely anymore? That does not mean Latin is a "dead" language; it's merely dormant. It comes to life again when someone speaks it and makes it sound conversational. The best reason for studying Latin is that you consider it to be a beautiful language-- and it is-- and you love it. To get a "You are there" sense of ancient Rome, students need to speak the language as it deals with topics from Roman life. I went through high school Latin back in the 1960s, learning it only as a written and translated language, and not very well I'm sure. I didn't get a sense of Latin as a language that was routinely spoken for everyday things. Professor Traupmann's lively dialogs capture what Latin would be like as a living language. In one dialog two sisters, Olivia and Victoria, are bickering; and in another Annetta pretends to seek advice from her sister Christina but is actually hitting her up for a loan, which Christina figures out. There are a great many other interesting and lively dialogs in this book, all begging for re-enactment. Traupmann combines scholarship and a sense of Latin as a living language in his book. I intend to get the audiocassettes that go with this book.