Lingua Latina: Part I: Familia Romana

Rating:
Summary: Magnus!
Review: The book 'Lingua Latina: Familia Romana' is the first of a series of texts by the Natural Method Language Institutes designed to introduce the reader to Latin in a natural progression - there are few charts and boxes in this book, as it is not the typical Latin grammar. From the very start, this book is a reader, in many ways similar to the early childhood readers with which young readers gain an understanding of language. Page one does not start with a description of nouns, verbs, or other parts of speech; but rather with simple sentences - 'Roma in Italia est. Italia in Europa est.' And it proceeds from there.

Readers learn Latin in a progression, as the readings get more complex very slowly, introducing new vocabulary, verb tenses, declensions, word order, etc. along the way. In addition to the introduction to the language, the reader gets an introduction to the Roman culture and history - this first volume looks at family matters and basic household items and ideas, in addition to very general facts about Rome, such as the fact that it is in Italy, which is in turn in Europe.

There is a sidebar along each page that helps to expand the pieces of language - however, this is all done in Latin. There are no English (or German, or any other language) explanations - all is done in Latin, just as in early childhood readers for children, all of the other notations are likewise in the same language as the primary text.

There are twenty sections (XX), in addition to a vocabulary list at the back of the book. There are line-art drawings and maps throughout that help to explain the vocabulary and action (as there are no English definitions, the pictures become crucial in many instances toward understanding the text - again, much in the way children's books use pictures to explain the new words introduced).

This is a book that children could use to learn Latin; however, it is also a great way for adults to learn - it is fun, and it seems remarkably easy (rather than the chore of lists of declensions, conjugations and vocabulary words that can often seem lifeless in their required memorisation). You'll be amazed at how quickly and easily the rudiments of Latin can be grasped. While this process can only go so far into the language, it is a great introduction; this text and the subsequent volumes by Hans H. Oerberg are a fascinating and accessible way to gain a useful working knowledge of Latin.