LEARNING LA TIN ACCIDENCE AND VOCABULARY WITH THE AID OF LINGUISTICS AND PIDLOLOGY

Abstract

1. DESPERATE REMEDIES With the virtual extinction of Latin as a school subject an unfortunate reality, teachers need to try to devise new methods of making the subject interesting, and, if possible, to reduce the large amount of rote learning it demands. A valid reason for Latin's bad press is its notorious number of irregular forms. If a teacher can, by the Socratic method, ~uide pupils into explaining why apparent anomalies are in fact "regular irregularities", I then the more curious pupils will regard Latin as an intellectual challenge. The material suggested here correlates with the aims stated in the draft core syllabus laid down by the Department of Education and Culture for Latin Higher grade, Standard 6 and beyond.2