Introduction to Latin

by Susan C. Shelmerdine

Introduction to Latin, Revised First Edition is a complete introductory Latin text specifically designed for college level courses taught for three hours credit over a two semester period. The text is designed as a streamlined and uncluttered approach to Latin and grammar, providing a complete course, but without the nuance of more advanced explanations that hinder the first year student's mastery of the material. It covers all aspects of Latin grammar in a familiar pedagogical flow, with English grammar explained as needed, providing students with an in text reference point for new Latin material. "Real Latin" readings occur throughout the text, early and often, in the form of sentences and short passages. They are unconnected, providing the instructor the option of covering them as time and need allows. This text also includes a variety of exercises that provide different approaches to mastery of the language, especially in the early chapters. Also available are online drills, online guided exercises, and crossword puzzles. Visit for more information.

Genres: Language, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Linguistics, How To, College, School

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introductory Latin textbook, Shelmerdine's book is one of the better ones. There are a lot of fans of Wheelock's Latin, and I am one of them, but that book does not present grammatical concepts in the pedagogical manner that Shelmerdine does--i.e., topics are presented in a logical, additive manner; mastery one set of topics will allow the reader to easily take in the subsequent topic. Wheelock's Latin is arranged more thematically; it's not necessary worse, it just didn't work as well for me. Like Wheelock, Shelmerdine uses a mixture of real sentences from antiquity along with made up Latin sentences. However, unlike F. Wheelock, she enjoys peppering translation assignments with references to popular culture: making a Latin translation of phrases such as "Live long and prosper" and "Who let the dogs out?" The book has a handful of typos, even in the second edition, but these generally don't cause too many problems. Overall, it's a decent textbook for studying Latin that doesn't overwhelm beginners with technical details and tones of obscure grammatical constructions. If you want to go from 0 to 60 in Latin, this is the book to do it.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A language textbook is never completely finished. I still have a way to go in finishing and reviewing this book. Mayhaps I'll add additional comments later on when I go back to review certain concepts.

Shelmerdine provides a clean, neat layout with which she presents the basic concepts of the Latin language. If you have studied a language before, you know that organization is essential to the nature of your comprehension. However, when put in comparison with other Latin textbooks, this book scores poorly. The initial presentation of ideas is like a brush stroke of blue paint on a white wall, clearly visible and bright. As the book progresses, however, it feels as if she has forgotten to present certain ideas in the beginning or simply did not know how to organize it and threw random ideas and pronouns at the reader. So now instead of solid coats of blue paint, you have blobs of paint over a once smooth surface.

The sentences are kind of strange at times (the first few chapters - due to limited vocabulary - always had sentences about farmers and women being alone in fields...) and very un-Latin. One sentence was literally, "Show me the money!" Not a typical Latin phrase at all, according to my professor.

It does have an excellent reference section, however, so there's that. There are also excerpts from Latin and Roman texts, although I was confused as to the presence of Taciturn's writings since it is an introduction to classical Ciceronian Latin.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a more welcoming Michigan Latin text than Latin for Reading. Doing both from cover to cover, exercises and all, really built my syntactic muscles. Unlike the other reviewer, I like the non-fussy organization, the bare bones explanations, and especially appreciated the chapters on the participle and the gerund/gerundive, and the step-by-step presentation of the clauses requiring the subjunctive. Indirect statement gets short shrift, as does the kitchen sink of structures mentioned in the final chapter (connecting relative, relative clause of characteristic, impersonal passives). Explanations and examples are clear, translation exercises well designed, and passages for translation well chosen. As with any language, there is always more to learn; this book provides an excellent foundation. Next up: Bradley's Arnold, for which, fortunately, a small answer book is available.

[IMPERIVM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough text for four-semester undergraduate Latin instruction.