Latin used in higher education

I just posted a blog about Latin mottos used by universities and colleges all over the world, so I will not duplicate my effort by repeating those phrases.  I want to go into some of the Latin terminology used institutions of higher education.  You will have heard most of these terms before, and if you have not, by attending universities and graduating from colleges, many of you will earn some of these titles and terms. 

All of the following terms can and will be found on most university campuses,  but I located every one of these words on the Washburn University web site and in its literature. 

curriculm                     curricula                      alumni                         alumnus

alma mater                   baccalaureate               continuum                   continua         

cum laude                    honorarium                  magna cum laude        summas cum laude

criterion                       criteria                         dormitory                    emerius           

emerita                        emeriti                         fraternities                   natatorium      

sororities                      stadium                                                          

More University Mottos

Universities in most countries use Latin mottos to represent their thoughts, their character, inspirations, hopes, fortitude, belief and purposes.  According to Dictionary.com a motto is a noun and means, a maxim adopted as an expression of the guiding principle of a person, organization, city, etc. The secondary meaning says, a sentence, phrase, or word expressing the spirit or purpose of a person, organization, city, etc., and often inscribed on a badge, banner, etc.

Universities and colleges are institutions of higher education, and are likely to choose mottos to inspire their students to excel, and to achieve academic excellence.  You will probably be familiar with a number of the mottos used by well-known institutions.  I made sure to post the most famous of these universities and colleges, as well as the others that may not be known. 

I used several sources to locate the mottos, and their meanings as they posted them on their web sites.  I used Latin-Phrases.co.uk, and Classics Technology Center to locate the mottos and found many other useful, and interesting Latin phrases on those sites.

Tulane University                    Non sibi, sed suis.                   Not for herself, but for her own.

University of Puget Sound     Christus fundamentum           Christ is the foundation/beginning

Yale University                       Lux et veritas.                         Light and truth.

University of Michigan           Artes, scientia, veritas             The arts, knowledge, truth.

University of Tampa               Esse quam videri.                    To be rather than to seem.

Brown University                   In Deo speramus.                    In God we trust.

Harvard University                 Veritas.                                    Truth.

University of Washington       Lux sit.                                    Let there be light.

University of Scranton            Religio mores cultura.             Religion, morals, culture

University of Missouri            Salus populi.                            The welfare of the people.

Trinity University                    Pro ecclesia et praestare.         For church and country.

Fordham University                Sapientia et doctrina.              Wisdom and knowledge.

New York University             Perstare et praestare                To preserve and to surpass.

Dartmouth College                 Scientia sol mentis                  Knowledge, the sun of the mind.

Amherst College                     Terras irradient                        Let them illumine the earth.

Notre Dame University           Crux spes unica                       The cross is the only hope.

University of Portland            Veritas vos liberabit.               The truth will set you free.

Princeton University               Dei sub numine viget.             It flourishes under the will of God.

University of Vermont            Studiis et rebus honestis.        Through studies and upright affairs.

University of Guam                Excelsior.                                Higher.

University of Maine                Dirigo.                                     I lead.

University of Dayton              Pro Deo et patria.                    For God and country.

 motto. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/motto 

Washburn University - Pūrificatus Nōn Cōnsūmtus

The second Washburn University Latin Motto is Purificatus Nōn Cōnsūmtus which means Purified But Not Consumed. Here is an image of the Washburn University Crest.

This image can be found in the North Entrance of Morgan Hall.  This image and many other can be found on Google Maps (a few blogs back) when you look up Washburn University.  I used these pictures for my slideshow blog and decided to upload them to Google Maps.  Take a look at them and comment on the blog.  Thanks.

 

Photo by: Donald De Luney

 

Washburn University - Nōn Nōbīs Sōlum

Since Washburn has its own Latin Motto (actually it has two), so I thought I would simply have Washburn University Latin Mottos on a separate page from other universities to allow for the pictures I took of the mottos.

The one of Washburn University mottos is Nōn Nōbīs Sōlum which means Not for Ourselves Alone.  Here is an image of the Washburn University Crest. This image and the other crest with the second Washburn University Latin Motto in it can be found in the North Entrance of Morgan Hall. 

 

Photo by: Donald De Luney

Looking at Latin Grammar

An overview of Latin grammar seemed to be a suitable follow-up to a basic review of English grammar.  Latin grammar consists of Nouns, pronouns, verbs, propositions, numerals, adjectives, adverbs, the case system and word order. 

Each of the different parts of grammar has the same sub-categories as English grammar, as well as some additional considerations to take into account.  Case, number and gender become very important for a correct understanding of Latin.  Let’s start here with the case system.

Latin has six cases which define the function of each word. Each case has its own word endings for nouns, pronouns and adjectives and has declensions.  The cases and functions are:

Nominative:    subject

Accusative:     direct object

Genitive:         possession/origin/quality

Dative:            indirect object

Ablative:         prepositional objects

The gender of a noun, pronoun or adjective can be masculine (m.), feminine (f.), or neuter (n.).  The gender will also change the word endings and must agree with other words in the sentence to form the sentence correctly. 

The number is addressing if the word is singular or plural and this will also affect the word endings.

Pronouns have specific types, such as personal, relative, demonstrative, interrogative, possessive and reflexive.  Pronouns are masculine, feminine and neuter and the reflexive pronouns have person, 1^st person, 2^nd person and 3^rd person perspectives.  

Adjectives and adverbs have three declensions, 1^st/2^nd and 3^rd.

Verbs have seven modes, four conjugations, two moods, six tenses and two voices.

Modes:            Indicative, subjunctive, imperative, supine, gerund, participle and infinitive.

Conjugations: 1^st conj – āre, 2^nd conj – ēre, 3^rd conj – ere, and 4^th conj – Īre.

Moods:            Imperative, indicative, and subjunctive.

Tenses:            Present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect and future perfect.

Voices:            Active and passive.

Latin uses Macrons on vowels to indicate the long sound for the vowel. Often the use of macron will indicate a different meaning to the words.  Macrons are line over vowels.

Latin does not use articles.  The articles are implied by the case of the word and construction of expressions to explain specific things like manner, circumstance and time.

Prepositions are used and followed by an Accusative or an Ablative.  They are used less frequently than English grammar.

Note: I referenced my course materials in Lingua Latina and English Grammar for Student of Latin by Norma W. Goldman to ensure the grammar concepts I used were correct.

 

Review your English grammar

Learning Latin is going to be challenging, but in a good way.  It will stretch your language abilities and when you have won the challenge of the week, you might notice a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

One of the obstacles I encountered last semester that my grammar was rusty.  I am not talking about Latin grammar now, but English grammar.  Why would rusty English grammar present a problem in Latin?  The Latin grammar concepts are explained in English grammar terminology. 

If you refresh your English grammar, before you start your Latin course, you will understand the concepts being presented and therefore perform better in the class.  I struggled with this and I have continued to review grammar to keep it fresh. 

I am going to conduct a very basic review of English grammar and you will want to spend some time reviewing authoritative sources for a complete review.

English grammar is made up of with parts of speech. Those parts are Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, adverbs, Adjectives, Articles, Conjunctions, and Prepositions. 

In each part of speech, there are sub-categories that define a specific type of speech.

Nouns has proper nouns, infinitive, abstract, common, concrete and collective nouns. 

Pronouns have personal, relative, reflexive, possessive, interrogative and indefinite pronouns.

Verbs have auxiliary, compound regular, irregular, infinitive and transitive verbs. Verbs also have person, voice, mood, number and tense.

Adverbs have two types and they are conjunctive and degree.

Adjectives also have degree describing a comparison. (An example of the comparison is good, better, best).  The other types are possessive, indefinite, interrogative and demonstrative.

Conjunctions, prepositions and articles are not as complicated as nouns, pronouns or verbs.

You will encounter all of these areas of grammar in Latin.  Latin will also present some concepts not used in the English language such a case system and a flexible word order.  You will see how the case system defines the function of each word and changes the ending on nouns, pronouns and adjectives to determine the function of the word and the word ending.  

Note: I referenced my course materials in Lingua Latina and The Little , Brown Handbook to ensure the grammar concepts I used were correct.