Summer 2006/Pasadena
LG567
Albritton
LG567: THEOLOGICAL LATIN. Joel Albritton.
DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce the student to the Latin language as
it was used by the major Christian authors from Late Antiquity through the
Middle Ages. Due to its intensive nature, this course will demand a more
substantial time investment than students ordinarily anticipate for a four-unit
course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this
course can expect to have
- navigated, with the limited aid of a dictionary, passages from Christian
theological, historical, and philosophical texts;
- developed strategies to identify quickly the lexical form of any word they
encounter in a text;
- employed their individual learning styles as they assimilate large amounts
of new information;
- gained a more immediate understanding of theological terminology and a
deeper appreciation for the English language's indebtedness to Latin; and
- most importantly, become active readers of Latin, not merely mechanical
memorizers of innumerable grammar paradigms.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: A basic knowledge of Latin is essential for the
advanced student of church history and Christian theology. Leaders in the
church today significantly enhance their role as servant-scholars through a
solid facility with the language that is linked inextricably with the idiom of
our faith.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet twice a week for two-hour sessions. At
least eight hours of study outside of class per week are typically required for
adequate class preparation.
REQUIRED READING:
- Collins, John F. A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin.
Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1985.
- Prior, Richard E., and Joseph Wohlberg. 501 Latin Verbs. Barrons
Educational Series, Inc., 1995.
- Simpson, Donald P., ed. Cassell's Latin Dictionary: Latin-English,
English-Latin. New York: Macmillan, 1977.
- Course Reader.
- Students are encouraged to become familiar with the specialized
dictionaries and grammatical works available in McAlister Library.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Three take-home translation assignments (30% of grade).
- Preparation of weekly readings (50% of grade).
- A final examination (20% of grade).
PREREQUISITES: None. Audits permitted only with transcript evidence of prior
study.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.