Christopher Dawson Centre
Annual Summer School in Medieval and Church Latin
Jane Franklin Hall, 4 Elboden Street, South Hobart
18-22 January, 2016

Latin is arguably the mother tongue of Europe. Its literature is immensely rich. In a sense it never died; original work continued to be written in Latin up to modern times. This course will offer a general introduction to Latin with particular emphasis on medieval and ecclesiastical literature. We shall read easy original passages from Scripture, liturgy, history, theology and poetry, both secular and religious. There will also be an introduction to palaeography, including an opportunity to handle original medieval manuscripts. There will be a strong emphasis on the pronunciation of Latin in speech and music.

Designed for students of all standards, absolute beginners should purchase a self-instruction primer and work on the basics between now and the start of the course. Participants will never be embarrassed by their shaky Latin: the teaching method leaves the entire task of translation and exposition to the Lecturer. This approach has been useful to relative beginners as well as those who are more experienced.

THE PROGRAMME
There will be four lectures a day on each of the five days, from Monday 18 to Friday 22, starting at 9.00 am. There will be only one lecture after lunch each day, to free up the afternoons for private study.

Day 1 Liturgy and Scripture.
Day 2 Latin prose narrative, incl. Bede, Brendan, Isidore, Grosseteste
Day 3 Hymns and religious poetry, incl. Ambrose, Fortunatus, Aquinas.
Day 4 Secular Poetry, incl. pieces from the Carmina Burana
Day 5 Theology and patristics, incl. Aquinas, Benedict, Thomas a Kempis.

Any Latin Primer designed for self-instruction can be used, but F. Kinchin Smith’s Teach Yourself Latin (out of print, but cheap copies are easily available from internet sites such as www.abebooks.com) is in many ways the best. Participants should bring both their grammar and a small dictionary to classes.

The cost of the course will be $350. A concessional rate is available. Meals and accommodation are not included. PROCEEDS FROM THIS COURSE GO TO THE CHRISTOPHER DAWSON CENTRE (http://www.dawsoncentre.org).

To enrol and for further information contact d.daintree@campion.edu.au