School Latin (was Bella???)

[Jen Reese]

Jen said:
I still forget how to pronounce Slytherin. Does the first part rhyme 
with sly or slither?
 
>Eloise:
 > Slither. Like a snake. That *is* the Fry pronunciation, but 
that's a 
> good point about the sly bit which I'm sure is a visual pun to add 
to 
> the auditory one.

Jen: Thank you! I'd slipped back into *Sly*therin again.


Jen: 
> > I still remember the first Latin sentences I learned: "Britania 
est 
> > insula. Britania est *parva* insula." (Can't tell you if it's 
> > spelled right!)

Eloise: 
> Britannia. <g> 
> Was this from the Roman viewpoint of the US one, I wonder? 

Jen: Oh, US I'm sure. What? The world doesn't revolve around us? :) 


Eloise, on the Aeneid: 
> I think that because apart from being great literature, it's an 
> important work in terms of Roman history and identity, only this 
is a 
> point that doesn't tend (or wasn't in my case) to be made at 
school 
> level. <snip>
> From what I understand, the Aeneid was commissioned by Augustus 
> himself and was (simply put) a piece of highly artistic 
propaganda. 
> There are parallels in it with more recent(in Augustan terms) 
Roman 
> history. It can be read to glorify and legitimise Augustus' rule 
as 
> emperor as well as some of his achievements, thus being a cultural 
> prop for the very concept of the Roman empire itself. 

Jen: OK, that makes sense. Not that I even remember the story very 
well now, but at least there's some historical significance to it, 
even if propaganda. When I was translating, the only information we 
got was feedback on our pronunciation and grammar:). Seems like a 
shame not to weave in the historical aspects to heighten interest. 
(Mind you, I didn't ask for supplemental reading at the time <g>).