Latin vs. Russian (Specific Languages) Language Learning Forum

Latin vs. Russian
Tags: Learning Difficulty \| Latin \| Russian
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Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages

19 messages over 3 pages: 1 2 3

Марк
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 5047 days ago
2096 posts - 2972 votes

Speaks: Russian*

Message 17 of 19

30 May 2012 at 7:23pm | IP Logged

tarvos wrote:

I've studied Latin for five years and now almost completed 9-10 months
of Russian (of which 6 pretty seriously).

Both have their downsides and both rank among the most grammatically complex languages
I've studied (which isn't saying much, because two of them are Dutch and English which
have much simpler grammar, and French, which only has really annoying verb tenses, and
y/en).

When I compare the troubles I had between the two:

Pronunciation

Don't need to know this for Latin. Latin wins this one as Russian pronunciation is
quite difficult (and I'm someone that usually has a decent grasp of pronunciation so I
can make that statement).

Verb tenses

Latin has way more. Russian covers some of the distinctions by using aspect instead,
which is tricky because verb aspect implies using a different verb (and which one to
use isn't always clear, whereas in Latin you just conjugate it).

I'll still give this to Russian though because Latin's moods, tenses, and voices are so
numerous (and they're all used, even the subjunctives) that you really need to learn
all of them. Ugh. Latin is a verbal nightmare. Make no mistake, Russian is not a walk
in the park.

Declensions

They're similar, and almost equally difficult.

I studied Latin in high school so I cannot recommend you any books, but the Assimil
Russian course for English speakers is very good and I've been using it extensively. I
have also used Teach Yourself but that's not as good. I recommend supplementing it with
grammar exercises since both Assimil and TY skimp on practicing those

Russian noun declension is certainly less regular and more difficult to remember than
the latin one.

1 person has voted this message useful

sipes23
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
pluteopleno.com/wprs
Joined 4861 days ago
134 posts - 235 votes

Speaks: English*, Latin
Studies: Spanish, Ancient Greek, Persian

Message 18 of 19

30 May 2012 at 11:54pm | IP Logged

Latin has aspect, but we usually don't call it that in Latin grammars. If we did, I really and truly think it would
simplify the picture with verbs for most students. Especially the teaching of the whole passive system.

                      Past   Present Future
Imperfect   <---|------|------|-->
Perfect       <---|--- ---|------|-->

Latin's six tenses are formed by crossing each tense--top row--with each aspect--the dotted line rows (which
may or may not line up for you). For the most part we shorten up the names:
Past Imperfect
Present Imperfect
Future Imperfect
Past Perfect aka Pluperfect
Present Perfect
Future Perfect

Of course that doesn't iron out every complication, but it should go a long way to explaining the mess of Latin
verbs.

Anyway. Latin isn't as scary as all that. Yes, there is a fierce amount of grammar that is frequently used, but it
was spoken by people. Typically the nastiest bits are the opening paragraphs of classical prose. The style usually
comes down a notch, and the actual content goes up after that introduction. I always advise students to skip the
opening of stuff like Livy. Alternately, medieval Latin has a lot of good stuff to read and it's usually less of a
stylistic monster. Usually.

In any case, Hans Ørberg's Lingua Latina per Se Illustrata is an affordable introduction to Latin. By the time you
finish with it, you will have slain the word order dragon. I truly believe Latin's difficulty is overstated.

4 persons have voted this message useful

Марк
Senior Member
Russian Federation
Joined 5047 days ago
2096 posts - 2972 votes

Speaks: Russian*

Message 19 of 19

31 May 2012 at 9:02am | IP Logged

Every language has verbal aspect.

2 persons have voted this message useful

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