Teach yourself Latin IV

CAPVT IV
本章介紹第二變化中的中性名詞變化,其變化規則如下:

Donum (gift)
Consilium (plan)
Dona (gifts)
Consilia (plans)
N
G
D
Ac
Ab
Vo
Donum
Doni
Dono
Donum
Dono
Donum
Consilium
Consilii
Consilio
Consilium
Consilio
Consilium
Dona
Donorum
Donis
Dona
Donis
Dona
Consilia
Consiliorum
Consilis
Consilia
Consilis
Consilia
如同在英文中,to be是屬於不規則變化,在拉丁文中扮演相同角色的esse也是不規則變化,其在不同人稱下的現在不定式表現如下:
Esse—to be
Sum
Es
Est
I am
You are
He/she/it is
Sumus
Estis
Sunt
We are
You are
They are, there are
所以當我們想要說我是個詩人時,就可以說Poeta sum。而甚麼是甚麼其實表示了兩者處於相同位階,所以說一個女孩漂亮時,後面的漂亮應該是修飾女孩,故字尾變化要相同:Puella est bella
Vocabula
NOUN
Bāsium, basii
n
kiss
Bellum, belli
n
War
Consilium, consilii
n
Plan, purpose, counsel, advice, judgment, wisdom
Cura, curae
f
Care, attention, caution, anxiety
Donum, doni
n
Gift, present
Exitum, exitii
n
Destruction, ruin
Magister, magistri
m
Schoolmaster
Magistra, magistrae
f
Schoolmistress
Mora, morae
f
Delay
Nihil[1]
n
Nothing
Oculus, oculi
m
Eye
Officium, officii
n
Duty, service
Otium, otii
n
Leisure, peace
Periculum, periculi
n
Danger, risk
Remedium, remedii
n
Cure, remedy
ADJECTIVE
Bellus, -a, -um
Pretty, handsome, charming
Bonus, -a, -um
Good, kind
Humanus, -a, -um
Pertaining to man, human; humane, kind; refined
Malus, -a, -um
Bad, wicked, evil
Parvus, -a, -um
Small, little
Stultus, -a, -um
Foolish; stultus, stulti, m, a fool
Verus, -a, -um
True, real, proper
VERB
Iuvo, iuvare, iuvi, iutum
To help, aid, assist; please
Sum, esse, fui, futurum
To be, exist
Exercitationes
1. Otium est bonum, sed ōtium multōrum est parvum.
Peace is good, but peace of many people is little.
2. Bella sunt mala et multa perīcula habent.
Wars are bad and have many dangers.
要注意這邊的Bella並不是漂亮的之意,我們可以從sunt mala判斷出其應該為戰爭之複數。
3. Officium nautam dē ōtiō hodiē vocat.
Duty calls the sailor from leisure today.
4. Paucī virī avārī multās fōrmās perīculī in pecūniā vident.
Few greedy men see many forms of danger in money.
5. Sī multam pecūniam habētis, saepe nōn estis sine cūrīs.
If you have much money, you are often not without anxiety.
6. Puellae magistram dē cōnsiliō malō sine morā moment.
The girls warn the teacher about the evil plan without delay.
7. O magne poēta, sumus vērī amīcī; mē iuvā, amābō tē!
O great poet, we are true friends; help me, please!
8. Fēmina agricolae portām videt.
The wife of the farmer sees the gate.
9. You (sg.) are in great danger.
In magno periculo es.
10. My son’s opinions are often foolish.
Sententiae mei filii saepe sunt stultae.
11. The daughters and sons of great men and women are not always great.
Filiae et filii virorum feminarumque magnarum non semper sunt magni.
這邊的翻譯可以用A Bque來取代A et B,這樣翻的話比較有變化。
12. Without wisdom the sailors’ good fortune is nothing and they are paying the penalty.
Sine sapinetia bona fortuna nautarum est nihil et poenas dant.
SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
1. Fortūna est caeca. (*Cicero. –caecus -a –um, blind)
Fortune is blind.
2. Sī perīcula sunt vēra, īnfortūnātus es. (Terence. –īnfortūnātus -a –um, unfortunate )
If the dangers are real, you are unfortunate.
3. Salvē, O amīce; vir bonus es. (Terence.)
Hello, O friend; you are a good man.
4. Nōn bella est fāma fīliī tuī. (Horace.)
The reputation of your son is not good.
5. Errāre est hūmānum. (Seneca. )
To err is human.
6. Nihil est omnīnō beātum. (Horace — omnīnō, adv., wholly. — beātus -a –um, happy, fortunate)
Nothing is wholly fortunate.
7. Remedium īrae est mora. (Seneca.)
The cure of anger is delay.
8. Bonus Daphnis, amīcus meus, ōtium et vītam agricolae amat. (Virgil.)
Good Daphnis, my friend, loves peace and the life of the farmer.
9. Magistrī parvīs puerīs crūstula et dōna saepe dant. (Horace. — crūstulum –ī, cookie)
Teachers often give cookies and gifts to little boy.
10. Amīcam meam magis quam oculōs meōs amō. (Terence. –magis quam, more than)
I love my friend more than my eyes.
羅馬人常以自己的眼睛做此論述,由此可窺見其文化風俗的一角。
11. Salvē, mea bella puella — dā mihi multa bāsia, amābō tē! (Catullus. –mihi, dat., to me)
Hello, my pretty girl – give many kisses to me, please!
12. Infīnītus est numerus stultōrum. (Ecclesiastes. –īnfīnītus -a –um, infinite)
The number of fools is infinite.
13. Officium mē vocat. (Persius)
Duty calls me.
14. Malī sunt in nostrō numerō et dē exitiō bonōrum virōrum cōgitant. Bonōs adiuvāte; cōnservāte populum Rōmānum. (Cicero. — nostrō, our)
Bad men are in our number and they are thinking about the destruction of good men. Help the good men; protect the Roman people.
THE RARITY OF FRIENDSHIP
這則短文改編自Cicero(Marcus Tullius Cicero)的作品De Amicitia (On Friendship),是Cicero最廣為流傳的作品之一。在這部作品中,他討論了友情到底是甚麼,以及對人的意義是甚麼。
(Cicero. Dē Amīcitiā 21.79-80. –dignus -a –um, worthy, deserving —amīcitia –ae, friendship  –omnia, all [things] — praeclārus -a –um, splendid, remarkable –rārus -a –um, rare — possumus, we are able)
Paucī virī vērōs amīcōs habent, et paucī sunt dignī.
Few men have true friends, and few are deserving.
Amīcitia vēra est praeclāra, et omnia praeclāra sunt rāra.
True friendship is remarkable, and all remarkable things are rare.
Multī virī stultī dē pecūniā semper cōgitant, paucī dē amīcīs;
Many stupid men always think about money, few think about friends;
sed errant; possumus valēre sine multā pecūniā,
but they makes a mistake; we can be strong without money,
sed sine amīcitiā nōn valēmus et vīta est nihil.
but without friendship, we cannot be strong and life is nothing.
(我们)能够)
Few men have true friends, and few are worthy. True friendship is remarkable, and all remarkable things are rare. Many foolish men are always thinking about money, few about friends; but they err: we can be well without much money, but without friendship we are not well and life is nothing.


[1] Nihil is indeclinable.

Teach yourself Latin III

CAPVT III

Second Declension: Masculine Nouns and Adjectives; Apposition; Word Order
在上一章已經看過第一變化的字尾變化方式,在本章則是進入到第二變化。在這章中介紹的是屬於第二變化的陽性名詞,他們的變化與第一變化有些不同。其變化如下所示:
Amicus (friend)
Amic-
Maganus (great)
Magan-
Amici (friends)
Amic-
Magani (great)
Magan-
N
G
D
Ac
Ab
Vo
Amicus
Amici
Amico
Amicum
Amico
Amice
Maganus
Magani
Magano
Maganum
Magano
Magane
Amici
Amicorum
Amicis
Amicos
Amicis
Amici
Magani
Maganorum
Maganis
Maganos
Maganis
Magani
此處要注意的是,只有屬於第二變化陽性以-us結尾的名詞,在單數時的vocative case結尾是-e而非與nominative case相同。而以-ius結尾的名詞,如filius (son)vocative case時則是以-i結尾。此外,meus (my)也被歸類進-ius結尾,所以其vocative casemi而非me
而第二變化陽性以-er結尾的名詞則如下所示:
Puer (boy)
Puer-
Ager (field)
Agr-
Pueri (boys)
Puer-
Agri (fields)
Agr-
N
G
D
Ac
Ab
Vo
Puer
Pueri
Puero
Puerum
Puero
Puer 
Ager
Agri
Agro
Agrum
Agro
Ager 
Pueri
Puerorum
Pueris
Pueros
Pueris
Pueri  
Agri
Agrorum
Agris
Agros
Agris
Agri
此處需要注意的是,puerager雖然都是以-er結尾,但是ager是以agr-為變化基礎,所以在背誦單字時務必要記得將genetive case也一併背起來!另外要注意的是,形容詞如巨大,其根據所修飾的名詞詞性不同可能會有不同的變化,但其變化要按照其在主格時的字尾來選擇變化規則,以maganus來說,即便其修飾陽性名詞如puer,及字尾的變化依舊要按照-us結尾的規則。所以呼喊一個大男孩時,應該要喊:magane puer!,而非maganer puer!


Apposition (同位語)
如果有一個名詞是另一個名詞的同位語,則這兩個名詞所屬的格將會相同。
如:
Gaium, filium meum, in agro video.
在此處,Gaiumfilum meum就是同位語。在文法上、詮釋上的地位都相同。
Word Order
在拉丁文中,最標準的構句方式是以「主詞及修飾語」、「間接受詞與修飾語」、「直接受詞與修飾」、「副詞修飾」、「動詞」的方式來進行。但常常因為希望能夠將強調某項重點,所以這樣的規則經常被打破。尤其在拉丁文這種字尾變化繁多的語言,其語句意義其實幾乎是與句中的文句順序無關;像英文、中文這兩種字尾變化很少的語言,就必須仰賴文句順序來了解誰是主詞受詞。好比說下面這個例子:
Puer puellae bellae rosam dat.
Bellae puellae puer rosam dat.
Bellae puellae rosam dat puer.
Rosam puer puellae bellae dat.
這四句其實都是表達The boy is giving the pretty girl a rose.但是透過不同的字序可以告訴他人自己想要強調哪個部分。
Vocabula
NOUN
ager, agrī
m
Field, farm
agricola, -ae
m
Farmer
amīca, -ae
f
Female friend
femina, -ae
f
Woman
fīlia, -ae
f
Dat. & Abl., filiabus, Daughter
fīlius, fīliī
m
Son
numerus -ī
m
Number
populus, -ī
m
The people, a people, a nation
puer, puerī
m
Boy
sapientia, -ae
f
Wisdom
vir, virī
m
Man, hero
ADJECTIVE
Avārus, -a, um
Greedy, avaricious
Paucī, -ae, -a
USUALLY PLURAL, few, a few
Rōmānus, -a, -um
Roman
OTHER
Prep.
+abl., down from, from; concerning, about
in
Prep.
+abl., in, on
hodiē
Adv.
Today
semper
Adv.
Always
VERB
habeō, habēre,
habuī, habitum
To have
satiō
To satisfy
Exercitationes
1. Filium nautae Rōmānī in agrīs vidēmus.
We see the son of a Roman sailor on the farm.
Nauta雖然字尾為-a結尾,但是是陽性,所以修飾其的形容詞為romanus,變化為genetive case成為romani
2. Puerī puellās hodiē vocant.
The boys are calling the girls today.
3. Sapientiam amīcārum, fīlia mea, semper laudat.
My daughter always praises her friends’ wisdom.
4. Multī virī et fēminae philosophiam antīquam cōnservant.
Many men and women preserve the ancient philosophy.
5. Sī īra valet, O mī fīlī, saepe errāmus et poenās damus.
If anger is strong, O my son, we often make mistake and pay the penalty.
6. Fortūna virōs magnōs amat.
Fortune loves great men.
7. Agricola fīliābus pecūniam dat.
The farmer gives his daughters money.
8. Without a few friends life is not strong.
Sine paucis amicis vita non valet.
9. Today you have much fame in your country.
Multam famam in patria tua hodie habes.
10. We see great fortune in your daughters’ lives, my friend.
Mi amice, fortunam magnam in vitis filiarum tuarum videmus.
11. He always gives my daughters and sons roses.
Filiis et filiabus meis rosas semper dat.
SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
1. Dēbētis, amīcī, dē populō Rōmānō cōgitāre. (Cicero)
Friends, you must think about the Roman people.
2. Maecēnās, amīcus Augustī, mē in numerō amīcōrum habet. (Horace. –Maecēnās, a name in onm.Augustus, -ī)
Maecenas, a friend of Augustus, has me in the number of his friends.
3. Libellus meus et sententiae meae vītās virōrum moment. (Phaedrus. –libellus, -ī, little book)
My little book and opinions advise  lives of men.
4. Paucī virī sapientiae student. (Cicero. –studēre+ dat., to be eager for)
Few men are eager for wisdom.
5. Fortūna adversa virum magnae sapientiae nōn terret. (Horace. — adversus, -a, -um, unfortune)
Adverse fortune does not frighten a man of great wisdom.
6. Cimōn, vir magnae fāmae, magnam benevolentiam habet. (Nepos. –Cimōna name nom. Sg.;–benevolentia, -ae , =Eng)
Cimon, a man of great fame, has great benevolence.
7. Semper avārus eget. (*Horace. –avārus=avārus vir. –egēre, to be in need
A greedy man is always in need.
8. Nūlla cōpia pecūniae avārum virum satiat. (Seneca. –cōpia, -ae, abundance)
No abundance of money satisfies a greedy man.
9. Pecūnia avārum irrītat, nōn satiat. (Publilius Syrus. –irrītāre, to excite, exasperate)
Money excites, not satisfies a greedy man.
10. Sēcrētē amīcōs admonē; laudā palam. (*Publilius Syrus. — sēcrētē, in secretadmonē=monē. –palam, adv., openly)
Advise your friends in secret; praise them openly.
11. Modum tenēre dēbēmus. (*Seneca. –modus, -ī, moderationtenēre, to hold, maintain)
We ought to maintain moderation.
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER
這是改寫自Horace作品的一篇小散文,非常有趣。各行各業有各行各業的辛苦之處,但是身處一地總會覺得他人似乎有比自己更好的待遇;又或說是,人總是會覺得好還要再更好,永遠無法被滿足。
Agricola et vītam et fortūnam nautae saepe laudat;
A farmer often praise both the life and fortune of a sailor;
nauta magnam fortūnam et vītam poētae saepe laudat;
a sailor often praise the great fortune and life of a poet;
et poēta vītam et agrōs agricolae laudat.
a poet praise both the life and field of a farmer.
Sine philosophiā avārī virī dē pecūniā semper cōgitant:
Without philosophy, greedy men always think about money:
multam pecūniam habent, sed pecūnia multa virum avārum nōn satiat.
They have many money, but much money doesn’t satisfy much a greedy man.

Teach yourself Latin II

CAVPT II
First Declension Nouns and Adjectives; Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections
本章介紹第一型名詞與形容詞字尾變化(Declension)
拉丁文與英文一大不同之處在於,拉丁文具有非常強的格性(case)。英文文句中,主格、受格等並不會標註於字詞之上,讀者必須自行分析該字在此句中扮演何種角色;拉丁文則否,每個名詞都會標註自己屬於主格還是受格,我們可以這麼想,在拉丁文中說大雄愛靜香時,我們可以清楚的知道「大雄(主格)(第三人稱單數)靜香(受格)」,因此一樣的句子我們可以寫成「大雄靜香愛」[1]、「靜香愛大雄」而毫不改變其義。
拉丁文共有六種格:主格(Nominative Case)、屬格(Genitive Case)、與格(Dative Case)、受格(Accusative Case)、離格(Ablative Case)。其中需特別注意Dative caseAccusative case的意義,一般常將Dative case理解為間接受格而Accusative case則為直接受格,比方說「小叮噹給大雄竹蜻蜓」在此句中的「竹蜻蜓」是「給」這個動詞的直接作用到的對象,然後才是大雄。但其實這樣的理解只正確理解到「格」的部分意義,因為日後我們將會發現有些詞彙必定要加上受格或是與格,好比說拉丁文中的sine(without)就一定搭配離格(ablative case)[2]
簡單的小例子:
Porta (gate)
Port-
Magana (large, great)
Magan-
Portae (gates)
Maganae  (pl.)
N
G
D
Ac
Ab
Vo
Porta
Portae
Portae
Portam
Porta
porta
Magana
Maganae
Maganae
Maganam
Magana
Magana
Portae
Portarum
Portis
Portas
Portis
portae
Maganae
Maganarum
Maganis
Maganas
Maganis
Maganae
有注意到字尾的變化嗎?拉丁文的字尾變化豐富,所以一定要記熟,否則學到越後面變化越來越多,會欲哭無淚。形容詞的字尾變化是跟著其所欲修飾的名詞而變,「大門」的「大」是要修飾「門」,所以用拉丁文來寫就是Porta magana[3](主格時)。但要注意,形容詞只會與名詞的詞性相同,變化的結尾未必相同。
基本上有幾個特點可以來幫助記憶,名詞或是形容詞的單數的結尾的accusative case和複數的genetive case常以-m結尾;dative caseablative case在複數時一定長的一樣。
所以當我們看到Poeta puellae magnas rasas dat.
我們從字尾變化就能知道:
poetanominative case
puellae可能是genetive或是dative case但根據前後文句應做dative
maganas 是跟著rosas,都是複數的accustive case
dat是第三人稱單數現在式的gives
所以這句可能會是:The poet gives large roses to the girl.
從這個例子中我們也可以發現拉丁文沒有英文中的冠詞、定冠詞,在翻譯成英文時要小心這一點,不要忘了加上適當的冠詞!
Vocabvla
拉丁文的名詞和法文、葡萄牙文等一樣,都有性別,分為陰性、楊性、中性。截至目前為止我們會看到的就只有第一變化中以名詞以-a結尾的名詞,通常以a結尾的都是陰性,但也有少數的陽性名詞,像是poeta(poet)nauta(sailor)
NOUN
fāma, fāmae
f 
Rumor, report; fame, reputation
fōrma, fōrmae
f 
Form, shape; beauty
fortūna, fortūnae
f
Fortune, luck
īra, īrae
f
Ire, anger
nauta, nautae
m
Sailor
patria, patriae
f
Fatherland, native land
pecūnia, pecūniae
f
Money
philosophia, -ae
f
Philosophy
poena, -ae
f
Penalty, punishment; “poenas dare”, pay the penalty
poēta, -ae
m
Poet
porta, -ae
f
Gate, entrance
puella, -ae
f
girl
rosa, -ae
f
rose
sententia, -ae
f
Feeling, thought, opinion, vote, sentence
vita, -ae
f
life
ADJECTIVE
antiquus, -a, -um m, f, n ancient, old-time
maganus, -a, -um m, f, n large, great
meus, -a, -um m, f, n my
multus, -a, -um m, f, n much, many
tuus, -a, -um m, f, n your

OTHER
est is
et conj. and; even; et….et, both….and….
sed conj. but
O interj. Oh! Commonly preceding a vocative
Sine prep. +abl., without

Sententiae antiguae
1. Salvē, O patria! (Plautus.)
Hello, O fatherland!

2. Fāma et sententia volant.

(Virgil. — volāre, verb, to fly,

move quickly)
Rumor and opinion fly.

3. Dā veniam puellae, amābō

tē. (Terence. — venia, -ae, f., favor, pardon )
Give the girl a favor, please.
這邊的da是命令句,而amabo te是please。

4. Clēmentia tua multās vītās servat. (Cicero. — clēmentia, -ae, clemency)
Your clemency saves many lives.
利用字尾的變化我們就會發現形容詞是修飾誰、名詞是屬於甚麼格!

5. Multam pecūniam dēportat. (Cicero. — dēportāre, verb, tocarry away )
He carries away much money.

6. Fortūnam et vītam antīquae patriae saepe laudās sed recūsās. (Horace. — recūsāre, verb, to refuse, reject )
You often praise the fortune and life of the old fatherland but reject them.
這句話在講的是Augustus,他非常常稱讚古羅馬的好,像是共和制等,但其實他自己實行專制,所以說他常稱讚但是拒絕古老的祖國。而recusas作用到的對象跟laudas相同,所以就略而不寫。

7. Mē vītāre turbam iubēs. (*Seneca. — vītāre, to avoid 。– turba, -ae, f., crowd  –iubēre, verb, to order )
You order the crowd to avoid me.
注意,turbam在字尾上顯示得很清楚,是作用為accusative,必定是iubes作用對象。不要翻成了you order me to avoid the crowd.

8. Mē philosophiae dō. (Seneca)
I give myself to philosophy.

9. Philosophia est ars vītae.(*Cicero. –ars, art )
Philosophy is the art of life.

10. Sānam fōrmam vītae cōnservāte. (Seneca. –sānus,-a, -um., sound, sane)
Preserve the sound abeauty of life.

11. Immodica īra creat īnsāniam. (Seneca. — immodicus, -a, um, immoderate, excessive.—creare, to creat)
Excessive anger creates insanity.

12. Quid cōgitās? –dēbēmus īram vītāre. (Seneca.)
What are you thinking? – we must avoid anger.

13. Nūlla avāritia sine poenā est. (*Seneca. –nūllus, -a, -um, no –avāritia, -ae, avaricious)
No avarice is without penalty.

14. Mē saevīs catēnīs onerat. (Horace. — saevus, -a, -um, cruel.–catēna, -ae, chain.–onerāre, to load, oppress)
He oppresses me with cruel chains.
此句從onerat的字尾得知主詞應該是第三人稱單數,但句中並沒有名詞符合,所以本句的主詞在拉丁文中被藏了起來,翻成英文時要翻出來。

15. Rotam fortūnae nōn timent. (Cicero –rota, -ae, wheel  –timēre, to fear)
They do not fear the wheel of fortune.

16. The girls save the poet’s life.
Puellae vitam poetae servant.

17. Without philosophy we often go astray and pay the penalty.
Sine philosophia saepe erramus et poenas damus.

18. If your land is strong, nothing terrifies the sailors and you ought to praise your great fortune.
Si tua patria valet, nihil nautas terret et laudare magnam fortunam tuam debes.

19. We often see the penalty of anger.
Saepe poenam irae videmus.

20. The ancient gate is large.
Porta antiqua est magna.

CATULLUS BIDS HIS GIRLFRIEND FAREWELL
這是一首改編過的詩,是Catullus在與情人分手後寫下的詩,其中的轉折應該很多人看了會心有戚戚焉吧?
obdurare , to be firm, tough.—basiare, to kiss.—te, you

Puella mea mē nōn amat.
My girl doesn’t love me.

Valē, puella! Catullus obdūrat:
Goodbye, the girl! Catullus is tough:

poēta puellam nōn amat,
the poet doesn’t love the girl,

fōrmam puellae nōn laudat,
he doesn’t praise the beauty of the girl,

puellae rosās nōn dat,
he doesn’t give the girl roses,

et puellam nōn bāsiat!
and he doesn’t kiss the girl!

Ira mea est magna!
My anger is great!

Obdūrō, mea puella — sed sine tē nōn valeō.
I am though, my girl—but without you, I am not strong.



[2] 類似的狀況也發生在德文上,德文有一些介系詞一定要搭配Dativ,故不宜全以中學時學英文所學到的間接受詞、直接受詞概念來理解「格」的意義。
[3] 其實要寫成 Magana porta也是可以,拉丁文在這部份彈性很大。

Teach yourself Latin I

本文是以Frederic M. Wheelock所著之Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition為基礎所寫的拉丁文介紹。編排也是完全以Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition內的例題、編選文章為本,並參考台大Ted Partington教授授課之補充內容而書,希望可以對對拉丁文有興趣者有所幫助。

除了第一、第二章編排稍有不同外,Wheelock’s Latin在每一章皆安排了ExercitationesSententiae Antiguae以及一篇被修改過的小短文或是詩篇,方便學習者練習。如果能夠跟著Wheelock’s Latin按部就班的學習拉丁文,拉丁文必定可以進步神速!每章的Vocabvla (vocabulary)中,除了介紹字義以外,尚列出部分以該字為字源的英文介紹,對於要準備GRE的人來說,不只可以學拉丁文還能順便背GRE單字,一舉數得!

CAPVT I
First and Second Conjugations
本章介紹第一第二型動詞變化與命令句。
拉丁文的動詞有不同的變化型式,在CAPVT I中所介紹的動詞是第一、第二型的動詞。第一型的動詞原型結尾為-are,而第二型之原型結尾則為-ere,餘下變化並無太大差異。
laudare(to praise)為例,第一型動詞原型結尾為-are,而在不同的人稱下,其以lauda為根(stem)之人稱詞尾變化(personal ending)如下:
laudao, I praise
laudas, you (sg.) praise
laudat, he/she/it praises
laudamus, we praise
laudatis, you (pl.) praise
laudant, they praise
(sg. 表示single pl. 則表示plural)
monere(to advise, warn)為第二型動詞之例,以mone為根,其變化如下:
moneo, I warn/advise
mones, you(sg.) warn/advise
monet, he/she/it warns/advises
monemus, we warn/advise
monetis, you(pl.) warn/advise
monent, they warn/advise
從上面兩個例子可以發現,第一第二型的動詞除了原型字尾不同外,在不同人稱單複數等變化下都具有相同的變化方式:-o, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt
拉丁文中的命令句變化獨立於上述變化。命令句出現的狀況通常是某人對著其他人呼喊、施加命令,所以一定是對著「你」、「你們」來發話,這點在拉丁文也不例外。在拉丁文中,若是對著單一人作命令句,則直接用該動詞的變化字根即可,若對複數人,則用該動詞變化字根再加上te結尾表達複數,如:
Serva me! Save me! 對一個人呼喊
Servate me! Save me! 對不只一個人呼喊


Vocabvla
, pron. me
Quid,  what
Nihil, noun, nothing
Nōn, adv, not
Saepe, adv, often
, conj, if
amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum[1], to love, to like; amābō tē, idiom, please (literally means, I will love you) 
cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgītātum, to think, ponder, consider, plan
dēbeō, dēbēre, dēbuī, dēbitum, to owe; ought, must, should
dō, dare, dedī, datum, to give, to offer
errō, errāre, errāvī, erratum, to wander; to err, go astray, make a mistake, be mistaken
laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum, to praise
moneō, monere, monuī, monitum, to remind, advise, warn 
salveō, salvēre, to be well, be in good health;  salvē, salvēte, hello, greetings!
servō, servāre, servāvī, servātum, to preserve, save, keep, guard 
cōnservō, cōnservāre, cōnservāvī, cōnservātum (con-servō), a stronger form of servare 
terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum, to frighten, terrify
valeō, valēre, valuī, valitūrum, to be strong, have power; to be well; vale, goodbye 
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum, to see; observe, understand
vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum, to call, summon 

Sententiae (sentences)
此部分為Wheelock’s Latin所列之翻譯練習,筆者將會翻譯時須注意的詞尾變化標示出,以利讀者學習。
1.      Labor mē vocat.
Labour calls me.
此句為典型的SOV句型,在判斷時可先從該具有無明顯的主詞開始找,在此句中我們可以找到Labor,然後從字尾變化確認是否確實是第三人稱單數,本句中的vocatt為結尾,可以確定是labor所作的動詞,故可翻譯為Labour calls me.
2.      Monē mē, amābō tē, sī errō.
Warn me, please, if I make a mistake.
3.      Festīnā lentē. (Festino, festinare, to hasten, make haste. lente, adv, slowly)
Make haste slowly. 奧古斯丁(Augustus)最喜歡說的話之一,饒富趣味。此句只有動詞與副詞,可以從字尾觀察到此處的festina是作命令句用。
4.      Laudās mē; culpant mē.
You praise me; they blame me.
5.      Saepe peccāmus.
We often sin/make a mistake.
雖然此處可以直接翻譯為sin,但是在基督宗教中,sin是非常嚴重的說法,像是七原罪(seven sins)等,我們不大可能常常to sin,所以翻譯作make a mistake會比較好。
6.      Quid dēbēmus cōgitāre?
What should we think?
此處的debemus意思是we should, ought to等的意思,類同於英文,後面所言的動詞需要變回原形。在有模態詞與一般動詞的句子中,通常一般動詞會擺在一句話中的最後面,但也不是必定。
7.      Cōnservāte mē!
Protect/save me!
8.      Rūmor volat.
Rumour flies.
拉丁文中沒有冠詞,所以在翻譯為英文時須注意該名詞是否需加冠詞,在此處由於rumour作謠言解釋時為不可數名詞,所以不加冠詞。
9.      Mē nōn amat.
She/He does not love me.
此句的主詞並未直接顯於文句中,讀者必須從amare的人稱字尾變化來了解。
10.  Nihil mē terret.
Nothing terrifies me.
SOV句型。
11.  Apollō mē saepe servat.
Apollo often saves me.
12.  Salvēte!– quid vidētis? Nihil vidēmus.
Hello!—what do you see? We see nothing.
13.  Saepe nihil cōgitās.
You often think about nothing.
14.  Bis dās, sī cito dās. (bis, twice. cito, adv, quickly)
You give twice, if you give quickly.
 Publilius Syrus的名言,意思是當別人有急需時,及時幫助如同給予兩倍的幫助。
15.  Sī valēs, valeō.
If you are well, I am well.
羅馬人常於信末附上此句話,或略作SVV。也有人會寫作SVBEEV(si vales bene est valeo, if you are well that is good; I’m well)
16.  What does he see?
Quid videt?
17.  They are giving nothing.
Nihil dant.
18.  You ought not to praise me.
Me non debes laudare.
19.  If I err, he often warns me.
Si erro, me saepe monet.
20.  If you love me, save me, please!
Si me amas, serva me, amabo te!
THE POET HORACE CONTEMPLATES AN INVITATION
Maecēnās et Vergilius mē hodiē vocant.
Maecenas and Vergil are calling me today.
Quid cōgitāre dēbeō? Quid dēbeō respondēre?
What should I think? What should I reply?
Sī errō, mē saepe monent et culpant; sī nōn errō, mē laudant.
If I make a mistake, they often warn and blame me; if I am not wrong, they praise me.
Quid hodiē cōgitāre dēbeō?
What should I think today?


[1] 拉丁文字典標示動詞時皆以此方式列出,目前只須要先知道第一個為第一人稱單數時的動詞型式,第二為動詞原型即可

Fragile Altruism and Morality

  Kitcher在本文中試圖建立一個連結生物學上的自然傾向以及道德上的規約指導(Normative Guidance)的論證,藉以說明當我們在自然化倫理學上的利他主義時,我們不能夠忽略來自自然本性的影響,也不能忘記人類的文化情感在指導行為上的作用。

  他認為,在談論利他行為時,人們不是傾向Hobbes的人性本自私,就是過於傾向Hume的道德行為是與人的情感有關,順性而為者是謂善。Kitcher在本文中便企圖論證其實兩造說法皆有道理,仔細檢視利他行為可能的起源後,我們將會發現他們各自證成了不同的面相,所以兩者皆應考慮。

  Kitcher首先指出傳統看法有幾個困難,第一是傳統演化生物學家所提的模型只能夠在特定情境下真正說明到人類道德的起源,也就是他們的模型中所指涉到的個體必須要跟人類是一脈相傳下來,否則將這樣的推論將不合法。而採取Axelrod-Hamilton dynamics來解釋人類道德起源時,則預設了在遠古時代必然有段時間人類祖先、靈長類被迫不斷進行類似囚犯困境的競爭。第二是當我們討論HumeansHonnesians孰真孰假時所進入的議題將轉變成人類的心理狀態道者是甚麼樣子的狀態,那這個領域便非生物學家所能置喙之處。

  Kitcher認為,與其用Axelrod-Hamilton dynamics來談道德起源,還不如採用選擇競爭(optional game)來解釋,因為選擇競爭的特色在於其強調個體可以「選擇」不同的互動方式、不同的同伴等。這樣的選擇是主動的,而不是像囚犯困境那樣被迫選擇,透過模型運算我們會發現在選擇競爭的模型下確實很容易出現個體間選擇合作的狀態。靈長類相互理毛已示友好的行為其實也可以稍微設計一下變成一個選擇競爭模型的選項。

  但是這個替代方案只是乍看下可行。當我們仔細去看靈長類社群時就會發現,選擇競爭模型的預設與現狀有段距離,好比說合作狩獵、搜尋食物,在下位階層的靈長類所獲取的報酬小到讓人難以相信該個體願意接受這樣的合作契約。此外,這個模型也沒有辦法解釋為什麼要選擇群居。有些靈長類並非群居性的,因此要用選擇競爭模型來談道德起源時,我們必須要先解釋為什麼一個個體看到另外一個個體不會作勢要攻擊,反而能夠和平共處,否則我們不能利用這些模型來解釋。

  Kitcher認為,我們可以利用鷹鴿競爭模型來解釋。當個體於相鄰地區生存時,他們可以察覺到彼此的子代會帶有相似於彼此的性狀,所以漸漸地可以察覺合作的利益是否會大於獨居,若是則符合了合作賽局的基本預設。如此我們就能開始談心理上的利他。

  Kitcher主張,利他行為必須要能感受到他者的需求,並且有一種傾向去滿足該需求。然而,沒有任何的行為、心理狀態本質上就是利他的,因為利他與否必須要視行為與環境狀態間的關係而定。其主張可簡單用三點表示:

1. 在一相似於情境C的情境C*狀況下,情境C*不像情境C一般有來自於個體B的偏好結果的影響,因而個體A在情境C的偏好與個體AC*的偏好將更接近於個體B的。

2. 而在情境C*與情境C的偏好差異可以用個體A察覺到個體B的偏好來解釋。

3. 計算個體A在情境C*的偏好所能帶來的預期利益並不能解釋個體A在情境C的偏好。

  Kitcher又將利他行為分成弱利他行為與完全利他行為,弱利他行為即是一仍考慮到自身利益的利他行為,完全力他則否,可簡單以下表之:

θυi+ (1-θ)ui

其中θ表示個人的偏好,υi則是個人偏好之價值,ui則是他人偏好之價值。是以當θ為0時,此行為所考慮的完全是他人的偏好,是一完全利他的行為。

  此外,Kitcher又將利他行為分為四個向度:利他的強度、利他的優先性、利他的廣度,以及同理心的能力。他藉由這樣的區分來說明,利他行為這樣的概念其實很複雜,並不能單用「利己主義的相反」來理解。

  Kitcher在建立「合作的基礎模型是可能的」以及「心理利他的意義」完後,他所欲證成的生物學與道德間的關係才能開始進行。他首先討論目前在生物學界很流行的「馬基維利式智能」。根據De Waal的觀察,黑猩猩似乎能夠計算合作所能帶來的利益,並且還能將這樣的利益拿來與單打獨鬥所能帶來的利益做比較。從觀察黑猩猩的行為中我們似乎可以推論,在遠古時代的人類祖先也能有類似的利益計算:如果合作的利益大過於單打獨鬥,那就選擇合作;然而我們在人類社會中常見的「背叛」也可在De Waal的黑猩猩園區中見到。馬基維利式的利益計算就是Hobbesian所謂的自私考量,當每個個體都陷入這樣的考量時,個體就必須要付出非常大量的時間在示好上,以De Waal的黑猩猩觀察來說就是互相理毛。Kitcher將這樣的狀況視為解釋群體大小的因素:理毛這樣子的是好行為要花去太多的時間,所以黑猩猩社群不可能太大,太大的話將會崩潰。因此,如果靈長類社群想要發展膨脹,就必須要有一些有別於理毛的行為來表現出願意合作、希望和平共處的行為。他認為道德規範以及懲罰的行為就是這樣的行為,其快速有效,故能使龐大的群體不是潰散。

  另外一個可能的解釋則是錯估(miscalculation),從De WaalJane Goodall對黑猩猩的觀察我們都能發現,有些黑猩猩會去做無法帶給自己太大利益的行為,像是在沒有其他黑猩猩在旁的時候幫助黑猩猩社群內較為底層的黑猩猩,這樣的行為無法博得他者的好感,而受助者本身也不大可能給予高過於這個行為的回報。Kitcher認為這是因為有些個體計算錯誤,以為這樣的行為可以給自己好處,而在天擇的機制下,這些個體只要「足夠好」、能通過篩選,那麼這樣的錯估特質也會被傳遞下去。這樣的說法其實也隱含了,有些個體可能根本就不計算利益,所以這樣的個體參與了合作賽局的話,也不必須要說他們必然有計算,但是他們必然有願意合作、幫助他人的自然傾向。從這邊我們也看得出Humean從情感上來談心理特質對道德起源確實也掌握到了一些片段。

  Kitcher認為,從黑猩猩觀察中我們可以發現,其實合作關係以及利他的行為都很脆弱,容易因為利益的算計而崩潰。而人類的道德機制就是一個防範未然的系統,能在有個體做出該社群認為是錯誤的行為時就先制止:灌輸有哪些行為不可以做。這樣的機制(Normative Guidance)有利於群體擴大,而且群體要擴大也必須要有這樣的機制。黑猩猩的社群之所以遠比人類的要來的小就是因為他們沒有辦法發展出自我控管的能力,無法對其灌輸道德規範。

  此外,處罰也是一個能夠有效遏制錯誤行為的機制。但是要能發展出處罰的機制,而且個體會畏懼處罰、知道何時應當處罰,所需具備的能力亦相當的高。Kitcher認為具有這樣機制的社群應該要具有以特徵:

  如果在情境C下,個體P做了一個錯誤的行為W,能夠進行價值判斷的個體J通常會對做出行為W的個體P做出宣稱S。而在這個情況下,該社群的其他成員通常不會干擾個體J宣稱S。而在這樣的情境,個體P也不會拒絕個體J的宣稱S

  也就是說,這樣的社群中的成員都有共通的價值判斷,即便是做個行為W的個體P也會認為自己所為是錯誤的。價值判斷牽涉到情感,當個體對事件有厭惡或是喜好的情感時,都能夠加強他做這個行為或是不做這個行為的傾向。Kitcher認為,即便個體可能有偏好差異,比方說有的個體就是偏好行為W,有的就是不偏好,或者是心中有相衝突的價值,這樣的機制都能夠幫助個體排除衝突或是對該行為的偏好,社群的集體偏好施加在個體上,使得個體的規範指引(Normative Guidance)更加強化。

  Kitcher從而主張,我們在生物性的一面不能忽略,但情感上的喜好影響也非常巨大。他認為我們管理群體的機制高度可塑,不同的群體可以因應不同的環境、集體偏好發展出不同的規範指引,不管這些規範指引有多不同,都能確保足漸膨脹的群體不需要像黑猩猩一樣花費過多的時間在彼此討好上,群體中的每一分子都能事先被灌輸有哪些行為可以做,那些不能,而不能的那些又會受到甚麼樣的懲罰。Kitcher認為懲罰的機制跟規範指引的機制沒有必然的先後順序,但是這兩者都有助於形成較為巨大的群體,使該群體穩固而不致崩潰。

  我認為Kitcher的主張其實可以簡單從兩個面向來談,第一即道德利他能力必然與生物演化出的能力有關,像是視覺、痛覺、記憶等;第二即道德利他能力的出現必須要有同理心的心理能力,個體必須要有能力察覺他者的心理偏好。

  如果一個個體沒有痛覺也不會記憶,那群體施加於上的懲罰其實沒有意義,就像魚之所以在小魚缸不會發瘋的道理一樣,於一轉身就覺得來到新世界,再轉回來又覺得是新的世界,記憶力過於短暫。而如果我們施加懲罰於類似於魚的個體上,那該個體痛完就忘了,無法對他形成制約。雖然Kitcher沒有提到記憶,但我認為他所提的生物學對道德形成的影響是可以由上面這個例子支持。

  Kitcher著重在心理上的偏好以及價值判斷的能力似乎是比生物學上要來得多。我認為他將道德規範跟黑猩猩的示好(peacemaking)行為放在一起比較非常有趣,他認為黑猩猩的社群不能太大就是因為沒有辦法透過理毛等行為有效傳達願意合作的訊息,使得社群發展有所限制;而道德規範則不同,道德規範快又有效,個體都知道道德規範也會自己用這樣的規範管理自己,所以群體才能發展的大。

  我認為Kitcher在這篇文章中所採取的策略個問題,而其策略也會引發其他的爭議:

1. 利用群體大小來談道德的起源似乎有點倒因為果。雖然遠古的人類祖先可能察覺到合作的好處,可是演化不是用進廢退,演化是發生在基因上的突變,而帶有不同性狀的子代再由天擇篩選。因此即便合作有好處,人類祖先選擇合作,該群體的大小也應該是由合作傾向的強度來決定。Kitcher在這邊的說法會讓人覺得人類祖先是為了擴大群體而生出道德機制。

2. Kitcher認為沒有行為是本質上就是利他的,因為「利他」要看施作行為的背景,但是Kitcher又提出了θυi+ (1-θ)ui公式來說有完全利他的可能性。我認為Kitcher可以說後者顯示出同樣一個行為也要看行為者的個人傾向為何,而這個傾向會受到環境的不同而有所改變,所以即便是完全利他的行為,本質上還是要考究環境狀態。但這樣的說法預設了行為者的偏好絕對與環境有關,我認為這樣的宣稱是違反我們一般對利他行為的直覺。好比說看到小鳥受傷就想要去救,不管有沒有人旁觀我們都會認為這是利他行為,並且真正的利他不會因為有沒有人旁觀而改變。我認為Kitcher所宣稱的所有的行為都與情境有關應該要修正成所有的「弱利他行為」都與情境有關,真正的利他應該是不受環境改變影響的。

3. 我非常認同Kitcher在道德的起源上強調心理特質,但是Kitcher再談Governance mechanism時,認為這樣的機制可塑性很大,這是否會導致道德相對?我認為如果Kitcher堅守道德起源與生物學上的性徵有關,那他可以說至少人類間的道德規範有共通的基礎,發展不一但是彼此仍可以做出比較。但問題是這樣的生物學基礎可能是不穩固的,像是外星人就可以宣稱他們跟人類不只在心理上,連在生理上都不一樣,所以外星人不需要遵守地球人的道德規範,則這樣道德將會喪失哲學家普遍認為重要的特徵,即Normative


對這篇文章是有點失望

我不認為Kitcher真的有連結起演化學與道德,因為生物性的特徵怎麼「長出」多采多姿,不受基因嚴格控管,自由自在的文化價值依舊是個問題。

我認為演化倫理學所碰到的困難在於,幾乎所有人(除了新教徒吧)都接受演化論,也承認基因能夠影響人類的一些性狀,但問題就在於影響的程度有多大沒人能回答。如果影響很大,那我們只需要生物學就能解決問題了,但如果不大,反而是我們的心理能力,包括創作力、想像力,感到害怕的能力、喜歡的能力影響更大,那生物學以及演化倫理學唯一的任務就是解釋心理能力從何開始,解釋完以後,就沒這兩個孩子的事了。倫理學依舊安好的處在哲學塔之中,無法被自然化。



Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools

http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_how_state_budgets_are_breaking_us_schools.html

教育經費不管是在台灣還是在美國都是一個重大的議題
Gates認為美國在預算分配上將會影響到教育品質
但是下面的討論區卻有人提出:有證據顯示花在每個孩子身上的預算少也可以有好的教學成果
well, i do think how much state budgets should be allocated to education is disputable
we might have elementary schools running by little money but efficient,
however, the truth is that it is impossible to run a high-level academical institution without abundant funding, and i believe this is the reason why Gates mentioned the UC system.

Abide

Abide忍受

A+bide 去忍受

在古英文中,這個字本來是從remainendure的意思來的,像是we abidon his就是we waited for him的意思,可是到中古英文的時候這個字又出現了現在我們比較熟知的意思to put up with

要比較注意的是,abideabide by在紅寶上雖然註明意義不同,可是從英文解釋上來看其實這兩者仍然是有關連的,應該視作同義詞組。

abiding則可以從endure這個字源來想:一個東西可以歷久不衰,肯定是個經得起考驗的東西!

Sb can’t abide sth: used to say that someone dislikes something or someone very much

abide by: to accept and obey a decision, rule, agreement etc, though you may not agree with it: his love for machine is intensive and abiding

Abiding

An abiding feeling or belief continues for a long time and is not likely to change

abeyance

Abeyance 中止、擱置

From Anglo-Fr. abeiance “suspension,” also “expectation (especially in a lawsuit)”

這個字從字源分析來看,乍看之下真的不懂為什麼會有暫停阿、擱置阿等等的意思。但是從歷史上的來源來看的話,其實這個字的expect的意思是說:期待得到財產。轉到英國後變成說是:暫時失去自己的財物所有權。因為失去了自己的財物,很自然的就會期望他快點回來不是嗎?

in abeyance something such as a custom, rule, or system that is in abeyance is not being used at the present time

fall into abeyance (=no longer be used)

Abhor

Abhor/rence

   /rent

Middle English abhorren, from Latin abhorrēre, from ab- + horrēre to shudder

ab+hor 遠離恐怖的東西→討厭某物

[VT, not in progressive]

To hate a kind of behavior or way of thinking; especially because you think it morally wrong:

any kind of discrimination is abhorrent to me

相關的字還有hatred喔


可以跟abide一起記,你討厭的東西就是你不能忍受的東西!

Things that you abhor are those you can’t abide!

Isn’t it right?