Module Code - Title:
MU6071
-
BEGINNERS' ECCLESIASTICAL LATIN FOR THE STUDY OF PLAINCHANT
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module will introduce students to the basic grammar and vocabulary of medieval Ecclesiastical Latin, in order to facilitate their study and performance of Western plainchant and Latin song encountered in the Practicum (MD6151 and MD6142) and Methods (MD5361 and MD5362) modules. Latin is the primary language of the repertoire studied in the MA Ritual Chant and Song, and being able to understand the repertoire is essential to studying it academically and vocally. This module will give students the tools to decode the Latin they encounter in the Practicum and Methods modules, enabling them to create their own translations of Latin chants/songs. They will also become familiar with the key vocabulary used in Gregorian chant. The course is targeted at students who have not previously studied Latin.
Syllabus:
This module aims to introduce students to ecclesiastical Latin and gradually develop their ability to read and translate chant texts. Each class will examine an element of Latin grammar, begin a translation exercise to be completed as homework, and review the previous translation. The grammar covered will include: nouns, verbs (active/passive, indicative/subjunctive), adjectives, participles, infinitives, adverbs, pronouns and conjunctions. The translation exercises will be drawn from Western plainchant, and will support the grammar element covered in that week while reinforcing the elements learnt in previous weeks.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
- deduce the dictionary form of a conjugated verb/declined noun.
- using grammar tables, analyse a word to understand its conjugation/declension.
- parse a phrase to find the nominative noun and main/active verb.
- analyse how words agree with/relate to each other in a phrase.
- formulate a literal translation from individually translated words.
- understand/translate the commonly used vocabulary of ecclesiastical Latin.
- apply their understanding of Latin to the performance of Gregorian chant.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
- appreciate the nuances in translation and how certain words can have different meanings according to context.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will taught through 'lab' classes, in which the class will collaboratively work through grammar examples/exercises and translations. To reinforce the concepts covered in each class, translations will be set as homework. Students will required to articulate their translations in a precise manner, closely following the original language and including a grammatical analysis of each lexeme. Homework translations will be reviewed in subsequent classes, thus encouraging pro-active self-study. Students will be taught to use both the key printed resources in Latin translation, such as dictionaries and primers, as well as the more recent online resources, such as Whitaker's Words and Cappelli's dictionary of abbreviations. The classes will respond to students' needs and interests: in the latter part of the course, students may bring their own texts for the class to collaboratively translate.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Lewis and Short (1969)
A Latin Dictionary
, OUP
Panhuis (2006)
Latin Grammar
, Ann Arbor
Solesmes (1979)
The Graduale Triplex
, Solesmes
Other Relevant Texts:
Hines (2003)
Singers' Liturgical Latin
, Lightning Source
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
MARCSOTFA - RITUAL CHANT AND SONG
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
eleanor.giraud@ul.ie