0.5 Modern grammars and ancient grammarians

Modern grammars and ancient grammarians

Edited by Anthony Corbeill, University of Kansas (corbeill@ku.edu)

I. modern grammars of the latin language

The most popular titles of Latin grammars written in English are listed first. For serious scholarly research it is necessary to consult the three-volume German edition of M. Leumann, A. Szantyr, and J. B. Hofmann.

Greenough, J. B. et al. eds. Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges. Second edition. Boston 1903. Reprinted multiple times.

-- the most popular grammar written in English, "Allen and Greenough" is recommended in particular since editors of Latin texts used in schools and colleges often refer to its discussions. A searchable electronic version is available on the Perseus website ( www.perseus.tufts.edu ) and the print version can be downloaded at archive.org .

Other popular titles include B. L. Gildersleeve and G. Lodge, Gildersleeve's Latin Grammar (Third edition, New York 1903 and later reprints) and C. E. Bennett, Latin grammar (Rev. second edition, Boston 1918 and later reprints). Both are readily available online.

Hofmann, J. B., M. Leumann, and A. Szantyr. Lateinische Grammatik . Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaft, II 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Munich: C. H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.

Vol. 1. Lateinische Laut- und Formenlehre , by M. Leumann; fifth edition 1977.

Vol. 2. Lateinische Syntax und Stilistik , by J. B. Hofmann. Revised by A. Szantyr 1964; reprinted with corrections 1972.

Vol. 3. Stellenregister und Verzeichnis der nichtlateinischen Wörter, by F. Radt and A. Westerbrink 1979.

--a comprehensive discussion of Latin phonology and morphology (vol. 1) and syntax (vol. 2), with myriad examples drawn from the full range of extant Latin texts through the sixth century A.D. The index volume (vol. 3) includes a listing of every passage cited.

This work, normally referred to as Leumann – Hofmann – Szantyr (LHS), has largely displaced the previous grammar of R. Kühner and C. Stegmann, Ausführliche Grammatik der lateinischen Sprache , 2 vols. (Hannover 1912-1914; fifth revised edition by A. Thierfelder, 1976). Kühner – Stegmann (KS) nevertheless remains worth consulting on specific issues.

Neue, F., and C. Wagener, Formenlehre der lateinischen Sprache , 4 vols. Leipzig 1892-1905.

--a full compendium of primary texts used to illustrate the rules and exceptions of Latin morphology and syntax; includes statistical analyses throughout and a final volume containing a word and subject index. Since sections often consist of lists of Latin passages, this work can be used fruitfully with only a working knowledge of reading German. Essential for serious research into Latin grammar and syntax. PDF available at archive.org .

Ii. primary sources

Keil, H., et al . Grammatici latini . 7 vols. Leipzig 1855-1870.

--the most convenient and comprehensive critical edition of grammatical writings in Latin from the period of Late Antiquity. Several authors have since received new editions, the most essential of which is K. Barwick, Charisii Artis Grammaticae Libri V (corrected edition by F. Kühnert, Leipzig 1964); other recent editions are listed under author's name in the Index of the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae . In 2009-2010 the Keil collection was reissued in paperback by Cambridge University Press; PDFs of the original edition are available on archive.org .