FIRST READING

FIRST READING

Text
Donations of the Grammar of the City of Rome,
The Art of Grammar

From the voice.

Voice is the air struck, perceptible to hearing... Every voice is either articulated or confused.
What can be expressed is articulated; what cannot be written is confused.
Of the letters.
A letter is the smallest part of an articulated voice. Some letters are vowels, others are not.
Consonants. Some consonants are semi-vowels, others are mute.
Vowels are those which are pronounced by themselves and form a syllable by themselves. They are, however, in number
Five of them are i o u. Two of these, i and u, transition into the power of consonants, when either they themselves
they are doubled between themselves or joined with other vowels, such as Iuno, vates... Latin vowels
all can be produced and seized...
Semivowels are those which are indeed pronounced by themselves, but do not form a syllable by themselves.
There are, however, seven: l m n r s x. Of these, one is double, x...
They are mutations, which neither bring forth by themselves nor form a syllable by themselves. However, they are
number November c d g h k p q t. From these, some seem unnecessary to them, who do not know.
As often as it follows, it should be placed before, not as often as it follows, through not by
Often it is believed that consonance is known as the breath. However, it persists,
What letters we have admitted on account of Greek names: one is a vowel, the other is a consonant.
duplex. Where it is, as some think, that the Latin letters are no more than seventeen,
Indeed, this is known from twenty-three (instances), one of which is double, two are superfluous, two are ...
Greek...
Of the syllable.
A syllable is the comprehension of letters or the articulation of a single vowel capable of holding time.
Some syllables are short, some are long, some are common... A long syllable has two time units.
it has a briefness.
Donatus, The Major Art of Grammar (Don., A.G.), I. 1-3
2. Translation

GRAMMATICAL ART
DE DONATO, GRAMMARIAN OF THE CITY OF ROME

From the voice.

The voice is the air struck perceptible by the ear... Every voice is either articulated or is with-
fusa... The articulated is the one that can be encompassed by letters; the confused, the one that cannot.
to write to oneself.

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From the lyrics.
The letter is the smallest part of the articulated voice. Some of the letters are vowels;
others, consonants. Some of the consonants are semivowels; others are silent.
The vowels are those that are pronounced by themselves and by themselves form a syllable. They are
five in number: a e i o u; of these two, laiy lau, move to the category of consonants,
when they either duplicate themselves, or unite with other vowels, like Iūnō, vātēs... All
The Latin vowels can be lengthened or shortened...
Semi-vowels are those that are certainly pronounced by themselves, but do not form
syllables by themselves. There are seven in number: f l m n r s x. Of these, one is double, lax...
The mute letters are those that do not pronounce themselves and do not form syllables on their own. They are
nine in number: b c d g h k p q t. Of these, laky laq seem superfluous to some,
Those who ignore that, how many times it follows, the letter k must be placed before, not the q; how many
sometimes it follows one, you have to write with one, not with one. Lahse is considered to
sometimes like a consonant, sometimes like a mark of aspiration. Remain layy laz, le-
after we have admitted due to the Greek names: the first is a vowel, the second-
Yes, a double consonant. From where it happens, according to some, that Latin letters do not
there are more than seventeen, yes, certainly, of the twenty-three, one is a brand of aspiration, one is
double, two are superfluous, two are Greek...
From the syllable.
The syllable is the union of letters, or the enunciation of a single vowel, that contains time-
Some syllables are short, others are long, and some are common... The long syllable has two
times; the brief, one.
Donato, Major Grammatical Art (Don., A.G.), I. 1-3
3. Vocabulary
capable, which contains
letter a
common
to admit
aspiration to unite, to embrace
car
air
understanding: union
another (of many)
to confuse
one... another (of
consonance (consonance, consonants, consonan-
many
consonant
change...change(change... change): one... the other
to seize, to abridge
(of two)
to trust, to believe
arts
with
Grammar art: the grammatical art = the gra-
cum: cuando, como, aunque, mientras
mathematics
articular
the letter d
of: from (the high), about
to hear
author: o
Donato
two (two, two) (II): gift
but, well, indeed
double
b letter (bē: B, b): letter b
the letter (E, e): letter e
short (short, short ones): breve
enunciation
c letter (cē: C, c): letter c

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to be, to exist number, series, rank
and: y the letter (O, o): letter o
and...and: as much...as all, each
from, (outside) of p letter (pee: P, p): letter p
letter f part
to do for
to be done, to happen, to occur more, the most
g letter (gē: G, g): letter g posse (potest, possunt): to be able, to be powerful;
to double, to duplicate to have influence, to be worth
Greek power, authority
grammarian lidad, autoridad; 2. posibilidad
matical to put before
grammatical art: the grammatical art = the gra- first (of many)
mathematics to extend, to produce
the grammarian to bring forward
what the grammatical technique teaches pronounce, produce
the letter h because of
to have putāre(putant):(calcular) pensar, opinar
this q letter (with: Q, q): letter q
i letter (I, i): letter i as, how
to strike who, that, which
in certain, some
interentre certainly
sometimes five
himself how many times
join: unite, join, associate r letter (er: R, r): letter r
Juno remain: to stay, to persist
letter k Rome
the letter (el: L, l): letter l letter s
Latin (Latin, Latin): latino to write
reading, lesson but, more
letter (letter, letter, letter, of the letter, letters, to the letters) semivocal
letter sensible
long seven
m letter (en: M, m): letter m to follow
bigger, older if
minimus(minima): very small, the smallest yes: to himself, oneself
small superfluous
mute syllable(syllable, syllable, syllable, of syllables)
letter n syllable
well letter t
and no, neither time
to not know, to be unaware to pass
name three
no letter u
note(note): brand where: from where, since when
nine

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one (one, of one, one) twenty
unique vocal
city voice
ut: que, porque, para que, aunque; como x letter (ix: X, x): letter x
vates: seer, poet, diviner y letter (hy: Y, y): upsilon letter
well: oh, even, for example from the letter (dsēta: Z, z): letter dsēta
to seem

4. Presentation of the text

The author of the text of this reading is Elio Donato (Aelius Dōnātus), a Latin grammarian who
Donato lived in the 4th century A.D. He was a professor of grammar and lived in Rome; among his
disciples, the most famous was the future translator of the Bible, Saint Jerome. This text per-
It refers to a work by Donato titled Major Grammatical Art (Ars grammatica māior):
It is a detailed grammatical treatise, in which the Latin language is described beginning-
for its phonetics.
Donato elaborates his Latin grammar based on the Greek grammar of Dionysius.
the Thracian Sio (who lived in the 2nd century BC), that the Latin grammarian Remius Palemon (1st century
d. C.) had translated into Latin. Both the work of Dionysius Thrax and that of Donatus had
had a huge influence on the teaching of Greek and Latin, respectively.
In Rome, grammar began to be studied from the 2nd century BC. Grammars
Latins are technical writings that generally originate from Greek texts; however,
they can be considered original in their determined application of Greek technical categories to
the Latin language. One of the most important grammarians in Rome, in the 1st century BC, was
Marco Terencio Varrón (Marcus Terentius Varro), who wrote a treatise called On
the Latin language (Dē linguā Latīnā); it was he who named the Latin letters, with a cri-
fully phonological territory (that is, according to the important sounds for Latin):
they carry 'e' after the sound of the letter, the 'silent' consonants, such as p(=pē) and t(=tē);
They carry 'e' before the sound of the letter, the 'semiconsonants', such as ym (=em).
Donato was a 'grammarian of the city of Rome' (grammaticus Vrbis Rōmae). The
the manager of the second level of education in Greece and Rome; the
children, at the school of the grammaticus, learned grammar, naturally, but also le-
they went to the poets, with all the necessary explanations (historical, geographical, scientific,
...); they memorized their works, recited them with the correct pronunciation, and with
Hello, they were learning to speak correctly and clearly. The first grade of education, the...
elementary school, it was called ludus litterarius, and it was in charge of the litterator, a teacher who
I aimed to teach reading, writing, and counting. The third level was teaching re-
rhetoric, where they learned to craft persuasive speeches.
5. Grammatical Observations

§ 1. The Latin alphabet

The Latin alphabet undoubtedly comes from a Greek alphabet: the Chalcidian, which was used in
Cumae, Greek colony of Magna Graecia, in southern Italy. The Romans received it to
through the Etruscans, who were the ones who taught them writing. In the beginning, the

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Romans wrote only in capital letters, and lowercase letters were formed.
later, perhaps at the end of the 3rd century AD, based on cursive writing, that is,
in the letters written in a hurry: cursus means 'race'.

Latin alphabet
Uppercase Sound
A a a a
B b be b
C c cē c1
D d of d
E e e e
F f ef f
G g go g2
H ha it is not pronounced3
I i i i4
L l the l
M m in me m
N n in n
O o o o
P p pē p
Q q hi qu 5
R r er r
S s
T t you t
V u u u4
X x nine x = cs
1
Lac(cē) is pronounced like the Greek consonant. (kappa), and like lacdecasa, in
Spanish. The Romans also used the letrak, which is pronounced the same as lac, and that
it is only used in certain abbreviations, such as Kal. = Calendae (calendas: first day of the month).
2
Lag(gē) is pronounced like the Greek consonant. (gamma), and as the lagdegatoen
Spanish. The spelling G comes from the C(< ) that originally represented both the sound
of lake, like that of lag; for this reason, in some abbreviations of proper names, it is found
Instead of G:C.=Gaius(Gayo);Cn. =Gnaeus(Gneo).
3
Lah(ha), which originally indicated an aspiration, like the rough spirit in
Greek (that is, the pronunciation of a very soft j, like the h in English), in general
it was not pronounced. In classical Latin, there is no aspiration, but lah(ha) was used to
represent it in words taken from those in Greek that had aspiration (rough spirit)
comohōra(hora). Similarly, starting from the 1st century BC, the spellings ch are found in Latin.
ph,thyrh, to represent the (eat), the (phī) and the (theta), aspirated consonants Greek-
gas, which are found in words taken from Greek, such as philosophia (philosophy), chorus

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(dance, choir), thesaurus (treasure) orator. These spellings (ch, ph, th) are sometimes used
in completely Latin words, comopulcher (beautiful).
4
In classical times, the I(i) and the V(u) can be vowels or consonants. They are vowels.
when they are after a consonant: sunt, numerō, mūtae; litterīs, aliae, minima,
They are consonants when they
they are found between two vowels or in front of a vowel: vocalis, semivocalis; they are joined, Iuno,
Troy (VOWELS, SEMI-VOWELS; THEY ARE INHABITED, Juno, Troy). From the 1st century AD,
the consonant tends to be pronounced as lab(b). Many editions of classical texts
they use 'lav' when it comes to a consonant, and 'lau' when it is vocalic. This spelling
it is also used in these selections as an aid for the distinction between the vocalic and
lacosonantica.
5 Laq(cu) is always found together with unau:qu which represents the phoneme q.u, that is to say,
a consonant like lac, followed by a kind of labial appendage (something like a so-
Intermediate nest between uyb. There is also a consonant.u(represented by the spelling
(gu), which is a consonant like lag, also followed by a lip appendage; however,
Itu is only found in a few words, after unan: lingual (language), sanguis
(blood). Additionally, there is a consonant.u, that is, a sequence of a labial appendix,
which is found in very few words: suāvis (sweet), suādēre (to advise).
Note: In addition to these letters, from the time of Augustus, they can be considered part of the alpha-
Beta Latino the Greek letters Y (hy, ypsilon = ) yZ(dseta= ), which were used for Greek words
comolyra(lira) ozōna(cinturón).

§ 2. Phonology. The phonemes

Phonology (φωνή = sound + λόγος = study) is the science that studies phonemes. A
phonemes are a significant sound in a given language; in Mexican Spanish, for
For example, we have about twenty-three phonemes, and in Latin there are twenty-four. The letters of an alpha-
letters represent the phonemes of a language, although sometimes a single letter indicates two
phonemes (like 'lac' in Mexican Spanish) or two letters represent a single phoneme (like
lazy lazen Mexico). For Donato, the letters are the phonemes. The phonemes can be
vowels or consonants.
§ 3. Vowels
Unvocalized a phoneme open: the air exits without the phonatory organs closing, and
sonorous: the vocal cords vibrate. Functionally, a vowel is the nucleus of a syllable.
(see § 8).
§ 4. Classification of vowels
In Latin, vowels are distinguished by their quantity; quantity refers to the time that lasts the
pronunciation of a vowel: the shortest time in which a vowel is pronounced is called mora
(the “first time”). The Latin vowels, then, can be short or long: a vowel
it is brief when its pronunciation lasts a mora; it is long when its pronunciation lasts
two berries. Long vowels are indicated with the sign –. Short vowels are indicated with the sign. ˘

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 LONG VOWELS: SHORT VOWELS:
ā ē ī ō ū ǎ ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
According to their intensity, Latin vowels, like Spanish vowels, are classified
can strengthens and weakens

strong vowels
a and the I u
According to timbre, that is, according to the opening of the mouth at the moment of pronunciation.
a vowel, it can be open or closed; depending on the position of the tongue when it is produced
Announce the vowel, it can also be anterior, central, or posterior. In classical Latin, the aes.
an open, central vowel; you read an anterior vowel, closer than 'la', and you read a vowel
closed front. The 'o' is a back vowel, closer than 'a', and the 'u' is a back vowel.
closed interior.
§ 5. Diphthongs
When a syllable (see § 8) contains two vowels, it is said to have a diphthong: a diphthong-
go is a group of two vowels that belong to the same syllable. In Latin, there are only three dip-
usual tones:
ae - au - oe

and, like in preparing; or, like in announcing, and, like in battle("combat").

Note: In some words, the combinations ei–eu–ui are diphthongs: this can be found in these!
indicates compassion: "oh!"); eu, enheu! (which indicates pain: "oh!").); ui, enhuic ("for this").

§ 6. Consonants
A consonant is a closed phoneme: the expelled air is blocked, totally or partially.
you, by some of the phonatory organs.
§ 7. Classification of consonants
Consonants are classified according to the organ that closes when pronouncing them: a consonant-
it is called labial, if the lips (labia) are closed; dental, if it involves the teeth (dentēs), and
velar, if it is about the veil (vēlum) of the palate; the dental consonants are also called,
with greater propriety, alveolar, because in their pronunciation the alveoli are involved
(alveoli) of the teeth, and the velar are also called guttural, because it would seem that the
the organ that closes is the throat (guttur). This classification responds to the 'point of articulation'.
"lation". In Latin, there are velar consonants that are also pronounced with a closure of the
lips; these consonants are called labio-velars.
From another perspective (the 'mode of articulation'), consonants can be occlusive
sivas (mūtae), if the organ is completely closed (occlūdere), or constrictive (sēmivocālēs).
if the closure is partial. The occlusives are also called momentary, because their pronunciation-
The action lasts only a moment, and the constrictives are called continuous, because their pronunciation...
The duration of the pronunciation can last as long as desired. The consonants are called sonorous (tenuēs) if

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 the vocal cords vibrate, and deaf (medium), if the vocal cords do not vibrate. A conso-
nasal, if the air comes out through the nose when pronouncing it; eslingualo
liquid (liquid), if when pronounced it vibrates the tongue (lingua), and it is fricative
it occurs when the air seems to rub the organ with which it is pronounced.
In the following scheme, the vertical columns indicate the point of articulation; the
horizontal, the mode of articulation.

EXCLUSIVES CONSTRICTIVE
MU TAE SEMIVOCALIC
SONOROUS NASAL LINGUAL FRICATIVES
MEDIA WEIGHT Nasal LIQUID SPIRANTS
LABIALS P B M
LABIODENTALS F
DENTAL T D N L R S
VEILERS C [K] G [H]1
[GN]3
LABIOVELARES Qu [Gu]2 3
u 2
]

1
It was a velar consonant, but its sound was so weak that, in general, it was not
pronounced.
2
The voiced labio-velar consonant (g u) and the labio-velar fricative consonant (s u) is in-
They are accounted in very few words (§ 1): language, blood, sweet, to persuade.
3
Gnyng, apparently, represented a labiovelar nasal consonant.
You release a double consonant, formed by a guttural plosive (c,g) and some: cs=x,
as convey(<voice);gs=x, as link(<law, 'law').
§ 8. Syllables
A syllable (syllaba = comprehension) is a group of sounds, or a single vowel, that articulates
we speak in a single voice emission. The syllables are formed by nucleus and borders. The
nuclei are the essential part of every syllable, and it is always a vowel or a diphthong (cf. §§ 4 and
5); the borders are consonants: if a consonant begins a syllable, that is, if it is at
the beginning of the opening of the speech organs is called explosive consonant; if it closes,
That is to say, if it occurs at the closure of the speech organs, it is called implosive consonant.
An open syllable is one that is made up of a vowel or ends in a vowel.
closed syllable that ends in a consonant.
§ 9. Syllable Separation
In Latin, the separation of syllables follows these rules:
1. An isolated consonant belongs to the following syllable: au the you.
If there are two vowels together, each one belongs to a different syllable. li is.

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 3. If there are two consonants, the second belongs to the next syllable: ic you, the lit you ra.
If it is a momentary followed by a lingual (mūta cum liquidā), both consonants
they belong to the following syllable: du plex.
4. If there are three consonants, the third belongs to the next syllable: ads pee day you ō
no, unless it is a momentary followed by a liquid: com pre hen yes ō.
5. The compound words, which will be studied in the second reading (lēctiō secunda),
spī day you ō nis.
they can be separated into their components: ad

§ 10. Quantity of syllables

Latin syllables can be long or short.
A short syllable is the open syllable that contains a short vowel: sēn yes bi Lis.
Long syllables "by nature" (nātūrā):
an open syllable that has a long vowel: au day you
-a syllable that has a diphthong: au the you.
They are called "long syllables" "by position" (positiōne) the syllables that have a vowel.
short and ending in consonant, when the next syllable begins with a conso-
It is long the syllable that has a short vowel and is followed by two consonants.
yes, one of which belongs to that same syllable: ōm none, come pre hen the same
It happens when a short vowel is followed by a double consonant: du please, or for one
consonant: Trō It is not long the syllable followed by a momentary consonant and a
lingual (mute with liquid), because these consonants belong to the next syllable: du
plex(§ 9).
As Donato says, there are also common syllables. A syllable is considered common or
indifferent when its quantity is not determined; it can be long or short. In the word
blood, the syllable -guises common: sanguis and sanguis; this is a syllable
common:hĭcohīc.
§ 11. Rules of accentuation.
For the accentuation of a Latin word, the following rules must be taken into account:
In Latin, there are no acute words.
2. The disyllables are accented on the first vowel: ictus, omnis.
In words with more than two syllables, if the penultimate syllable is long, the word is
grave: hearing, understood. If the penultimate syllable is short, the word is proparoxytone:
sensible, letter.

6. Vocabulary of the reading

career
alveolus (alveoli): small cavity
chorus, dance
Calends (Kal.): the calends = first day
of the month tooth
oh: yes

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friction: to rub, to scrub smaller, smaller
Gaius (C.): Gayo (Cayo) nasal
Gnaeus (Cn.): Gneo (Cneo) nose
Guttur: throat nature
hey: yes to close
hour, time philosophy
lips position
law beautiful
tongue blood
Latin language: Latin language, Latin second
liquid: fluid to blow, to breathe
liquid, clear to live
literary: relating to letters to advise, to recommend
literary games: elementary school sweet
literateur: elementary school teacher tenuous, delicate, tender, weak
game, spectacle, school Terentius: Terence
literary study: elementary school treasure
lyra Troy
mayor, bigger Varro: Varro
Marco canvas, sail, veil
middle zone: belt, sash, waistband

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