Latin for English Version 1.1 

Copyright 1997, BC Enterprises Software Inc.  All Rights Reserved. 

I. Introduction 

        Congratulations on your acquisition of Latin for English from BC Enterprises and Pro One!  We have worked hard to bring a program to you that helps you build your knowledge of Latin and its relation to English, which is also fun and easy to use.  We think Latin for English fits this bill, and we hope you will agree. 

        This program is directed toward anyone who would like to have a better working vocabulary in English and/or Latin.  A very large percentage of English words have their roots in Latin.  If you know Latin well, you will know English well.  In fact, if you understand Latin, it is usually very easy to see a new word and know its meaning.  We hope that Latin for English will help you to actually learn two languages at once. 

        Latin is an extremely important part of Western culture and world history.  From ancient times and even through the Renaissance, Latin was the international language which all scholars knew, whatever their native language might be.  When Rome ruled the known world in ancient times, Latin was the language of law and commerce throughout the Empire.  Even after the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, the Latin tradition was carried on by the Catholic Church, which still uses Latin today for official documents.  Until fairly recent times, any educated person would be able to read and understand Latin.  And Latin is still an excellent aid to learning word meaning.
	
        A pronunciation guide is also included that will help you to understand proper Latin pronunciation, both classical and ecclesiastical.  And every Latin target word is pronounced in both ecclesiastical and classical pronunciations.  (Classical pronunciation is the pronunciation used in ancient Rome.  Ecclesiastical pronunciation is the pronunciation that developed over time in Western Europe under the influence of the Catholic Church and general scholarship.)  We also include some very common Latin phrases which are used in everyday English conversation. 

        The testing program contains a total of 1200 words (all with sentences), and 400 sentences for translation.  The words are broken down into three categories: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives/Misc.  The third category is predominantly adjectives, but adverbs, prepositions, and pronouns are included.  The sentences for translation are sentences taken from the first  three word lists.  Up to four hundred new words can be added in a category called Custom.  Additionally, any or all of the current words can be replaced or modified.  Each of the categories is broken up into 20 tests of 20 words each.  The program offers five separate testing formats for drill on these words--multiple choice, matching, type word, spelling, and letter scramble. 

        You might think that learning 1200 Latin words is not very much.  Compared to the total number of words in a language, that is true.  But compared to the working vocabulary you would need to be fairly fluent in Latin, 1200 words is a very large number.  And remember, many English words may be based upon a single Latin word.  Knowing 1200 Latin words will help you understand the meaning of 10,000 or so English words. 

II. Using Latin for English 

II.1. System Configuration 

        Latin for English is written in Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0, and requires Windows 3, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, or Windows NT. 

        Latin for English is optimized for screen resolutions from 640 by 480 to 800 by 600.  Extremely high screen resolutions are not recommended, and may cause the program display to be incorrect.  

II.2. Program Installation 

        Please see the CD or program documentation for installation information. 

        The first time you run the program, it will ask you some questions about where it should keep data.  Since the program cannot write data to your CD, it must keep certain data on your hard drive, including such information as user files and preferences.  The default directory for this information is C:\LAT_ENG, but you can change this. 

II.3. Setting a Current User 

        One of the most helpful functions of Latin for English is its ability to graphically display your progress via a sophisticated graphing package.  In order to keep track of the data needed to generate the charts, the program allows you to enter up to 50 users.  At least one user must be entered for the program to run. 

        The first time you run the program, you will be asked to enter a user name.  The first name you enter will automatically become the current user.  After that, you can enter other users, if you wish, and choose a current user from among them.  You do not need to enter more than one user, but you must enter one. 

        When you exit the User window, the program will create user data files for everyone you entered, as well as a general user file which keeps track of the other files.  The list of the users is kept in a file called LTNGUSER.DTA.  The individual user data is kept in files with the first eight (or fewer) characters of the user name, plus .DTA. 

        You can change and edit current users from many different screens in Latin for English. 

II.4. The Main Menu Screen 

        On the Main Menu Screen, you will notice that there are listed five different categories of tests which you may select: Verbs, Nouns, Adj./Misc., Sentences, and Custom.  Item number six is Phrases and seven is Pronounce.  To choose any of these, use the mouse to click on the applicable push button or push the corresponding number. 

        Along the bottom of the screen is a section showing the current user, and offering the buttons "User", "Stats", "Maintenance", "About", and "Exit".           

II.5. Choosing Test Number and Format 

        Once you decide which category of test you would like to use, a new window will pop up in which you can choose the test number (1 through 20), and the test format.  The test formats are multiple choice, which deals with one word at a time; matching, which deals with five words at a time; type word, in which you are given an English word and you should type the Latin equivalent; spelling, in which the word is pronounced and you should type it; and word scramble, which gives you the definition for a Latin word, along with the word in a scrambled format for you to put in the proper order.  

        In all tests except matching, the program displays derived English words at the bottom of the test window.  Generally, this will display between 3 and 10 English words that are derived from the target Latin word. 

        To choose the test format, click the radio button of the format you want.  To choose test number, click on the pull-down box arrow, and choose a test number. 

        If you choose the Sentences, you cannot choose test type.  Only multiple choice is available.  You can, however, choose Latin to English, or English to Latin. 

        Note: Custom tests are tests which you enter yourself.  Custom tests will not be available unless you enter them yourself.  All twenty words in a custom file must be entered before the file is usable. 

II.6. The Word Tests 

        Each of the words in the program contains the Latin word, the English equivalent, the principal parts of the word, and a Latin sentence using the word.  

        The verbs include in parentheses the number of each verb's group.   This follows standard practice in Latin dictionaries and textbooks, and indicates the verb's conjugation pattern, as well as its pronunciation and stress.  Any verb with no number is an irregular verb. 

        The nouns also include a notation as to gender.  The adjective/miscellaneous section includes part of speech for words which are not adjectives. 

        Before each word test, a screen appears showing the words in the test, along with their definitions.  This is for you to study or print.  If you do not need to review the words in a word file, you can un-check the "Show preview" box. 

        While you are in the tests, you can push Ctrl-P at any time to toggle between ecclesiastical and classical pronunciation. You can also push Ctrl-V at any time to change the volume of the speakers.  Note that ecclesiastical pronunciation is much closer to English pronunciation, and that when a Latin phrase is used in English, it is usually spoken according to ecclesiastical pronunciation. 

II.6.1. The Multiple Choice Test 

        The Multiple Choice test is very straightforward.  The target word is presented at the top of the screen.  Underneath the target word are four definitions.  You must choose the number corresponding to the definition of the target word.  The program will tell you if you make the right choice.  If you miss a word, the program will tell you this, and will also indicate the number of the correct definition. 

        In the form title, the program notes which number and category test you are taking.  At the bottom right, the program notes the word you are currently on. 

        To hear the word pronounced, shift-click on the target word.  To see the word in a sentence, click on the target word. 

        To go to the next word, click on Next.  To exit from the test, click the Exit button. 

II.6.2. The Matching Test 

        The Matching Test is just as simple as the Multiple Choice Test.  On the left side of the screen are five target words, with the letters A through E next to them.  On the right side of the screen are the translations, with boxes next to them. You must match up the correct word with the translation.  To do this, use the drag-and-drop method.  (Click and hold the left mouse button down on the letter, then, still holding the button down, "drag" the letter to the box on the right.) 

        If you want to change a letter, then you can "undo" the dropped letter by double-clicking on it.  Of course, each letter can only be placed with one word at a time. 

        In order to see the sentence associated with a word, click on the word.  To hear a word pronounced, shift-click on the word. 

        When you are through entering your choices, click on the OK button at the bottom right of the screen.  At that point the program will display a happy face for each word you got right and a "not-happy" face for each word wrong.  If you want to skip a set of words, you can click the Next button. 

        After the program displays which words are right and wrong, the "Next" button changes to "PUSH ME!".  Click that button to go to the next set of words.  If you want to end the test, use the Exit button. 

II.6.3. Type Word 

        In the Type word test, a box comes up with an English word at the top.  You need to type the Latin equivalent word in the text box. 

        The words which are correct will go into the box on the left, and the incorrect words will be listed in the box on the right. 

        Sentences and pronunciation for words are not available during this test. 

II.6.4. Spelling 

         The spelling test will help you to learn proper Latin spelling and also to understand the spoken word in Latin.  In this test, a word is pronounced, and you are asked to spell the word. After you spell the word, push Enter and the program will tell you if you are correct or not.  To hear the word re-pronounced, click on the ear icon in the bottom left part of the window. 

II.6.5. Letter Scramble 

        The letter scramble is a sort of "game" test.  The English equivalent of a Latin word is given at the top.  In the boxes below, a Latin word appears with the letters scrambled.  You need to drag and drop the letters into the bottom set of boxes to properly spell the word. 

        To check the letters you have done for a word, you can push the check button.  The check button will remove any letters that are incorrect, but leave correct letters.  If you cannot solve the scramble, you can push the Solve button. 

        The program does not keep statistics for correct and incorrect answers for this test. 

II.6.6. Phrases 

        The Latin for English program contains about 100 hundred Latin phrases that are either common in English or are famous Latin phrases.  These are pronounced according to ecclesiastical pronunciation because that is their common English pronunciation. 

        You should note that some of these phrases are pronounced according to a strict English pronunciation.  This is because some of these phrases are so common in English that they are no longer considered Latin.  This is true, for example, of "vice versa."  This is pronounced as a simple English phrase, rather than in Latin pronunciation.  There are several examples like this in the phrases, and they are marked by an asterisk. 

II.6.7. Pronounce 

        This is the pronunciation guide for Latin.  It covers the differences between ecclesiastical and classical pronunciation and gives examples.  Any letters or sounds not listing in the guide are pronounced as they are in English. 

II.7. Stats 

        Pushing the Stats button on the main menu screen will bring up a sophisticated graphing package which helps you to see your progress in learning words. 

        The graphing package will show you many different types of graphs.  The graph loaded when the function first comes up shows you the percentage of right and wrong answers on all tests.  Other graphs, shown in the pick list under "Available Graphs", show you the percentage of right and wrong in each category, or the number right and wrong for individual tests in a category.  Also, the program will show you how much you have worked with each category of words, as well as which tests you have used, and how many words you have attempted.  These last two graphs are good for making sure that you have done all the tests. 

        Below the Available Graphs pick list is a "Graph Types" pick list, in which you can choose from several different types of graphs, including bar graphs and pie graphs.  Which graph types are available depends on what figures are being graphed. 

        The last pick box on the left is the "Graph Background" box, which changes the background, as well as the foreground, colors of the graph. 

        You can change users while in the graphing function by pushing the User button in the bottom right hand corner.  You can also erase the figures the program uses to generate graphs by using the Reset function from the User window. 

        Graphs generated by the program can be printed to a printer, or copied to the clipboard.  If you are printing the graph, it can be output in either color or black and white.  If you are copying to the clipboard, the graph is copied in color, in Windows metafile format.  Since metafiles can be stretched or shrunk to any size, they are very convenient if you want to include a graph in another application. 

        The graphs generated by the program can help to show you the areas in which you are weak and need to concentrate more.  This means that your study can be much more effective and systematic.                                                 

II.8. About 

        The About box tells a little bit about the Latin for English program. 

III. File Maintenance 

III.1. Introduction 

        The File Maintenance window offers an easy way for you to customize the Latin for English program to your tastes.  Through the File Maintenance window, you can set many program options, including the use of sound and fonts.  Additionally, you can add to or modify the data files which come with the program.  You can also print out any or all of the data files. 
                                                    
        When you load the File Maintenance window, the last word file you used will be automatically loaded as well.  If you have not used any word file, then the file LTNENG1.1 (first category, first word file) will be loaded.  The name of the currently loaded word file is displayed at the upper left corner of the screen.  If, for some reason, the word file cannot be found, then the program says "No File Loaded."  (If you ever go into file maintenance and have "No File Loaded" show up, you probably need to set a new path to data.) 

        As mentioned, the name of the file you are working on is displayed in the top left of the window.  You will notice that this is a numerical file name.  For instance, if you choose to change the third test in the verb category, the file name displayed will be LTNENG1.3, rather than VERBS3.  LTNENG1.3 is the actual file name on disk of the third test (or word file) in the verbs category.  This is because "Verbs" is the first category listed in the Latin for English program and in all other selection boxes.  All the data files on the disk are named in the same way.  For example, the tenth data file in the category Nouns is named LTNENG2.10. 

        The File Maintenance window has a pulldown menu system along the top, and a set of four pushbuttons along the bottom.  The four buttons are Next, Previous, Blank, and Restore.  These buttons operate on the words in the currently loaded file.  The Next and Previous buttons will show you the next or previous word in the file.  The Blank button will erase all fields for the current word.  The Restore button will restore all fields to their previous contents, in case you make a change that you decide you do not want.  Once you go to the next or previous word, however, changes cannot be undone. 

        To edit fields, simply click the mouse on the field you want to change, or use the Tab key to change fields.  You can easily see the current edit field because it has highlighted colors. 

III.2. The File Menu 

        The File menu has five choices, Open, Print, Copy Files to Hard Drive, Read Program Manual, and Quit Maintenance. 

III.2.1. Open 

        When you choose open, another window appears in which you can specify which word file you want to use.  The file selection process is pretty self-explanatory.  The file you specify is looked for in the current directory or the current path.  If the file you pick is not found, the program will ask you if you want to create the file.  If you are trying to open one of the Custom Files, then you will probably want the program to create the file.  Otherwise, you will probably not want to create the file, but enter a path where the file may be found. 

III.2.2. Print 

        When you choose the Print function, the program will first ask you if you want to print the current file.  Note that only the current word file can be printed.  If you say that you do want to print, then another box will pop up to show you the progress of the printing.  The printed output is in the currently selected font, at 12 point.  (If the current screen font is unavailable for printing, the program substitutes Courier.) 

        Since the printing function uses the currently selected font, the printed output may take one, two, or several pages.  

III.2.3. Copy Word Files to Hard Drive 

        Since the word files are normally kept on your CD drive, you need to copy the word files to your hard drive in order to make any changes to them.  This function copies the word files to the User directory on your hard drive.  Of course, if you do not intend to make any changes to the word files, you will not need to do this.  Custom files are automatically kept on your hard drive, and it is usually a better idea to create your own Custom files, rather than modify the word files which come with the program. 

        If you want to run the program entirely from your hard drive, so that you won't need the CD any longer, you can copy the entire contents of the CD into a directory on your hard drive.  If you do that, then you will want to set this directory as the directory path for User, Sound, and Word files.

III.2.4. Read Program Manual 

        If you are reading this manual, then this seems to have worked properly.  There are two versions of the manual on the CD.  One is in simple text format and is called LTN_ENG.TXT.  The other is in rich text format (RTF) and is called LTN_ENG.RTF.  The program tries to open the RTF format file first, if you have your system set up to automatically load an RTF word processor when an RTF file is loaded.  Otherwise, the program just loads the simple text version. 

III.2.5. Quit Maintenance 

        This function closes all files, saves settings, and returns you to the main program. 

III.3. The Setup Menu 

        The Setup menu has nine functions: Set Paths, Find Data Files, Pronunciation Mode, Play Sounds, Volume, Start Sound Recorder, Reset Test Preview, Fonts, and Users.  

III.3.1. Paths 

        Setting paths tells the program where to look for files.  You can set paths for word files, sound files, and user files.  Normally, you don't want to change the default values for these files. 

III.3.2. Find Data Files 

        If for some reason the program cannot locate the word files, and you do not know what directory they are in, you can use this function to locate the word files. 

        This function will search all directories on a drive for files that start with "LTN".  The Latin for English word files all start with "LTN", followed by some numbers.  If you see a directory with a large number of files (80 to 100) beginning with "LTN", you can be pretty sure that you have found the Windows Latin data directory. 

        To start the function, click the Go button.  To change your path to a new directory, just click on the directory you want.  The program will then ask you to confirm that you want to set a new path.  To exit without setting a new path, click on Exit. 

        If your system has more than one hard drive, you can choose a different drive to search in the drive list box. 

III.3.3. Pronunciation Mode 

        Pronunciation Mode changes the pronunciation mode between ecclesiastical and classical pronunciation.  This can also be changed on the fly by pushing Ctrl-P in a test. 

III.3.4. Play Sounds 

        Setting Sound ON means that the program will generate sound as it runs.  When sound is on, many different actions generate sound.  However, it is not necessary for the smooth operation of the program.           

        This setting has no effect on the pronunciation files. 

        NOTE: Due to the way in which Microsoft Windows handles sound, it is possible that other programs may not be able to generate sound while Latin for English is running with Sound ON.  Also, if, for any reason, Latin for English terminates abnormally with an error, you may need to restart Microsoft Windows before any program can use sound. 

III.3.5. Volume 

        Volume increases or decreases the level of the sound at which word pronunciation is played.  You can also change this on the fly by pushing Ctrl-V. 

III.3.6. Start Sound Recorder 

        Start Sound Recorder will start whatever program you have set to record and play WAV format sound files in Windows.  Windows comes with a program called Sound Recorder that can do this.  Or, if you install another sound editing program, it will usually set itself up as the default WAV editor.  Recording your voice and comparing it to the program is a good way to check your pronunciation. 

III.3.7. Fonts 

        The fonts dialog box lets you pick the primary font for use with Latin for English.  This font is used in all the tests, as well as for printing word files. 

III.3.8. Users 

        The Users windows has been explained somewhat above.  It is pretty self-explanatory. 

        To run the Latin for English program, you need at least one user.  If you have only one user, that is the current logged user.  If you have more than one user, you can set a current user by highlighting a user in the list box and clicking on the Current User button.  Up to 50 users may be input. 

        You can also delete or reset a user by highlighting the user and clicking on the appropriate button.  Deleting a user removes that user name from the user list.  Resetting a user leaves the user name in the list, but it deletes all user data used for generating graphs. 

        You cannot delete or reset the current user.  So, if you only really want one user, but want to delete or reset the current user, you will have to add another user temporarily, then make the new user the current user, and delete or reset the other user.  (It is less complicated than it sounds.) 

Appendix A Program Errors 

        Most program errors that may occur are handled by the program in such a way that you will not even know that an error happened.  This is the case for such errors as file not found errors, or printer errors. 

        However, it is possible that an error may occur which the program cannot handle.  In that case, the program will give an error message and end.  Usually, you should try to run the program again.  If the error continues, you may want to contact Sofsource technical support with 1) the text of the error message, 2) the circumstance(s) under which it occurs, and 3) whether the error is reproducible (does it happen every time).  This will help us to correct the error. 

        If an error occurs in such a way that the program is interfering with access to other programs, push Ctrl-Alt-Del.  This will give you an opportunity to force closure of the program. 

Sofsource Technical Support Line: 505-532-6000 
Internet Address: www.sofsource.com