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Grammar

Introduction – The Foundation of Language

At creation, language became the means by which men have thought, understood, and communicated.  It is intrinsic to the nature of man, and he cannot understand or communicate with clarity unless he employs language.  Furthermore, God has revealed Himself to man through language.  Since grammar is the fundamental system and structure of language, the man who has mastered it is best equipped to understand and communicate.  He can thoughtfully and accurately express ideas and arguments.

Definition – What is Grammar?

“Grammar is the art of understanding language, including its system and structure, and of using it correctly in thought, speech and writing.”  --New Albion Grammar Catechism

Philosophy – Why is Grammar Taught?

The first and most basic reason grammar is taught at New Albion Academy is because it directs us to think clearly.  Coherent, mature thought can only be achieved with a coherent language, and it is the structure of a language that allows for words and sentences to be put together in such a way that they convey meaning.  When a student has mastered the grammar of a language, he is prepared to understand with precision.

A second and corollary reason grammar is taught is because it enables us to express clearly, both in writing and speech.  The student who grows in his ability to think clearly also grows in his ability to express those thoughts and ideas to others.  The person who has mastered grammar is prepared to communicate with precision.

A third reason grammar is taught is because language is foundational to all disciplines of study.  A student must master grammar to be effective in the other two trivium arts -- logic and rhetoric.  Beyond these, the accurate understanding and communication of history, science, theology, philosophy, even mathematics and music, require the use of language.  The person who has mastered grammar is better prepared to understand and communicate in all disciplines of study with precision.

Overall, the study of grammar forms critical habits of thinking in the minds of students.  The proper study of grammar teaches attention to detail.  Students must learn to always recognize the function of a word and why that function must be the case.  What is the stem of that word?  What is the function of that noun?   Does the ending tell me that it must be the direct object?  What is this sentence actually communicating?  To truly master grammar, a student must learn to ask questions of his reading, of those around him, and of himself, because grammar is preeminently concerned with the clear articulation of ideas and the desire to understand with clarity.

Topics – What is Taught in Grammar?

At New Albion Academy of the Liberal Arts, the study of Latin grammar is the foundation of the student’s language education.  English grammar is necessarily studied as well.

The art of Grammar seeks to master the following elements:

  • Paradigms – memorization, understanding, and application when translating
  • Inflectional rules - memorization, understanding, and application when translating
  • Syntactical rules – this includes the ability to identify and explain the function of every word in a sentence
  • Morphological rules - this includes the ability to identify roots and affixes of a word
  • Vocabulary
  • Punctuation
  • Ability to read out-loud with clarity and fluidity in both Latin and English
  • Ability to write using a wide vocabulary while following all inflectional, syntactical, and morphological rules.
  • Ability to translate with precision from Latin into English and vice versa
  • Ability to speak in Latin and English, demonstrating an understanding of those tongues, as well as of the working of language in general (Speaking includes formal conversation, informal conversation, reading aloud and reciting from memory-all with understanding and fluidity.)

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