Hans Ørberg

• Born — 21 April 1920 • Died — 17 February 2010 • Discipline — Latin linguistics • Alma Mater — University of Copenhagen • Notable Works — LINGVA LATINA PER SE ILLVSTRATA

From 1953 to 1961, Ørberg worked in the Naturmetodens Sproginstitut, an institute where languages are taught according to the "natural method" of learning. While there he created a new course in Latin: LINGUA LATINA SECUNDUM NATURAE RATIONEM EXPLICATA published in 1955. Besides the author's name, there are no non-Latin words in the book. The book has been revised a few times, including in 1983 and 1991; the title was also changed, to LINGVA LATINA PER SE ILLVSTRATA. In his retirement, Ørberg directed the Domus Latina publishing house and gave lectures in European countries and the United States on the natural method.

Ørberg's LINGVA LATINA PER SE ILLVSTRATA is based on the natural method, or contextual induction. In this method, the student, who needs no previous knowledge of Latin, begins with simple sentences, such as Rōma in Italiā est ("Rome is in Italy"). Words are always introduced in a context that reveals the meaning behind them, or they are explained in the margins of the text with images, Latin synonyms or antonyms, or short Latin definitions. Grammar is gradually made more complex until the student is reading unadapted Latin texts. Unusual for a Latin course, pronunciation and understanding, rather than translation, are stressed. A dictionary is not necessary in this system; because the textbooks are composed entirely in Latin, they can be used by speakers of many languages. The student is assumed to know the Latin alphabet and be familiar with a Romance language or English. The course consists of two parts: FAMILIA ROMANA and ROMA AETERNA, along with a series of classic texts like Julius Caesar's Commentāriī dē Bellō Gallicō. Using illustrations and modifications, these texts can be understood through context and by reference to words already learned. Chapters consist of an illustrated and annotated reading followed by a concise and formal discussion of the grammar used in the chapter, as well as several Pēnsa, or exercises, that require the student to apply these grammatical concepts to selections from the chapter's reading. These exercises ask the student to manipulate the grammar of Latin sentences rather than to translate. Even the grammar discussions are entirely in Latin, grammatical terminology being introduced as necessary. The book also uses macrons throughout. This enables readers to internalize and learn proper phonemic vowel length, which is essential to maximum understanding of the sounds of the Latinlanguage.

Hans Henning Ørberg was born on April, 21 1920 in Store Andst, Denmark. Ørberg was married and had several children including Anders Ørberg, Jens Ørberg, and Trine Ørberg. He died on February 17, 2010 in Grenaa at the age of 89. His children continue to run Domus Latina after his death.