Aspects of literary style: word order

Aspects of literary style: word order

Understanding Word Order

• Recognise the variety in how Latin authors may arrange words within sentences, often deviating from the ‘standard’ subject-verb-object pattern familiar in English.

• Appreciate the flexibility of the language due to Latin’s extensive use of inflection.

• Understand that word order often pertains to the emphasis or nuance the author wants to convey.

Key Features

• Identify the subjects and verbs in the sentence and their placement to determine the main action.

• Understand the placement of object words can influence the emphasis and nuance of a sentence.

• Recognise that Latin authors often position significant words at the beginning or end of sentences for impact, even though they might seem ‘out of place’ by English standards.

Interpretation of Word Order

• Analyse how an author’s choice of word order can enhance the mood or meaning of a passage.

• Examine how a distinctive word order might characterise speech within direct discourse or dialogue.

• Consider how word order can emphasise contrasts or parallels within a text, adding layers to the narrative or theme.

Practical Application

• Experiment with different word orders when translating Latin into English to capture the nuances in the original text.

• Develop the ability to interpret unfamiliar syntax and recognise when an odd word order signifies something important in the narrative.

• Master retaining the essence of Latin word order within the constraints of English grammar to produce a translation that is both accurate and expressive.