Language, Grammar & Other Good Things..

When I embarked upon this first subject of The Trivium, I was somewhat at a loss when I attempted to predict what the topic of Grammar might contain that would hold my interest.   I figured it would contain a few terms, a few rules, some punctuation marks.... ....  and that's about the size of it.   As I begin to scratch the surface, I am learning that;  a.  I don't know as much as I thought I knew..  ( no big surprise there, I suppose... ) and b.  One could quite possibly make a lifelong study of this single topic, and never really be finished.

Which, as it happens, offers the very question that I am asking myself at this point;   'How will I know when I have sufficiently mastered the topic of grammar well enough to move on to Logic?'
I don't have an answer.  I shall continue on with my studies....  and hopefully, when I know, I will know...   or I will, with some luck, make a reasonable guess.

What I have so far come to realize is that this entire program of education (incidentally from the Latin educere meaning 'to lead out' i.e., pointing to the central doctrines of the curriculum, and the seven essential subjects) is actually broken into two main groups of subjects...   language, and number.    The 'Trivium of Language' and the 'Quadrivium of Number' would be a far more accurate pair of titles, if more cumbersome.

The first;  of which I am most concerned at the moment, is the 'Trivium of Language' which based upon the cardinal and objective valused of Truth, Beauty and Goodness.

The three topics, learned in their proper order ensure the good structure of the language Grammar, Logic for finding truth, and Rhetoric for the beautiful use of language in expressing truth.

Of the three, my current focus is upon grammar, which gives expression to all states of mind our soul - cognitive, volitive, emotional - in sentences that are statements, questions, wishes, prayers, commands, exclamations. 

In order to bring the underlying stucture of my native language ( American English ) into sharp focus, and to make it become visible to me in my everyday usage of this structure, I have turned to the study of the classical languages in tandem with the more direct study of Grammar, by studying elementary Greek and Latin.

For those of you who are embarking upon a similar study of an additional language ( I speak a few, currently, at varying levels of fluency, but the focus had been to communicate, rather than to use the languages as a vehicle for learning the grammar, syntax and structure of language in general ) I have come across a very useful pamphlet which is available online.  It is entitled 'English Review for Greek' by Mr. James W. Voelz, written in 1998, and can be found at http://elce.csl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Voelz-English-Review-for-Greek.pdf .

As a much appreciated added bonus, Sister Miriam Joseph, in her book 'The Trivium' which I am currently using as a textbook, has included a poem by Walter de la Mare entitled 'Silver' for the purpose of illustrating the psychological use of words, ( in this particular case shoon for shoes, and casements for windows to create a psychological effect )

What she has managed to do with the introduction of Mr. de la Mare's poetry ( and others, I am sure ) is to absolutely delight me and lighten my heart...  and so, I will share it here.

Silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;


This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;


One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;


Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;


From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;


A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws and a silver eye;


And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.


Walter de la Mare