The study of Latin language in Ukraine: domestic printed textbooks of the 18th century

Abstract

The aim of the work is to analyse Ukrainian old-printed editions of Latin grammar textbooks, copies of which are stored in the fonds of the Department of Early Printed and Rare Books of V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine. The methodology of this historical and bibliological research is based on general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, the principle of historicism, as well as on special bibliographic methods such as bibliographic, functional, systemic. Science novelty. Copies of editions of the most popular in Europe textbooks by the famous Roman grammarian of the 4th century Aelius Donatus Ars grammatica (a copy of the textbook, published in Zamoiska Academy printing-house in 1759) and the Portuguese linguist of the 16th century Jesuit Manuel Álvares De institutione grammatica (four copies of the first book of the textbook, published in Pochaiv Basilian Monastery printing-house in 1782), whose names have become common names for Latin grammar, are considered. The features of the defective copy of the last Zamoisk edition (1759) of the innovative textbook by a native of Lviv, a professor of Zamoiska Academy Iohannes Ursinus, entitled Grammatica in quatuor classes are described. Two copies of Kyiv edition of 1765 of the textbook Grammatica latina, prepared for students of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy on the basis of Warsaw edition of the Piarists Latin grammar, are analysed. The textbook Nachalnyia pravila sochineniia latinskago (Basic rules of Latin Writing) by M. Semyginowskyi, published in printing-house of Kyiv Academy at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in 1798, which contains a series of short rules and examples of using parts of speech in sentences, is considered. Conclusions. The analysed material demonstrates the replication in Ukrainian printing centres and the use of the best examples of European Latin grammar textbooks in Ukrainian educational institutions. Provinences and marginalias of the investigated copies clearly testify to their active use in the educational process.