Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why should I use these programs over other websites like Verbix?
Arbuckle Latin Software does much more. It offers tools for verbs, nouns, and adjectives and does all the translations. You can use Arbuckle Latin Software as a resource, or you can drill yourself. Plus, Arbuckle Latin Software offers far more forms than any other software.

2. Why did you make these programs?
I built these programs over a Summer break to help me improve my coding (programming) and not forget my Latin endings.

3. What about the Locative case (Decliner)?
It's never used and there's no consensus among Classicists on how it is formed. 

4. So is this a Cliff-Notes for Latin?
No, I have worked hard to make the program a helpful tool, not an automatic homework machine. The interface is specifically designed to not condone cheating and to help students understand how inflections work and drill them on their knowledge.

5. Why are they free?
I have a page on that.

6. Where can I get translations of Latin to English or English to Latin?
Use The Latin Translator, a low cost professional Latin-English translation service.

7. What about pronouns? 
The number of different pronouns is pretty small relative to other inflected parts of speech in Latin. As a result, they are usually printed in every textbook or resource for Latin grammar. There's really no need for software.

8. How much do the programs cost?
They are free. But having said that, please consider a donation to OLPC or One Laptop Per Child. It is a very worthy charity of your donation. But if you don't want to donate, or don't like One Laptop Per Child specifically, that's fine.

9. Is the source code available?
No, but it might be made available in the future.

10. I don't think the conjugation/declension endings are right.
First make sure you're on the right conjugation or declension, as the windows look very similar, and that you are selecting the right verb or noun form. If the ending is very different, I might have made a mistake. The programs are made better by people like you telling me what to change. Please report it on the homepage. If the ending is not too different, you may be looking at a different version. These programs are intended for Classical Latin, or what the Romans used. There are some very small, very rare changes in the inflections of Ecclesiastical Latin compared with Classical Latin. The endings I used to program Arbuckle Latin Conjugator and Arbuckle Latin Decliner are from A Latin Grammar, By Charles E. Bennett, Professor of Latin in Cornell University. It was published by Allyn and Bacon in Boston originally in 1895, and my edition was republished in November, 1906. Two generations of my ancestors used it when they studied Latin. Here is a more recent edition in Google Books.

11. Where are the macrons?
The Romans never used macrons.

12. How do I install the software?
You don't install the software. Just extract the files in the .zip folder and double click the application (sometimes with .exe extension) with the red SPQR icon.

13. Which operating system can I use?
I have confirmation that all the software works on Windows 95, Windows 97, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. This implies that you have the .NET Framework. The OS X version just has Wine Bottler included, which will allow you to run the Windows version on OS X.

14. Where can I find help/resources for Latin?
If you need help with Latin grammar use the Latin grammar pages or take practice NLE tests.
If you want other Classics related software, use the Software Directory for the Classics or Friar Gary Coulter's Latin Resources.

15. Why do I have to enter the gender/stem type/all the principal parts?
I don't want to make too easy for you to cheat. Plus, the gender and stem type are very important in generating the correct forms. I thought about testing the stem type automatically, but as you can see from the rules and exceptions, it's almost impossible to do this accurately. As for genders, it's impossible to get the gender from simply analyzing the given forms.

Arbuckle Latin Software by Stuart Arbuckle is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at arbucklesoftware.weebly.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at arbucklesoftware.weebly.com.