Lector auditoribus imperat ne inter legendum loquantur, quia etiam parvus strepitus vocem eius impedit.

Because impero does not take the person commanded as a direct object. In Latin, impero usually takes:

• the person commanded in the dative
• the thing commanded in an ut/ne clause

So:

• lector auditoribus imperat = the reader orders the listeners
• literally, the reader gives an order to the listeners

That is why it is auditoribus, not auditores.

After impero, Latin commonly expresses the command with a subordinate clause:

• ut
  • subjunctive = a positive command
• ne
  • subjunctive = a negative command

So:

• imperat ut taceant = he orders them to be silent
• imperat ne loquantur = he orders them not to speak

English often uses to + infinitive, but Latin does not do that here. Instead of orders them not to speak, Latin says, more literally, orders that they not speak.

Because it is in a clause introduced by ne after a verb of commanding, imperat.

This is a standard use of the subjunctive in Latin: the jussive / subordinate command idea.

Loquantur is:

• present subjunctive
• 3rd person plural
• from the deponent verb loquor, loqui = to speak

So ne loquantur means that they not speak or more naturally not to speak.

Because loquor is a deponent verb.

Deponent verbs:

• have passive forms
• but active meanings

So although loquantur looks like a passive form, it means they speak, not they are spoken.

This is normal for deponent verbs such as:

• loquor = speak
• sequor = follow
• utor = use

Inter legendum means during reading or while reading.

Here legendum is a gerund from legere. A gerund is a verbal noun, and after inter it can express the idea of during the act of doing something.

So:

• inter legendum = during reading
• more naturally in context: while he is reading

It is a compact Latin way to express time.

By context, it is understood to mean the lector's reading.

Latin often leaves this kind of thing unstated when it is obvious from the sentence. Since the lector is the one giving the order, and the reason is that noise interferes with his voice, the natural understanding is:

• ne inter legendum loquantur = that they should not speak while he is reading

Latin does not need to add eius or another pronoun here because the context makes it clear.

Because parvus strepitus is the subject of impedit.

• strepitus = noise, din, racket
• parvus strepitus = a small noise
• etiam = even

So etiam parvus strepitus means even a small noise.

Both parvus and strepitus are nominative singular because they go together as the subject of the clause.

This is a very important point.

In the clause quia etiam parvus strepitus vocem eius impedit, the subject is strepitus.

In Latin, the reflexive possessive suus, sua, suum normally refers back to the subject of its own clause. So:

• vocem suam here would mean its own voice, referring back to strepitus
• but that is not the meaning

The voice belongs to the lector, not to the noise. Since the possessor is not the subject of this clause, Latin uses the non-reflexive pronoun:

• eius = his

So vocem eius correctly means his voice.

Because quia here introduces a straightforward statement of fact: the reason the order is given.

• quia ... impedit = because ... hinders

Latin normally uses the indicative after quia when the cause is presented as an actual fact. The speaker is not presenting this as a doubtful, reported, or merely alleged reason; it is simply stated as true.

So impedit is the normal choice.

Literally, impedit means hinders, gets in the way of, or interferes with.

So vocem eius impedit is literally it hinders his voice.

In smoother English, depending on context, that could mean:

• interferes with his voice
• makes it harder to hear him
• disrupts his speaking

The literal Latin image is that noise obstructs the voice.

Grammatically, yes, lector means reader. But in context it probably means someone reading aloud to an audience.

Because the sentence mentions:

• auditoribus = listeners
• inter legendum = while reading
• vocem eius = his voice

the situation is probably a person reading or reciting aloud, almost like a speaker, lecturer, or public reader.

So the exact English word may vary by context, even though the Latin word is lector.

Latin word order is flexible because the endings show the grammatical relationships.

This sentence could be rearranged in various ways without changing the basic meaning, as long as the forms stay the same. But the chosen order helps the flow:

• Lector auditoribus imperat — first the main action
• ne inter legendum loquantur — then the content of the order
• quia etiam parvus strepitus vocem eius impedit — then the reason

So the order is not random, but it is less rigid than in English. Latin uses word order more for emphasis and style than for basic grammar.