Latin

Latin is a classical language that originated from the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. The Latin language has influenced many modern languages and is still taught in many parts of the world.

History

Latin was first encountered in ancient times in Italy, and was the language of the Roman Empire. Roman literature, such as the Aeneid, was written in Latin. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Latin continued to be used as a literary language throughout Europe.

Influence on other languages

Latin has had a significant influence on many other languages. The Romance languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, are directly descended from Latin. Latin vocabulary and grammar structures have also influenced English and other Germanic languages.

Modern use

Today, Latin is no longer spoken as a native language. However, it is still used in some contexts. For example, it is the official language of the Vatican City, and is used in the Roman Catholic Church. Latin is also used in scientific, legal, and medical terminology.

See also

• Classical Latin
• Vulgar Latin
• Medieval Latin
• Renaissance Latin
• New Latin
• Contemporary Latin

References

Latin Resources
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