Latin (latÄ«ne, [laˈtiË ne] or lingua latÄ«na, [ˈlɪŋɡʷa
laˈtiË na]) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of
the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area
around Rome, known as Latium. Through the power of the Roman Republic,
it became the dominant language in Italy, and subsequently throughout
the western Roman Empire. Latin has contributed many words to the
English language. In particular, Latin (and Ancient Greek) roots are
used in English descriptions of theology, the sciences, medicine, and
law. It is the official language in the Holy See (Vatican City).By the
late Roman Republic (75 BC), Old Latin had been standardised into
Classical Latin. Vulgar Latin was the colloquial form spoken during
the same time and attested in inscriptions and the works of comic
playwrights like Plautus and Terence and author Petronius. Late Latin
is the written language from the 3rd century; its colloquial form
Vulgar Latin developed in the 6th to 9th centuries into the Romance
languages, such as Italian, Sardinian, Venetian, Neapolitan, Sicilian,
Piedmontese, Lombard, French, Franco-Provençal, Occitan, Corsican,
Ladin, Friulan, Romansh, Catalan/Valencian, Aragonese, Spanish,
Asturian, Galician, and Portuguese. Medieval Latin was used as a
literary language from the 9th century to the Renaissance which used
Renaissance Latin. Later, Early Modern Latin and New Latin evolved.
Latin was the language of international communication, scholarship and
science until well into the 18th century, when vernaculars (including
the Romance languages) supplanted it. Ecclesiastical Latin remains the
official language of the Holy See and the Roman Rite of the Catholic
Church.Latin is a highly inflected language, with three distinct
genders, six or seven noun cases, five declensions, four verb
conjugations, six tenses, three persons, three moods, two voices, two
or three aspects and two numbers. The Latin alphabet is derived from
the Etruscan and Greek alphabets and ultimately from the Phoenician
alphabet.
laˈtiË na]) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of
the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the area
around Rome, known as Latium. Through the power of the Roman Republic,
it became the dominant language in Italy, and subsequently throughout
the western Roman Empire. Latin has contributed many words to the
English language. In particular, Latin (and Ancient Greek) roots are
used in English descriptions of theology, the sciences, medicine, and
law. It is the official language in the Holy See (Vatican City).By the
late Roman Republic (75 BC), Old Latin had been standardised into
Classical Latin. Vulgar Latin was the colloquial form spoken during
the same time and attested in inscriptions and the works of comic
playwrights like Plautus and Terence and author Petronius. Late Latin
is the written language from the 3rd century; its colloquial form
Vulgar Latin developed in the 6th to 9th centuries into the Romance
languages, such as Italian, Sardinian, Venetian, Neapolitan, Sicilian,
Piedmontese, Lombard, French, Franco-Provençal, Occitan, Corsican,
Ladin, Friulan, Romansh, Catalan/Valencian, Aragonese, Spanish,
Asturian, Galician, and Portuguese. Medieval Latin was used as a
literary language from the 9th century to the Renaissance which used
Renaissance Latin. Later, Early Modern Latin and New Latin evolved.
Latin was the language of international communication, scholarship and
science until well into the 18th century, when vernaculars (including
the Romance languages) supplanted it. Ecclesiastical Latin remains the
official language of the Holy See and the Roman Rite of the Catholic
Church.Latin is a highly inflected language, with three distinct
genders, six or seven noun cases, five declensions, four verb
conjugations, six tenses, three persons, three moods, two voices, two
or three aspects and two numbers. The Latin alphabet is derived from
the Etruscan and Greek alphabets and ultimately from the Phoenician
alphabet.
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