The Latin Language

LATIN is a classical language belonging to the ITALIC LANGUAGES branch of the INDO-EUROPEAN LANGUAGES. Originally spoken in the region of LATIUM, it rose to prominence as the official language of ANCIENT ROME. Its development is generally categorized into several phases, beginning with OLD LATIN and progressing into the highly standardized CLASSICAL LATIN of the late ROMAN REPUBLIC and early ROMAN EMPIRE.

During the Golden Age of LATIN-LITERATURE, authors such as CICERO, VIRGIL, HORACE, and OVID produced works that would define Western literary traditions for centuries. While the elite wrote in a formal style, the common population spoke VULGAR LATIN, which eventually evolved into the modern ROMANCE LANGUAGES, including ITALIAN, FRENCH, SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, and ROMANIAN.

In the post-classical era, MEDIEVAL-LATIN served as the lingua franca of EUROPE for science, law, and theology. It remains the liturgical language of the ROMAN-CATHOLIC-CHURCH and provides the basis for much of the scientific nomenclature in BIOLOGY and MEDICINE. For further reading, see the Encyclopædia Britannica or the World History Encyclopedia.

• LINGUISTICS
• ANCIENT-HISTORY
• PHILOLOGY
• CLASSICAL-STUDIES