Latin Language
Latina
Linguistic Classification Latin is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages.
Historical Significance Originally spoken by the Latins in the region of Latium, including Rome, Latin became the dominant language throughout the Roman Empire.
Evolution into Romance Languages Latin evolved into the Romance languages, which today are spoken by over 920 million people as their mother tongue, and by 300 million people as a second language, mainly in the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
Influence on English Vocabulary More than 56% of the vocabulary used in English today derives ultimately from Latin, either directly (28.24%) or through French (28.30%).