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The Latin Language
In the past, Latin was a language of huge importance; not only was it the official language of the eminent Roman Empire, but also it was used in the communication of the Roman Catholic Church. This past glory is still reflected nowadays, as Latin is associated to culture and learned people. In the present, it is only used in the Vatican State, an independent territory in Italy.History
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Latin evolved in a plurality of languages (which nowadays are known as Romance languages). It was a gradual process, as at the beginning Latin preserved its status of official written language and coexisted with other spoken languages, which were the primitive forms of Italian, Romanian, French and Spanish. The influence of Latin on these language is clear in their phonetics and words orgin as well as in grammar. The influence of Latin over English doesn't concern grammar but it is limited to words of Latin origin which have been adapted to English, especially literary words invented by writers (such as "extrapolate" or "inebriation").Latin has been the preferred language of scientific and political affairs for a long tima, up to modern times, when it was finally replaced by French (18th century) and English (19th century).
Dialects
When Latin still was a live language, its spoken and written forms were completely different one with the other. It was in particular vulgar oral Latin, the language of the ineducated, which was strongly influenced by other forms of speech. For instance, in Western Europe, in the region of Gaule, Latin and the Celtic language coexisted for quite a long time. A further step in the evolution of the language took place when CharleMagne introduced a change in the church liturgy: he established that some parts of the liturgy could remain in Latin, but that sermons should be given in the local language. Nevertheless, in Gaule there never was a single alternative form of language to Latin, but at least two major variants can be identified: the dialect which was spoken in the South with respect to the Loire river was more similar to Latin, while the one in the Northern part had different features.Between 311 and 312, in the period of migrations, Germanic languages had their influence of the Latin of the NorthEastern part of Europe. The Bible was translated into Gothic by the Visigots and the Ostrogoths and when the Gothic language was extinted the Holy Book became the became the symbol of the first important document of Germanic literature.
Nowadays, Latin is mainly studied in High Schools or at University. Its studiy is limited to literature or to passive translation into one's mothertoungue. Nevertheless, some programs promoted by insitutions such as the Vatican or the University of Kentucky have the aim of promoting living Latin instruction, through classes which include both spoken and written communication. Thanks to these programs, one can understand how the language is meant to be heard and this allows the identification of typical patterns of poetry and the subsequent deeper knowledge of ancient authors, which means having a deeper insight of the Latin language as a whole.
Proverbs and Quotes
Don't think that Latin is a dead language..have a look at the next section and you will find out that many expression which you use in your everyday language in reality are no more than pure Latin: some examples are "cum laude" (with distinction), "et cetera" (and so forth), "lingua franca" (a common language), "carpe diem" (seize the day). But this is not all: surely to show all your wisdom, you have used one of the followinf quotes at least once:Mens sana in corpore sano: "Healthy mind in healthy body." (An expression which has become the slogan of many gymnasiums!)
Veni Vidi Vici: "I came, I saw, I conquered." (the famous phrase which Julius Caesar after defeating Pharnaces in 47 BCE).
Acta non verba: "Actions, not words"
Ars longa, vita brevis: "Art is long, life is short.