Is Latin language affect us today in United States Research Paper

Is Latin language affect us today in United States - Research Paper Example Latin has had an important influence in the configuration of English at all stages of its insular development more so in the United States. It continues to be studied across Europe and especially among Americans. Latin is a medieval language that was prominently used during the periods of Roman Empire. The language has however survived particularly through numerous literary works of Roman scholars and philosophers (McGraw, 2012). It has widely estimated that only 20 to 30 percent comprises words of Old English while the rest have been borrowed from various languages among them Latin language. From this findings the influence of Latin in English, is thought to be lexical in nature that mainly center on words that have Latin roots. But as much as the language is impacting the citizens of United States, critics have it that the language is long dead and has no significant influence on the lives of the citizens in the United States and has its mentioning only in the scientific words and among denominations of Roman origin. Generally being the only surviving language of Italic language family .Latin remains a significant piece of linguistic puzzle among the United States. According to Draper and Hicks (2006), Latin is currently the fourth most spoken language among high school students in the United States, ahead of such modern languages as Italian and Japanese, this is a clear indication that the language is gaining popularity especially among the youths. This is particularly evidenced by the fact that most organizations, universities and institutions all over the United States have Latin mottos, even today. For example, Harvard’s motto simply states â€Å"Veritas† which means the truth, Yale’s motto is â€Å"Lux et Veritas† meaning light and truth. On the other hand, Princeton’s motto is a Latin phrase â€Å"Dei sub numine viget† which translates as â€Å"Under Gods power she flourishes. The motto of the US