Difference between revisions of "Latin"

Revision as of 12:33, 14 October 2005

This article deals with Latin as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

Latin is very much a base language. A very large number of modern day languages have come from Latin in one way or another. The only RL nation that really uses Latin anymore is Vatican City but several nations in NS still have Latin as their official language, making it by no means a dead tongue. A large number of national mottos are in Latin.

Most nations where Latin is an official language are based on classical or neoclassical cultures, heavily influenced by Ancient Rome.

• Latin in Sozy, however not used commonly, and barely heard on the busy streets of Sozy. Latin is the Lingua Franca of many Sozian Universities. Being distinguished as a real educated language in Sozy compared to more regular languages, it is seen as highly important for any person of intelligence and wisdom to know it. Besides universities, in the higher healthcare sector, both local languages and Latin are used.

• Latin in The Meritocracy centers around its motto of the Merocratic Senate, based much on the Roman model.

• Latin in Rome (RomeW), is still held as an official language of the Empire but in recent years the Roman Empire has also adopted English, primarily as a business language. Government documents are released in Latin and in English, but all the names of government institutions are listed in Latin.

• Latin in Itinerate Tree Dweller, is a religious language spoken by members of the Ninthian tribe who are traditionally descended from Roman settlers. Ninthian, a similar language, is a derivation of Latin and German, adopted from the ancient Ninthians who were made of Roman men who took German wives.

• Latin in Saint Uriel, in its vulgate form (Vulgata) is the official language of The Holy Republic of Saint Uriel. All government documents are written in Latin and all Parlimentary debate is conducted in Latin. State university courses (with the exception of foreign language courses) are all instructed in Latin. Although many immigrants still use their native languages at home and work, all immigrants are required to demonstrate proficiency in vulgate Latin as a condition of naturalization.

• Latin in Sidestreamer: Under the influence of the powerful Catholic Church, in the unyielding efforts to coerce the public into adopting the faith, the government of Sidestreamer made Latin the official language for all government affairs, and all forms are written exclusively in that language. It is also Sidestream law that only Catholic priests or teachers assigned by Catholic priests can teach Latin. However, the overwhelming majority of the Sidestream population speaks English, with the exception of the citizens of the Isle of Jenova, who speak in Hebrew.

• Latin in The Latin Union: Latin, previously a dead tongue in the regions that became the Latin Union in 2004, was chosen as a "unifying tongue" by the new federal government to promote internal commerce and tranquility. Latin is the Union's primary official language. It is required to be taught in all schools from grade 6 onward, and is the only language all road signs, consumer products, and governmental documents are printed in. The Latin spoken in the Union is drawn from traditional Latin, with a much larger vocabulary. Words not found in traditional Latin have been "Latinized" from other Romance languages. For example, the word "bureau" is not found in traditional Latin, so its French root has been Latinized into "bureaus" and is used as a Latin word for all purposes of declination. In addition, though it is not an official grammar rule, almost all speakers of Latin in the Union follow the suit of most Romance languages in placing adjectives after the nouns they modify.

• Latin in Subternosh: Latin, along with English, Valerian, and Totic is the official language of Subternosh, and everyone is required to learn it regardless of ethnicity or county one grew up in. The Latin of Subternosh stems primarily from the writings of the Magister and Scerio, the two most influential authors of the gnostic religion of Magistrism. It's almost identical to Classical Latin except for syntax and few words. Some vocabulary seems to be from a different tradition of Latin that was previously lost, preserving the original form of the words. There is also a "vulgar Latin" that is commonly used nationwide; however, some linguists are calling in question the validity of calling the speech actually "Latin".

• Latin in Magistratia: Magistratians, like the Gnoshans in Subternosh, also primarily follow the teachings of the Magister and Scerio, thus making Latin a major influence on the land. Magistrism is, in fact, the state religion and thus the government has made Latin the official language of the land. The "vulgar Latin" found in Subternosh is not present at all in Magistratia except for a few persons in the capital Capitalia of Gnoshan descent.

• Latin in The Great Sixth Reich: German, Polish, Latin, English, and Croatian are the offical languages of The Great Sixth Reich. All motor vehicle signs are available in German, Polish, and Latin. Latin is a language used in everyday conversion (especially to overcome language beariers), and is the language of choice of Reich Intelligence Agency agents while in foreign countries.

• Latin in Little India: Latin and English are the two languages used by the people of Little India. Latin is traditionally used only for official purposes, with all government documents, laws, and anything to do with the Sovereign House being written in Latin. English is used on a day-to-day basis. However, the Kingdom of Eleni is notable for not speaking any English at all, having chosen Latin as the lingua franca.

• Latin in Britannia Parvus: Although English is the official language of Britannia Parvus, Latin is used frequently by the upper classes (most often in writing), as well as the Ecclesia Britanniae Parvi.

• Latin in Palixia: One of Palixia's many languages, the old motto used to be in latin and translated to: Thus ever for the Allied States

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