Here's a breakdown:
* Vulgar Latin: The everyday language of the Roman Empire, spoken by the common people, with regional variations and influences.
* Classical Latin: The formal, literary language of the Roman elite, used in writing, education, and government.
* Romance languages: Languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin, spoken in various regions of the former Roman Empire.
Some of the most well-known Romance languages include:
* French
* Spanish
* Italian
* Portuguese
* Romanian
* Catalan
Why are they called "romantic"?
The term "romantic" is not related to love or romance, but rather stems from the 19th-century Romantic movement in literature and art. This movement celebrated the Middle Ages and its languages, including the Romance languages, which were seen as more expressive and passionate than the more formal Classical Latin.
Key features of Romance languages:
* Latin-based vocabulary: Many words are directly derived from Latin, with some changes in pronunciation and spelling.
* Grammatical similarities: They share grammatical structures and features inherited from Latin, such as gendered nouns, verb conjugations, and prepositions.
* Shared phonological features: Similar sound systems and pronunciation patterns exist across the languages.
It's important to note that the term "romantic language" can be considered outdated and potentially misleading. The term "Romance language" is a more accurate and widely accepted way to refer to these languages.