Here's why:
* Latin as a base for Romance languages: Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, and many modern European languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, evolved from Vulgar Latin (the spoken language of the common people). English borrowed heavily from these Romance languages, inheriting many Latin-derived words.
* Latin influence on English: Even directly, English borrowed many words from Latin, particularly in areas like law, religion, science, and medicine. These borrowed words often entered the language through the Norman Conquest (1066), when French (which itself is heavily influenced by Latin) became the language of the ruling class.
* Latin roots in English: Even words that don't appear to be Latin at first glance often have Latin roots. For example, the word "science" comes from the Latin word "scientia."
While there's no definitive answer to the percentage, some estimates suggest over 60% of English vocabulary has Latin origins.
It's important to note:
* The percentage can vary depending on what you consider a "Latin origin." Some might include words with French origins that are ultimately Latin, while others might focus on only those directly borrowed from Latin.
* New words are constantly being added to the language, and not all new words are of Latin origin. English is a dynamic language that borrows from other sources.
Therefore, while a precise percentage is hard to pin down, it's clear that Latin has had a profound impact on the English language, contributing a substantial portion of our vocabulary.