Romance languages

The Romance languages, also called Romanic languages or New Latin languages, are a subset of the Italic languages, specifically the descendants of the Latin dialects spoken by the common people in what is known as Latin Europe (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish/Catalan Europa latina, French Europe latine, Romanian Europa latină) as Vulgar Latin later evolved in different areas after the break-up of the Roman Empire.

Related Topics:
Italic languages - Latin - Dialects - Latin Europe - Vulgar Latin - Roman Empire

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Romance language native speakers:

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• Western Group:
• Iberian and Americas: Spanish (300 million native speakers), Portuguese (230m), Catalan (6.5m), Galician (4m)
• France: French (65m), Haitian (6m), Occitan (2m)
• Switzerland: Romansh (0.066m)
• Italy: Sardinian (0.3m), Northern Italian dialects
• Eastern Group:
• Italy: Italian (60m), Central and Southern Italian dialects
• Romania and Moldova: Romanian (30m)

Many of the differences from the Romance languages in relation to Latin are analytical: articles and prepositions instead of declension, use of auxiliary verbs for the composite verbs, etc.

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The daughter languages of Latin differ for several reasons: historical isolation, influence of prior languages in territories of Latin Europe that fell under Roman rule, invasions and instability after the fall of Rome, and contact with other cultures in the Renaissance, among others.

Related Topics:
Fall of Rome - Renaissance

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Romance languages: History ►