Lingua Latina, or Latin, is an ancient language that originated in the region of Latium in Italy. It was the language of the Roman Empire and has significantly influenced many modern languages, particularly the Romance languages such as Spanish, French, and Italian. Latin is also used in various fields, including law, medicine, and science, where many terms are derived from it. Today, Latin is considered a "dead language" because it is no longer spoken as a native language. However, it remains important in academic, religious, and legal contexts. Many educational institutions still teach Latin to help students understand classical literature and historical texts.