Latin language

Latin (lingua latina) was an ancient Human language spoken by the Romans in antiquity. It was also the official language of the Romans. With time Latin evolved to many other languages, such as Italian, Spanish, French and Romanian. More than half of the vocabulary of the English language has its origin from French and Latin, and the language was used long after extinction for certain ceremonial purposes, such as mottoes, and the names of certain star systems and planets.

Species native to Earth were given both a Latin name and a common name. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Many Earth proverbs were in Latin and were often used as mottos of starships or installations. A course based on this language was taught at Starfleet Academy. (TNG: "The Game")

When Wesley Crusher was on leave from Starfleet Academy, Captain Jean-Luc Picard checked on his Latin by asking him:

"Quomodo tua Latinitas est?" ([ˈkʷoːmɔdɔ ˈtuːa laˈtiːnɪtas ɛst]; "How is your Latin?")

Wesley responded:

"Praestat quam prius." ([ˈprajstat kʷam ˈpriːʊs]; "It's better than before.")

whereupon the Captain responded:

"Oppido bonum." ([ˈɔpɪdɔ ˈboːnʊm]; "Very good.") (TNG: "The Game")

The term arboretum was derived from the Latin word for tree, arbor ([ˈarbɔr]). This connection was noted by the Cairn Hedril in 2370. (TNG: "Dark Page")

Q remembered Vash was called persona non grata ([pɛrˈsoːna nɔn ˈgraːta]), meaning "an unthankful person", on Betazed. (DS9: "Q-Less")

The holographic Henry Burleigh advised his governess Lucille Davenport, played by Captain Kathryn Janeway: "In ullam rem ne properemus" ([ɪn ʊllam rɛm nɛ prɔpɛˈr eː mʊs]; "Let's not rush into anything"), and asked her whether her Latin was a little rusty when the Captain didn't understand his remark. Janeway admitted that her Latin was indeed a little rusty. (VOY: "Learning Curve")

Mottoes

Phrase	Translation	Application	Citation
Ad Astra per Aspera	"Reach for the Stars Through Adversity"	Earth Starfleet, 2161	ENT: "These Are the Voyages..."
Audentes fortuna iuvat	"Fortune favors the bold"	Columbia NX-02	ENT: "Home", "Affliction", "Divergence"
Audentes Fortuna Imperii	"The bold (are) the fortune of the empire"	ISS Avenger	ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"
Caveat emptor	"Let the buyer beware"	Applied to the Ferengi Alliance tactics by Data	TNG: "The Last Outpost"
Ex luna scientia	"From the moon, knowledge"	NASA	ENT: "First Flight"
Ex astris scientia	"From the stars, knowledge"	Starfleet Academy	TNG: "The First Duty"
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges	"In time of war, the law falls silent"	Applied to Section 31 tactics by William Ross	DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
Res Gesta Per Excellentiam	"Achievement through excellence"	NASA	ENT: "First Flight"
Tempus fugit	"Time Flees" or "Time Flies"	Spoken by Ducane	VOY: "Relativity"

Latin-named starships

• Fesarius
• USS Proxima meaning "close".

Appendices

Background information

Several episode titles derive from Latin phrases including:

• TNG: "Sub Rosa" - Literally meaning "Under the rose", an expression meaning "secretly".
• DS9:
  • "Dramatis Personae"- "The persons of the drama", a term often used for the cast list of a play.
  • "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" - literally "Amongst arms the laws become mute", but translated by Bashir as "In times of war, the law falls silent"
• VOY:
  • "Ex Post Facto" - "After the fact"
  • "Non Sequitur" - "It does not follow"
  • "Alter Ego" - "Other self"
• ENT:
  • "Terra Nova" - "New Earth"
  • "Vox Sola" - "Lone Voice"

The phrase "better late than never" originated from the latin-language book A History of Rome, as explained by Icheb in "Human Error", though the original latin phrase, "potiusque sero quam nunquam", was not used.

Latin often combined with Ancient Greek and Arabic is used to name many stars and space bodies - e.g. Beta Aquilae, Proxima Centauri, Sirius, Vulcan, Cruces system, 61 Cygni etc. It is also used for Earth's Sun, Sol, and Earth itself, "Terra", and other locations within the solar system, e.g. Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards.

James T. Kirk's middle name, Tiberius, is a Latin language name.

External links

• Latin at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Latin at Wikipedia