why do we use latin for our state mottos?

Question

why? i need an answer

Answer 1

Not all states have a Latin motto. My state has a French one (MN), since we had many French fur traders here before statehood.

I think most states picked a motto that meant something to them. Latin was the "Educated persons" language for many years, and so many mottos came from that.

Answer 2

That's a very interesting question. I'm not American, so I'm fascinated by the interest that young Americans here on Yahoo Answers take in Latin, especially in the rhetorical use of Latin (proverbs, mottoes and so on). I love that, since I love Latin, but I have really been asking myself why. Just my two cents: the American use of political rhetorics is very obvious to a foreigner, so a language like Latin, that the old Romans shaped into such an outstanding rhetorical tool, maybe fits in here. And of course, the European founders of America took a lot of inspiration from the ancient Roman Republic. The old Romans got rid of their kings around 500 B.C., and turned the monarchy into a republic (a republic that lasted for almost 500 years before turning into an empire). The parallels must have been tempting for the European anti-royalists that emigrated to America. Just look at the American political institutions and the vocabulary, borrowed directly (OK, via revolutionary France, but still!) from ancient Rome and the Latin language - republic, senate, congress... Even the architecture of state buildings is neoclassical. Latin mottoes must have fit in very well in a political culture like that. I think that there is a tradition in American thinking that, consciously or subconsciously, draws parallells between America and the republic of Rome. Or at least acknowledges a kind of affinity between these two superpowers. The Latin mottoes are perhaps in some respect another manifestation of that line of thought. - Of course, in those days Latin was a prestigious language in the whole of Europe. Latin mottoes were very popular for prestigious institutions and families, not only in America, and had been extremely popular in the preceeding centuries. However, I feel that a young nation like America wouldn't have copied old traditional European concepts and customs unless they really fit in with the political ideals behind the new republic. And, to top it all, lend authority and dignity to it.

Answer 3

It gives a feeling of continuity.
It also expresses the motto in a language not subject to change and misunderstanding.
"Semper eadem", as the motto on our school coat of arms said.

Answer 4

It was the norm, in days of yore, to use pithy Latin mottos on coats of arms. I guess the habit has just stuck.