Which Romance language is least similar to Latin?

Question

I've read that Italian is 85% Latin...which language is the least Latin that is still a Romance language?

Answer 1

In terms of vocabulary at least, I think Romanian has strayed the furthest, considered it's surrounded by Eastern/Slavic Bloc countries.

Answer 2

There is probably no way to scientifically answer that question since it depends to some extent on what linguistic criteria you use and where you put your emphasis.

However, in general, layman's terms, I would say that French is the farthest removed from Latin and Italian still the closest.

The late linguist and Romance languages professor, Mario Pei, once wrote that "French is a Romance language but one which has lost it's original Latin rythm."

I'm surprised that some people mentioned Romanian because the Frankish influences on French are almost as strong as the Slavic influences on Romanian. For example, Romanian razboi (war) and bogat (rich) are from Slavic while their French counterparts, guerre and riche, are from Frankish.

French also has a Celtic substratum from the earlier Gaulish (Gallic) language which is at least as strong as the Balkan (or Dacian) substratum in Romanian. For example, the pre-Roman Romanian gorun and stejar for "oak tree" vs the Celtic chêne in French.

The un-Latin oxytonic characteristics of French (heavy stress accent on the last syllable of a word) are something that sets it apart from all the other Romance languages, including Romanian.

Answer 3

Hmm, that's a tough one, but I think I would have to go for Rumantsch (Surselvan), simply on the basis that when faced with a text in that language I am *completely* clueless!

I am a competent Italian speaker and have also studied Spanish ... and on that basis I can understand 50-80% of any Romance text (without a dictionary), from Portuguese through Catalan and Sardinian to Romanian ... but you put something in Rumantsch in front of me and the best that I can do is tell you that it's in Rumantsch!

Not a very scientific answer, perhaps ... but it's the best I can think of. I'd be interested to know if Graham, Pinguino or anyone else agrees with me.

Answer 4

To better learn about the nature of Romance Languages, and to perhaps find the answer yourself try this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_languages

It's the Wikipedia article dealing with Romance Languages. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

I'm learning Romanian and I've read that it actually is the closest living language to Latin, before Italian even. Though if the person above me is correct, this would maybe be more in terms of grammar.

I can't help, I'm not sure which is the most distant relative.

Answer 6

If I had to pick a Romance language that is least similar to its parent language, Latin, I'd say that it would be French. Over the years, it has undergone radical phonological change, primarily involving the development of nasal vowels, the loss of most final consonants, etc. Compare the Swadesh list at (the bottom of) this webpage: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Swadesh_list.

Answer 7

Romanian is the closest to Latin, Italian comes second.

French is the least similar to Latin.

Romansch should be closely following Romanian as it was derived from Vulgar Latin spoken by the Roman occupiers of the time but is also influenced by French and Spanish.

Answer 8

Yeah, I agree, Romanian most probably.