Latinization

Latinization is the process by which something is made Latin in form, language, or writing. The term covers several related practices, including rendering non-Latin writing systems into the Latin alphabet, adapting words to Latin morphology, and the historical spread of Latin language and culture.

In language and script, Latinization often means transliteration or transcription of proper names, terms, or texts into Latin script. It is widely used for academic, diplomatic, and religious purposes. Examples include rendering Chinese names in pinyin or Japanese names in Hepburn, both using the Latin alphabet, and Latinized or Latin-form versions of personal names in scholarly works (for example, Petrarch from Petrarca, or Johann for John). In onomastics and geography, Latinized forms of place names (Gallia for Gaul, Britannia for Britain, Lutetia for Paris) appear in maps and literature.

Historically, Latinization was central to Roman imperial policy and medieval education. Latin functioned as the lingua franca of governance, law, and scholarship; local elites often adopted Latin names or used Latin forms of their own names.

In biology, Latinization underpins scientific naming. The system of binomial nomenclature gives species Latin or Latinized genus and species names, standardized by the International Code of Nomenclature.

Overall, Latinization reflects the enduring influence of Latin on language, science, and culture, as a means of universal reference, classification, and cultural transmission. See also Latin alphabet, transliteration, romanization, and taxonomy.