Latinization (literature)

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In literature, Latinization is the practice of writing a name in a Latin style when writing in Latin so as to more closely emulate Latin authors, or to present a more impressive image. It is done by transforming a non-Latin name into Latin sounds (e.g. Geber for Jabir), by translating a name with a specific meaning into Latin (e.g. Venator for Cacciatore), or choosing a new name based on some attribute of the person (for example Noviomagus for Daniel Santbech, possibly from the Latin name for the town of Nijmegen).

Latinization is also common for place names, as a result of many early text books mentioning the places were written in Latin. Because of this, the English language often use Latinized forms of foreign place names instead of Anglicized forms or the original names.

Examples of Latinized names for countries or regions are:

Estonia (Estonian name Eesti, German/Scandinavian name Estland, i.e. "land of the Aesti")
Livonia (German/Scandinavian name Livland, i.e. "land of the Livs" - the local tribe)
Ingria (Finnish Inkerinmaa, German/Scandinavian "Ingermanland", i.e. "land of the Ingermans - the local tribe)