Latin language Latin ( " lingua latina " ) was an ancient Human language spoken by the Roman s in antiquity . It was also the official language of the Romans . With time Latin evolved to many other languages , such as Italian , Spanish , and French . More than half of the vocabulary of the English language had 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 . ( ; ) Many Earth proverb s were in Latin and were often used as mottos of starship s or installations . A course based on this language was taught at Starfleet Academy . ( ) When Wesley Crusher was on leave from Starfleet Academy , Captain Jean - Luc Picard checked on his Latin by asking him : Wesley responded : whereupon the Captain responded : When counseling a de - aged Picard about his options , Deanna Troi suggested he go back to Starfleet Academy and brush up on his Latin , a suggestion he balked at . ( ) The term arboretum was derived from the Latin word for tree , " arbor " ( [ ˈarbɔr ] ) . This connection was noted by the Cairn Hedril in 2370 . ( ) Q remembered Vash was called " persona non grata " ( [ pɛrˈsoːna nɔn ˈgraːta ] ) , meaning " an unwelcome person " , on Betazed . ( ) According to the Exarch Hadran of the Nehelik Province on the planet Rakhar , Croden was declared guilty " in absentia " ( meaning , " in the absence " ) for crimes against his world . ( ) 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 . ( ) The holographic Seamus attempted to exorcise the spirit folk ( actually the crew of ) in 2376 by saying , " " Ex labis caelestium sanctorum super ad aures atrorum larvarum mentientium " . " He followed up by translating the phrase : " " From the lip s of the heavenly saint s above , to the ear s of the dark and lying spirits " " . ( ) Appendices . Background information . Nine episode titles derive from Latin phrases : Others derive from proverbs or expressions that come to us from Latin - language authors : The phrase " better late than never " originated from the Latin - language book A History of Rome , as explained by Icheb in , 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 . 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 . In the Picard family album , there is a coat of arms bearing the Latin inscription , " " Urbs Prima In Indis " ( English translation , " First City in India " . )