Why dont latin people speak latin?

I've always thought that the common practice of referring to people from the Spanish-speaking parts of the Americas as "Latin" was a bit strange.

Strictly speaking, it's not accurate. The Latins – the founders of Rome – were the ancient people of the Italian region of Latium, known today as the Italian province of Lazio.

If anyone can lay historical claim to the name "Latin," it should be people of Italian descent, rather than people who live in former Spanish colonies and speak the (Latin-derived) Spanish language, but who – in many cases – have little or no heritage from Italy or anywhere else in Europe.

Every bit as odd is the practice of describing such people as "Spanish" just because that's the language they speak. You certainly wouldn't get very far trying to call an Irishman "English," I assure you.

Strange world we live in.....

Funny question, and important too..

The Latin language of the Roman Empire lost out to new languages by indigenous populations not Latin or changed into so-called "Latinate" languages--French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan etc.

It was last used b government officials and priests and the use was replaced in most areas by

English, German, the vulgate or commonly-used forms, etc.

It's tough on latins, but there are people who till study it and used it--it has to be the most popular dead language on planet Earth. I hope it never dies; I'll study it along with Homeric Greek in my next lifetime.

Thanks for asking.

Star coming.

I honestly have no idea. You should ask my ancestors that because I am Puerto Rican and I am considered latin but I only speak spanish not latin. That is something I never noticed but now that you mention it this is a very good point.

yes

Because its a dead language?

i do

really ??

idk that