A brief history of modern Rumanian is chronicled, focusing on the influence of a variety of languages on Rumanian's development. Four regional variations are identified: Dacio-Rumanian, Macedo-Rumanian, Megleno-Rumanian, and Istro-Rumanian, all evolving from the Latin spoken in the corresponding areas beginning in imperial Roman times. The evolution and geographic distribution of each of these variations is outlined briefly, and the impact of Greek, a number of Slavic languages, Hungarian, German, Turkish, Neo-Greek, and later, terms and phrases from Russian, Italian, and French are described. The influence of the Slavic languages is seen as the strongest and most lasting, and is attributed to Slavic immigration to the area now known as Rumania. Some specific examples of this influence in phonology, syntax, etymology, and morphology are offered. The alphabet and some sociopolitical issues in language planning are also considered. (MSE)