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A '''motto''' (from the [[Italian language|Italian]] word ''motto'', meaning witticism, sentence) is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but [[Latin]] is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottos of [[government]]s.
== Heraldry ==
In [[heraldry]], a motto is often depicted in an achievement of arms typically on a scroll below the shield or else above the crest as in Scots heraldry.
In English and Scottish heraldry mottoes are not granted with armorial bearings, and may be adopted and changed at will.<ref>{{cite book
|title=An Outline of Heraldry in England and Scotland
|first=Robert
|last=Innes-Smith
|publisher=Pilgrim Press
|pages=p. 14
|quote=Mottoes are not necessarily heriditary and can be adopted and changed at will.
|year=1990
|isbn=0-900594-82-9
}}</ref> Although very unusual and perhaps outside regular heraldic practice, there are some examples of the particular appearance of the motto scroll and letters thereon being blazoned.<ref>{{cite web|title=USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Navy/USSWinstonChurchill.htm|accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref>
A canting motto is one that contains [[word play]]. For example, the motto of the [[Earl of Onslow]] is ''Festina lente'', punningly interpreting ''on-slow'' (literally "make haste slowly").
The motto of the [[Counties of England|County]] of [[Somerset]] is in [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]]; that of [[South Cambridgeshire]] in the English [[The Fens|Fens]] is in [[Dutch language|Dutch]].
Ships and submarines in the [[Royal Navy]] each have a [[Badge (heraldry)|badge]] and motto, as do units of the [[Royal Air Force]].
==See also==
* [[Epigram]]
* [[Inscription]]
* [[List of Latin phrases]]
* [[Slogan]]
* [[Tagline]]
* [[Tripartite motto]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://mottosforsuccess.net Sample Calendar with Daily Mottos]
[[Category:Mottos]]
[[Category:Melodic sections]]
[[be-x-old:Дэвіз]]
[[bs:Uzrečica]]
[[ca:Lema]]
[[cs:Motto]]
[[da:Motto]]
[[de:Wahlspruch]]
[[et:Tunnuslause]]
[[es:Lema]]
[[eo:Moto]]
[[fa:شعار]]
[[fr:Devise (phrase)]]
[[fy:Biedwurd]]
[[gl:Lema]]
[[hr:Krilatica]]
[[id:Motto]]
[[ia:Motto]]
[[is:Kjörorð]]
[[it:Motto]]
[[he:מוטו]]
[[ka:დევიზი]]
[[lv:Devīze]]
[[ln:Liloba-lotómo]]
[[hu:Mottó]]
[[nl:Motto]]
[[ja:標語]]
[[no:Motto]]
[[nn:Motto]]
[[pl:Motto]]
[[pt:Lema]]
[[ru:Девиз]]
[[sk:Motto]]
[[sl:Moto]]
[[sh:Krilatica]]
[[fi:Tunnuslause]]
[[sv:Valspråk]]
[[tl:Moto]]
[[th:คำขวัญ]]
[[tr:Slogan]]
[[udm:Девиз]]
[[uk:Девіз]]
[[zh:座右銘]]