Final answer:
The official languages of Latin American countries are European due to the historical colonization by European powers, who imposed their languages through governance and education, leading to the marginalization of indigenous languages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The official languages of every Latin American country are European primarily because of the historical influence of European colonial powers in the region. When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, they established colonies and spread their languages and cultures. European ethnic groups imposed their languages through institutions such as government, religion, and education, often at the expense of native languages and cultures. This often involved the suppression of indigenous languages through policies that favored European languages for trade, communication, and education. As a result, European languages such as Spanish and Portuguese became dominant in Latin America, and even after independence, these languages remained as the official languages due to their established usage and prestige.
It's a misconception that native languages have completely died out, as many are still spoken today, although they may not hold official status or the same level of influence. Contrary to the belief that native languages are not as popular, they are often suppressed or marginalized rather than simply not spreading. Similarly, saying that the populations relate better to European languages overlooks the long history of colonization and imposed language policies that have devalued indigenous languages.