Which language did the USA speak before the British invaded and introduced English to the people?

Question

Which language did the USA speak before the British invaded and introduced English to the people?

I'm interested. Because I've alway thought if anyone knew which language the Americans spoke before the English language? (from USA only, not from any other region of America..we'll get to that later! lol)

I cannot believe that! Hawaiian children were punished for speaking their native language? That's appalling! I think the world has gone too far. I may be an English speak but I would never force or punish someone to speak a language like that. And Hawaii was another island too, so it should have been expected..of course they would have their own language, I only think English is spoken there because of being part of the USA and I don't think it was that big there even before. I think they made a terrible mistake joining the United States!!!!

Answer 1

Several distinct dialects and languages of many Native American nations. It was the original language of true Americans, before Europeans decided to rape and pillage the land people and cultures of an indigenous race who took in their invaders because they were unaware that their charities would lead to having all nations throughout the world exploit them and drive them out of their land. There is not a single white black or Asian man woman or child who belongs here oppressing the natives, the rightful owners of America into the most barren desolate and fruitless patches of their land. We are simply thieves carrying out the legacy of forefathers, although the most scandalous and outright immoral perpetrators are the white men, for although Asians and Africans may or may not be victims of circumstance in this continuing trend, white men brought them here. Hispanic peoples are the result of intermingling between the Natives of South and Central America and South-western US, and Europeans, so they are essentially justified (in my opinion) for being here.

Answer 2

There were hundreds of languages spoken by Native Americans before the arrival of the Europeans. Like Choctaw, Navaho, Hopi, Lenni-Lenape, Lushootseed, Ojibwa, Cree, Comance, and so much more. Many of these languages are now gone or dying. There are languages with only one speaker left. And when that person dies, the languages die with that person.

And I wouldn't say "introduce" but instead "impose." Even in Hawai'i, children were punished for speaking their native Hawaiian in the schools. Imagine, being punished for speaking your own language.

***EDIT***

Here's an article about a Hawaiian musician who grew up when Hawaiian was banned in schools: http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/07/features/story04.html

As for Hawai'i joining the United States - they had no choice. Americans and Europeans invaded the islands and overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. They even imprisoned the Hawaiian Queen Lili'uokalani back in 1891. So no, Hawaiians didn't have a choice to be part of the US. The US just came in and claimed the islands as theirs.

Answer 3

You are not going to believe this but I have just read a book called 1421 - the year the Chinese dicovered the world. The Chinese treasure junks sailed and mapped the whole world in 1421 - including N America. Columbus and Cook, Da Gama and Magellan all used Chinese maps when they set out 'into the unknown' It wasn't the unknown at all, because they had the maps already. Many areas of N & S America have Chinese words, or words derived from Chinese. Sound unbelievable, but is true. So........ They spoke Chinese, of all things. There is a web site called 1421 if you want proof. Cant remember the full web address but use '1421' as a search & you should get there. :-)

Answer 4

The true Americans made up of different tribes all with their own language.Take the Shinnecock tribe of long Island when English settlers landed the Indians gave them bits of land to live on, but not good enough for the English who gradually pushed the Indian back and this day the Indian has got very little but I am glad to hear that they are coming back and getting quite rich on their own little piece of land. As in the films it was not the Indian that was the baddies English done this to India, Africa,here they sent Africans to America as slaves Australia they slaughtered whole Abororigine tribes,etc.etc,etc.

Answer 5

There was no U.S.A until comparetively recently. There would have been hundreds of languages before the arrival of Europeans and thousands of dialects within those languages. Someone on here said the chinese discovered the Americas. Don't forget that Native American people originally came from East Asia so you could say that East Asians discovered the Americas tens of thousands of years ago!!!!

Answer 6

Native Indian

Answer 7

I noticed recently that the usa does not have an official language at all - though I believe your Congress voted to have the English Language known as the unifying language of your country.

Answer 8

Lots - every Indian (native American) tribe had it's own language - e.g Navajo, Crow, Sioux etc!

Of course the Spanish invaded California and I think a few Southern States - so they would have spoken Spanish!

Answer 9

Don't forget that it's accpeted now that Vikings reached North America and more and more evidence is mounting that other seafaring races made it there before the 'official' dscovery date.

I gues the majority of languages would have been from the various native americans though

Answer 10

first there was no United States of America (USA) before the British came; it was only after the Revolutionary War that the USA was established; before the British and Spanish came there were many Native American Indian Tribes, each with their own language;