What was the official language in England prior to English?

Answer 1

Well, before English was Middle English, before Middle English was Old English. Old English developed into Middle English with invasions and moving people, Middle English (like in Canterbury Tales) was influenced by French (which is derived from Latin) to become English. I can't say for sure what came before Old English, but whatever it was sounds like German. Gaelic and German both likely came from the ancestor of Old English.

Answer 2

"English" as a language did not exist prior to the 900AD era. It developed and evolved slowly by borrowing words from other languages. The core was germanic language from the Saxons, mixed with the Angles and influenced by the Vikings. Roman occupation left a variety of words and Greek also contributed. So English is really a "bastardized" language, hence its richness.

Answer 3

Before the Anglo-Saxon conquests, some form of Gaelic or another Celtic language.
After the Anglo-Saxon conquests, Old English, a Germanic language mixed with Latin words from earlier Roman colonization of Germanic territories.
After the Norman conquest, French was the official language, but Middle English, a mix of Germanic and French, was used.

That's a simplification, but you can read more about it in the reference I posted.

Answer 4

An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. It is typically the language used in a nation's legislative bodies, though the law in many nations requires that government documents be produced in other languages as well.

Officially recognized minority languages are often mistaken for official languages. However, a language officially recognized by a state, taught in schools, and used in official communication is not necessarily an official language. For example, Ladin and Sardinian in Italy and Mirandese in Portugal are only officially recognized minority languages, not official languages in the strict sense.

Answer 5

Never an "official" language in the middle ages. England is a mix of Roman (Latin), original celts, invading vikings(Norse, Danish), invading Normans (French and viking mixtures). The resulting stew prioduced various formes of "English" over the ages.

Answer 6

It's always been English, although most of us wouldn't recognize it as English. If it was anything else, that probably would have been Welsh. There is a reason it's called the English language! Most Americans speak a revised (Americanised) version of English.

Answer 7

Ye Middle and Olde English.

Answer 8

Latin

Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

French, seriously