Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

UK Official Language

7 views
Skip to first unread message

Richard Sliwa

unread,
Apr 8, 2002, 9:22:25 PM4/8/02
to
Hi folks,

A discussion I've been having elsewhere has brought up a question to which
I've been searching for an answer, to no avail.

I assume as per various text books, etc. that English is the Official
Language of the UK (or at least England; AFAIK it is co-official in Wales).
This implies that at some stage a decree was passed which states this.

My research has thrown up that during the Norman Conquest, King Willie
announced French to be the official language of the state, and I assume
that this was repealed at some stage, but can anyone enlighten me as to
when? Nothing I've been able to find online or in the library has thrown up
any specific information.

Any info gratefully received, although this is caused by curiosity rather
than academic interest, so silly answers are also welcome. :-)

Ta.

John Hall

unread,
Apr 8, 2002, 10:17:29 PM4/8/02
to
On Tue, 09 Apr 2002 01:22:25 GMT, Richard Sliwa <ju...@plum.cream.org>
wrote:

>My research has thrown up that during the Norman Conquest, King Willie
>announced French to be the official language of the state, and I assume
>that this was repealed at some stage, but can anyone enlighten me as to
>when?

Since England does not have a formal written constitution(*), they
probably just decided to ignore the edict once the threats had passed.

* Magna Carta, which was written, covers several useful constraints on
royal misbehaviour though.

Don Aitken

unread,
Apr 8, 2002, 10:36:27 PM4/8/02
to
On Tue, 09 Apr 2002 01:22:25 GMT, Richard Sliwa <ju...@plum.cream.org>
wrote:

>Hi folks,

There has never been any law stating that English is the official
language of the UK, although there is one (dating from the 18th
century) requiring court records to be kept in English and not in
French or Latin, as they were until that time. The Uk has no official
language, and I don't think anyone has ever suggested that it should
have.

--
Don Aitken

Simon R. Hughes

unread,
Apr 9, 2002, 4:12:58 AM4/9/02
to
Thus Spake John Hall:

So does the Declaration of Rights (1688/9).

<http://www.rdg.ac.uk/~lhstalrs/Declaration_of_Rights.pdf>

(I downloaded it yesterday, which is why I have the URL handy.)
--
Simon R. Hughes

Garry J. Vass

unread,
Apr 9, 2002, 7:50:50 AM4/9/02
to
"Richard Sliwa" <ju...@plum.cream.org> wrote in message
news:Xns91EB18A...@195.8.68.215...

>
> I assume as per various text books, etc. that English is the Official
> Language of the UK (or at least England; AFAIK it is co-official in
Wales).
> This implies that at some stage a decree was passed which states this.
>

There is no specific legislation, proclamations, decrees, etc designating an
"official" language for the UK. There's the Welsh Language Act of 1967, but
this concerns the principality rather than the UK.


> My research has thrown up that during the Norman Conquest, King Willie
> announced French to be the official language of the state, and I assume

It's recorded that he appointed French speaking officials to the church and
government offices, but I'm unaware of any specific announcement or decree.
Do you have a reference for that?

> that this was repealed at some stage, but can anyone enlighten me as to
> when? Nothing I've been able to find online or in the library has thrown
up
> any specific information.
>

It's thought that the first *fluent* English speaking monarch was Henry IV,
whose will was written in English. This may have established a precedent,
but again nothing "official"...

Kind regards,
GJV

dcw

unread,
Apr 9, 2002, 9:29:01 AM4/9/02
to
In article <3cb24e3e...@news.freeuk.net>,
Don Aitken <don-a...@freeuk.com> wrote:

>There has never been any law stating that English is the official
>language of the UK, although there is one (dating from the 18th
>century) requiring court records to be kept in English and not in
>French or Latin, as they were until that time. The Uk has no official
>language, and I don't think anyone has ever suggested that it should
>have.

I seem to remember that parliamentary business has to be conducted
in English. The Speaker once stopped a member from quoting Chaucer,
until it was pointed out that that _was_ English.

David

Don Aitken

unread,
Apr 9, 2002, 12:17:32 PM4/9/02
to

I think you're right, although Greek and Latin quotations, sometimes
of great length, used to be common. I doubt that there is a Standing
Order to that effect, but a Speaker's ruling has much the same effect.

--
Don Aitken

Henry Churchyard

unread,
Apr 9, 2002, 1:11:13 PM4/9/02
to
In article <Xns91EB18A...@195.8.68.215>,
Richard Sliwa <ju...@plum.cream.org> wrote:

> A discussion I've been having elsewhere has brought up a question to
> which I've been searching for an answer, to no avail. I assume as
> per various text books, etc. that English is the Official Language
> of the UK (or at least England; AFAIK it is co-official in Wales).
> This implies that at some stage a decree was passed which states
> this. My research has thrown up that during the Norman Conquest,
> King Willie announced French to be the official language of the
> state, and I assume that this was repealed at some stage, but can
> anyone enlighten me as to when? Nothing I've been able to find
> online or in the library has thrown up any specific information.


Here are some semi-random facts:

ca. 1250
First book appears to teach French to children of upper
classes in England

Early 14th century
Contemporary statements that all classes can speak English,
while knowledge of French is somewhat limited

1362
For the first time, chancellor opens parliament in
English. Lawsuits ordered to be conducted in English, not
French.

2nd half of 14th century

Schools generally switch over from French to English as
language of instruction. (The subject matter which is taught
is still mostly Latin, of course.)

1399
Henry IV comes to throne as first monarch speaking only
English (apparently)

1404
English ambassadors negotiating with France insist that French
not be used as the language of negotiations (instead, Latin is
used)

1st half of 15th century
Private letters between members of upper classes switch over
from being generally in French to almost entirely in English

1422
London Brewers switch guild proceedings from French to English

1423
Parliamentary proceedings ("petitions of commons") start to
appear in English.

ca. 1430
"A large number of towns are seen translating their ordinances
and their books of customs into English."

late 1480's (first Tudor on throne)
Parliamentary statutes are written down in English in their
final form; effective disappearance of most of the last
lingering uses of French in the internal domestic
administration of England, though many French (and Latin)
phrases remained in the language of the law.

--
Henry Churchyard chu...@crossmyt.com http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/

Richard Sliwa

unread,
Apr 13, 2002, 11:29:27 AM4/13/02
to
On Tue, 09 Apr 2002 17:11:13 GMT, Henry Churchyard borrowed Hedwig to send
the following to alt.usage.english:

<snip>

> Here are some semi-random facts:

<snipperama>

Thanks to you and everyone else who responded to my question.

It would indeed seem that as in most countries, English was adopted more by
default rather than any legal edict, and your timeline (which has been
saved for future reference) has been helpful.

Thanks again.

0 new messages