What is the only de jure official language in the UK?

The de facto official language of the UK is of course English (spoken by 98% of the country's population). Welsh, the fourth most-spoken language, is an official language in Wales and is the only de jure official language in any part of the UK.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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43 Comments

John McLardie

Knew that Welsh was protected in law: so that had to be the answer. English, on the other hand, being 'fluid and adaptive' has no legal backing as an official language. Traditionally English was seen as a divisive language in the various constituent countries of the UK - particularly in Ireland and Scotland. But, even in England, in pre-UK days, laws tended to be promulgated in Anglo-Saxon or Norman-French and the aristocracy didn't speak it. Engish, or as close as we understand it today, only really became the lingua franca of England around the 14th century as Anglo-Saxon became supplanted by middle-English. In Scotland it slowly supplanted Gaelic from the 15th Century onwards but even then it was digressing from what today is understood as Standard English.

Jan Taylor

Got it

Paul Bison

Lynne Zeman, want moore information, look it up yourself, and stop whining.

Lynne Zeman

Once again, an answer seriously lacking in substance. 3 sentences is not a full explanation.

Chris Braid

As a proud Welshman.........

John Dommerman

I thought 'de jure' meant a marinate you put over steak.

Donna Smyth

They need to onclude scots gaelic

Vance Duncan

Huh. Not at all what I expected. Exactly what I suppose I deserved. I chose English. D’oh!

lmjmom

Got it.

Janice Lea Vanlandingham

I should have known that the use of "de Jure" (latin?) would reference the older languages. My time in England I was not able to acquire insight into the Keltish languages. Although, I would love to have learned more. I travelled on my own to Scotland, my duty did not permit me to travel to all parts of of G.B.

patrhea

I Didn't realize that, but figured it may be legally one of the old languages. Otherwise English would have been too easy of a pick! I picked it anyway..because it should be.