Historically:
* Brittonic Languages (Celtic): These were spoken by the native inhabitants of Britain before the arrival of the Romans. The most well-known Brittonic language is Welsh, which is still spoken in Wales today. Other Brittonic languages included Cumbric, spoken in northwest England, and Cornish, spoken in Cornwall. These languages eventually gave way to English in most of Britain.
* Latin: The Romans brought Latin to Britain during their occupation from 43 AD to 410 AD. While it never fully replaced the Brittonic languages, it had a significant influence on the development of English.
* Old English: The Anglo-Saxons, Germanic tribes who arrived in Britain starting around the 5th century AD, brought their own languages. These eventually merged into Old English, the ancestor of modern English.
* Old Norse: Vikings, from Scandinavia, raided and settled in parts of Britain from the 8th to the 11th centuries. Their language, Old Norse, contributed words and grammatical structures to English.
Present Day:
* English: Today, the dominant language spoken in Great Britain is English. It is the official language and is spoken by the vast majority of the population.
* Welsh: While most of Wales is English-speaking, Welsh remains an official language and is still spoken by a significant minority.
* Scottish Gaelic: In parts of Scotland, Scottish Gaelic is still spoken, though it's facing challenges in terms of speaker numbers.
* Irish Gaelic: A small number of people in Northern Ireland speak Irish Gaelic, though its use is limited.
* Cornish: After centuries of decline, Cornish has experienced a revival in recent decades, though it remains a minority language.
Other Languages:
* Other European Languages: Due to immigration, Great Britain has a diverse population speaking other European languages such as French, German, Italian, Polish, etc.
* Asian Languages: There are also sizable populations of people speaking languages from South Asia, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, and others.
Summary: The languages spoken in Great Britain reflect its rich and diverse history. While English dominates today, the presence of languages like Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Cornish showcases the island's linguistic heritage.