Ottoman Turkish was the official language of the Empire. It was an Oghuz Turkic language highly influenced by Persian and Arabic. The Ottomans had several influential languages: Turkish, spoken by the majority of the people in Anatolia and by the majority of Muslims of the Balkans except in Albania and Bosnia; Persian, only spoken by the educated; Arabic, spoken mainly in Arabia, North Africa, Iraq, Kuwait, the Levant and parts of the Horn of Africa; and Somali throughout the Horn of Africa. In the last two centuries, usage of these became limited, though, and specific: Persian served mainly as a literary language for the educated, while Arabic was used for religious rites.
Ottoman Turkish was the official language of the Empire . It was an Oghuz Turkic language highly influenced by Persian and Arabic . The Ottomans had several influential languages : Turkish , spoken by the majority of the people in Anatolia and by the majority of Muslims of the Balkans except in Albania and Bosnia ; Persian , only spoken by the educated ; Arabic , spoken mainly in Arabia , North Africa , Iraq , Kuwait , the Levant and parts of the Horn of Africa ; and Somali throughout the Horn of Africa . In the last two centuries , usage of these became limited , though , and specific : Persian served mainly as a literary language for the educated , while Arabic was used for religious rites .
What language was spoken by most people in Anatolia?
What language was spoken by most people in Anatolia ?
Turkish
Turkish