Page "Corsican language" Paragraph 15

In 40 AD neither a Romance nor an Italic language were spoken by the natives of Corsica.

The Roman exile, Seneca the younger, reports that both coast and interior were occupied by natives whose language he did not understand ( see under Prehistory of Corsica ).

Latin at that time was generally spoken only in the Roman colonies.

There was probably a substratic language that is still visible in the toponymy or in some words, for instance Gallurese zerru ' pig '.

The same is valid for Sardinian.

The occupation of the island by Vandals about 469 AD marks the end of authoritative influence by Latin-speaking Romans ( see under Medieval Corsica ).

If the natives of that time were speaking Latin they must have acquired it during the late empire.

The documents of the early Christian church concerning Corsica are in Latin, but they are only communications between church officials ( see under Ajaccio ).