Initially language almost turned Italian now (5)
I believe the answer is:
latin
'initially language almost turned italian now' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'initially language almost turned italian now' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'language almost turned italian now' is 'LATIN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for latin that I've seen before include "demanding subject" , "Classical language" , "foreign language" , "Language of old 8 down" , "Virgil's tongue" .)