diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Repositories/Implement/LanguageRepository.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Repositories/Implement/LanguageRepository.cs
index 2d27479a95..518b769830 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Repositories/Implement/LanguageRepository.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Persistence/Repositories/Implement/LanguageRepository.cs
@@ -151,6 +151,14 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Persistence.Repositories.Implement
 
         protected override void PersistDeletedItem(ILanguage entity)
         {
+            //we need to validate that we can delete this language
+            if (entity.IsDefaultVariantLanguage)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Cannot delete the default language ({entity.IsoCode})");
+
+            var count = Database.ExecuteScalar<int>(Sql().SelectCount().From<LanguageDto>());
+            if (count == 1)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Cannot delete the default language ({entity.IsoCode})");
+
             base.PersistDeletedItem(entity);
 
             //Clear the cache entries that exist by key/iso
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/resources/language.resource.js b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/resources/language.resource.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..526e0386c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/common/resources/language.resource.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/**
+  * @ngdoc service
+  * @name umbraco.resources.languageResource
+  * @description Handles retrieving and updating language data
+  **/
+function languageResource($q, $http, umbRequestHelper) {
+    return {
+        
+        getAll: function (id, alias) {
+
+            return umbRequestHelper.resourcePromise(
+                $http.get(
+                    umbRequestHelper.getApiUrl(
+                        "languageApiBaseUrl",
+                        "GetAllLanguages")),
+                "Failed to get languages");
+        },
+
+        deleteById: function (id) {
+
+            return umbRequestHelper.resourcePromise(
+                $http.post(
+                    umbRequestHelper.getApiUrl(
+                        "languageApiBaseUrl",
+                        "DeleteLanguage",
+                        { id: id })),
+                "Failed to delete item " + id);
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+angular.module('umbraco.resources').factory('languageResource', languageResource);
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/edit.controller.js b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/edit.controller.js
index f787fdcb19..452f6bfd41 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/edit.controller.js
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/edit.controller.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 (function () {
     "use strict";
 
-    function LanguagesEditController($timeout, $location, $routeParams, notificationsService, localizationService) {
+    function LanguagesEditController($timeout, $location, $routeParams, notificationsService, localizationService, languageResource) {
 
         var vm = this;
 
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/overview.controller.js b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/overview.controller.js
index 9d9d2a2313..f7d42c6801 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/overview.controller.js
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/views/languages/overview.controller.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 (function () {
     "use strict";
 
-    function LanguagesOverviewController($timeout, $location, notificationsService, localizationService) {
+    function LanguagesOverviewController($timeout, $location, notificationsService, localizationService, languageResource) {
 
         var vm = this;
 
@@ -32,55 +32,10 @@
                 vm.page.name = vm.labels.languages;
             });
 
-            $timeout(function () {
-
-                vm.languages = [
-                    {  
-                        "id": 1,
-                        "cultureDisplayName": "English (United States)",
-                        "culture": "en-US",
-                        "isDefault": true,
-                        "isMandatory": true
-                    },
-                    {
-                        "id": 2,
-                        "cultureDisplayName": "Danish",
-                        "culture": "da-DK",
-                        "isDefault": false,
-                        "isMandatory": true
-                    },
-                    {
-                        "id": 3,
-                        "cultureDisplayName": "Spanish (Spain)",
-                        "culture": "es-ES",
-                        "isDefault": false,
-                        "isMandatory": false
-                    },
-                    {
-                        "id": 4,
-                        "cultureDisplayName": "French (France)",
-                        "culture": "fr-FR",
-                        "isDefault": false,
-                        "isMandatory": false
-                    },
-                    {
-                        "id": 5,
-                        "cultureDisplayName": "German (Germany)",
-                        "culture": "de-DE",
-                        "isDefault": false,
-                        "isMandatory": true
-                    }
-                ];
-
+            languageResource.getAll().then(function(languages) {
+                vm.languages = languages;
                 vm.loading = false;
-
-            }, 1000);
-
-            /*
-            $timeout(function () {
-                navigationService.syncTree({ tree: "languages", path: "-1" });
             });
-            */
         }
 
         function addLanguage() {
@@ -97,10 +52,21 @@
             var confirmed = confirm("Are you sure you want to delete " + language.cultureDisplayName + "?");
             if(confirmed) {
                 language.deleteButtonState = "busy";
-                $timeout(function(){
+
+                languageResource.deleteById(language.id).then(function () {
                     var index = vm.languages.indexOf(language);
                     vm.languages.splice(index, 1);
-                }, 1000);
+                }, function (err) {
+                    language.deleteButtonState = "error";
+
+                    //show any notifications
+                    if (angular.isArray(err.data.notifications)) {
+                        for (var i = 0; i < err.data.notifications.length; i++) {
+                            notificationsService.showNotification(err.data.notifications[i]);
+                        }
+                    }
+                });
+                
             }
             event.preventDefault()
             event.stopPropagation();
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Composing/CompositionRoots/WebMappingProfilesCompositionRoot.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Composing/CompositionRoots/WebMappingProfilesCompositionRoot.cs
index 77ded444b6..0c73e64ff2 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Composing/CompositionRoots/WebMappingProfilesCompositionRoot.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Composing/CompositionRoots/WebMappingProfilesCompositionRoot.cs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Composing.CompositionRoots
             container.Register<TagMapperProfile>();
             container.Register<TemplateMapperProfile>();
             container.Register<UserMapperProfile>();
+            container.Register<LanguageMapperProfile>();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/BackOfficeServerVariables.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/BackOfficeServerVariables.cs
index 713d386140..a0cf6c3767 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/BackOfficeServerVariables.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/BackOfficeServerVariables.cs
@@ -285,6 +285,10 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
                         {
                             "backOfficeAssetsApiBaseUrl", _urlHelper.GetUmbracoApiServiceBaseUrl<BackOfficeAssetsController>(
                                 controller => controller.GetSupportedMomentLocales())
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "languageApiBaseUrl", _urlHelper.GetUmbracoApiServiceBaseUrl<LanguageController>(
+                                controller => controller.GetAllLanguages())
                         }
                     }
                 },
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/LanguageController.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/LanguageController.cs
index c6e3dcfb2e..870e5e4b34 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/LanguageController.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/LanguageController.cs
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ using System.Linq;
 using System.Net;
 using System.Net.Http;
 using System.Web.Http;
+using AutoMapper;
 using Umbraco.Core.Persistence;
 using Umbraco.Web.Models;
+using Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing;
 using Umbraco.Web.Mvc;
+using Umbraco.Web.WebApi;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
 {
@@ -24,8 +27,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
         [HttpGet]
         public IEnumerable<Culture> GetAllCultures()
         {
-            return CultureInfo.GetCultures(CultureTypes.AllCultures)
-                .Select(x => new Culture {IsoCode = x.Name, Name = x.DisplayName});
+            return Mapper.Map<IEnumerable<Culture>>(CultureInfo.GetCultures(CultureTypes.AllCultures));
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -33,18 +35,10 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
         /// </summary>
         /// <returns></returns>
         [HttpGet]
-        public IEnumerable<Language> GetAllLanguages()
+        public IEnumerable<LanguageDisplay> GetAllLanguages()
         {
             var allLanguages = Services.LocalizationService.GetAllLanguages();
-
-            return allLanguages.Select(x => new Language
-            {
-                Id = x.Id,
-                IsoCode = x.IsoCode,
-                Name = x.CultureInfo.DisplayName,
-                IsDefaultVariantLanguage = x.IsDefaultVariantLanguage,
-                Mandatory = x.Mandatory
-            });
+            return Mapper.Map<IEnumerable<LanguageDisplay>>(allLanguages);
         }
         
         /// <summary>
@@ -52,28 +46,29 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
         /// </summary>
         [HttpDelete]
         [HttpPost]
-        public void DeleteLanguage(int id)
+        public IHttpActionResult DeleteLanguage(int id)
         {
             var language = Services.LocalizationService.GetLanguageById(id);
-            if (language == null)
-            {
-                throw new EntityNotFoundException(id, $"Could not find language by id: '{id}'.");
-            }
+            if (language == null) return NotFound();
 
-            if (language.IsDefaultVariantLanguage)
+            var totalLangs = Services.LocalizationService.GetAllLanguages().Count();
+
+            if (language.IsDefaultVariantLanguage || totalLangs == 1)
             {
-                var message = $"Language with id '{id}' is currently set to 'default' and can not be deleted.";
-                throw new HttpResponseException(Request.CreateErrorResponse(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, message));
+                var message = $"Language '{language.IsoCode}' is currently set to 'default' or it is the only installed language and can not be deleted.";
+                throw new HttpResponseException(Request.CreateNotificationValidationErrorResponse(message));
             }
 
             Services.LocalizationService.Delete(language);
+
+            return Ok();
         }
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Saves a bulk set of languages with default/mandatory settings and returns the full set of languages configured.
         /// </summary>
         [HttpPost]
-        public IEnumerable<Language> SaveLanguages(IEnumerable<Language> languages)
+        public IEnumerable<LanguageDisplay> SaveLanguages(IEnumerable<LanguageDisplay> languages)
         {
             foreach (var l in languages)
             {
@@ -90,4 +85,4 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
             return GetAllLanguages();
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/ContentEditing/Culture.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/ContentEditing/Culture.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c5087e3aaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/ContentEditing/Culture.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+using System.Runtime.Serialization;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing
+{
+
+    [DataContract(Name = "culture", Namespace = "")]
+    public class Culture
+    {
+        [DataMember(Name = "culture")]
+        public string IsoCode { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(Name = "cultureDisplayName")]
+        public string Name { get; set; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/ContentEditing/LanguageDisplay.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/ContentEditing/LanguageDisplay.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d082bb136
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/ContentEditing/LanguageDisplay.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+using System.Runtime.Serialization;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing
+{
+    [DataContract(Name = "language", Namespace = "")]
+    public class LanguageDisplay
+    {
+        [DataMember(Name = "id")]
+        public int Id { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(Name = "culture")]
+        public string IsoCode { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(Name = "cultureDisplayName")]
+        public string Name { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(Name = "isDefault")]
+        public bool IsDefaultVariantLanguage { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(Name = "isMandatory")]
+        public bool Mandatory { get; set; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Culture.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Culture.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index 16ebc6bc2a..0000000000
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Culture.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-namespace Umbraco.Web.Models
-{
-    public class Culture
-    {
-        public string IsoCode { get; set; }
-        public string Name { get; set; }
-    }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Language.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Language.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index 4fdf418eef..0000000000
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Language.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-using System.Globalization;
-
-namespace Umbraco.Web.Models
-{
-    public class Language
-    {
-        public int Id { get; set; }
-        public string IsoCode { get; set; }
-        public string Name { get; set; }
-        public bool IsDefaultVariantLanguage { get; set; }
-        public bool Mandatory { get; set; }
-    }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Mapping/LanguageMapperProfile.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Mapping/LanguageMapperProfile.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..956854fbc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Models/Mapping/LanguageMapperProfile.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+using System.Globalization;
+using AutoMapper;
+using Umbraco.Core.Models;
+using Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Models.Mapping
+{
+    internal class LanguageMapperProfile : Profile
+    {
+        public LanguageMapperProfile()
+        {
+            CreateMap<ILanguage, LanguageDisplay>()
+                .ForMember(l => l.Name, expression => expression.MapFrom(x => x.CultureInfo.DisplayName));
+
+            CreateMap<CultureInfo, Culture>()
+                .ForMember(c => c.Name, expression => expression.MapFrom(x => x.DisplayName))
+                .ForMember(c => c.IsoCode, expression => expression.MapFrom(x => x.Name));
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj b/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj
index 2163a2e078..f381df3ff9 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Models\BackOfficeTourStep.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\AssignedContentPermissions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\AssignedUserGroupPermissions.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\BackOfficePreview.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\CodeFileDisplay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\ContentRedirectUrl.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Media\ImageUrlProviderCollectionBuilder.cs" />
@@ -241,14 +242,15 @@
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\UserInvite.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\UserProfile.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\UserSave.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Models\Culture.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Models\Language.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\Culture.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Models\ContentEditing\LanguageDisplay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\ActionButtonsResolver.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\AuditMapperProfile.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\AutoMapperExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\ContentChildOfListViewResolver.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\ContentUrlResolver.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\DefaultTemplateResolver.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\LanguageMapperProfile.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\MediaChildOfListViewResolver.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\CodeFileMapperProfile.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Models\Mapping\ContentTreeNodeUrlResolver.cs" />