 Welsh today
The history of Welsh
Your comments
Joe from Sheffield
Adam Johns talks a lot of sense. I went to schools in Wales where the Welsh language was taught compulsory from nursery school. I was never good at languages so I had to struggle with it for almost 10 years until I could drop it at age 14 to concentrate on more useful subjects like History, Geography, Biology, Chemistry and the like. I feel like I wasted a lot of my childhood trying to learn a language that I have never used outside school. Some people just can't learn languages and forcing this upon them is plain wrong. You don't have to speak Welsh to be Welsh.
Myfanwy Powys
Sgwrs ddiddorol iawn, a beth sy'n bwysig i fi ydy'r ffaith fod sgwrs fel yn yn cael ei chynnal dros y we. Dydy Gymraeg ddim yn rhwybeth hen ffasiwn ond iaith sy'n fwy. I rhai o honnyn ni, mae'r cadwyn yr iaith wedi fod yn fregus, ond, erbyn, trwy ein plant, mae'r dyfodol y Iaith yn obeithol.
SD an exile in England
Here is an interesting observation which I have always believed to be false but perhaps some of my fellow Welsh speakers can shed some light on it. English friends have often complained that when they walk into, say, a country pub in a predominantly Welsh speaking area, "the locals" notice their presence immediately and change their conversation from English to Welsh! Part of me would love this to be true - it would be a horrible and hilarious little trick, but surely this would be a hugely contrived thing to do? So, over to you my fellow countryside dwelling Cymry, can we shed any light on this or is it a "Rural Myth"!! tan y tro nesa', SD.
David, Cardiff
One of the most endearing qualities about life in Wales is the debate between those wishing to increase usage of the Welsh language, and those who feel threatened by it but feel equally Welsh. The point is that both sides have valid arguments and we should not try and live in a country that has a one-size-fits-all model, but that diverse opinions are one of the reasons why life here is so interesting, and the passion for nationality in Wales, be it Welsh-speaking or not, is one of the winning qualities of this country.
Taliesin o Gaerdydd
The Welsh language is alive and growing, especially among children like me.But this does not mean that us Welsh can relax, for although the children in Welsh schools can speak Welsh, they choose not to because of a few children who 'rule the school' as it were.This does not only happen in my own school; it happens in most others I know of (I've researched 6 so far.) If the children don't speak Welsh now will they when they leave school? I think not. What is to blame for this is the influx of children from non-Welsh speaking families into the Welsh schoolS. This, I believe is the greatest danger to the Welsh language today.Diolch am ddarllen!
Livvy from Cardiff
Although i agree that the Welsh language is important to Wales and its Welsh speakers, people living in areas which aren't as fluent as others are being forced into taking it at school and are made to sit compulsory Welsh gcse's which are the same exams throughout the whole of Wales, which is extremely hard for pupils who aren't as fluent and it puts alot of pressure on them. I will be sitting mine next year, and i know i will have to do alot of work to achieve good grades.
Myfanwy, Powys
Historical footnote: Welsh is very resiliant and we should never forget that we were the only people conquered by the Romans not to lose our language but I fimly agree with those contributers who think that Welsh cultural heritage should be part of a multi-cultural educational agenda throughout Britain. If that were so, the 70,000 non-Welsh people who settle here every year might understand more about the decision they are making when they chose to live in Wales. If they embrace our culture (and many do), all to the good but I have heard in-migrants complaining that the schools in the villages in which they choose to settle 'teach in a foreign language'. Straining the definition of 'foreign' surely, for Welsh speaking children to be taught through the medium of Welsh, in Wales.
Nerys Jenkins, Belfast
In direct response to Adam Johns' many comments: After surviving centuries of persecution by numerous foreign influences, no Welsh supporter is going to give up without a fight. I see no scandal in the compulsory learning of Welsh up to the age of 16. In fact I think that it is perfect common sense. Why not fight to preserve one of Britain's oldest and richest treasures? Why bother teaching Shakespeare's work at G.C.S.E. level, when NO ONE in the whole of Britain speaks that way anymore? The disappearance of the Welsh language would be as devastating as if every copy of every masterpiece written by Shakespeare was lost. Even though I now live in Belfast, I still speak Welsh every day, and they even teach it at Queen's University. Maybe it is only within Celtic civilizations that our languages are truly appreciated. Telling me not to speak Welsh would be like telling me not to breathe: I just couldn't do it. However, this does not mean that I hate everyone who does not speak Welsh. I come from a bilingual home, have many friends who speak English and even speak different languages with different siblings. But yes I do believe that anyone who has washed their hands with Welsh before even giving it a chance has no rite to live in our country. And if you are so adamant that the compulsory teaching of Welsh is such a waste of time, I propose an alternative solution - why not follow the recent policies of our government and monitor and limit the number of English speakers (who are not willing to give Welsh a try) allowed into Wales, as Britain does with foreign immigrants? If the influx of non-Welsh speakers was limited then the number of Welsh speakers would increase = problem solved? IF Welsh has become an elitist language, then it has done so only in order to survive. After all that we have been through you cannot expect us not to show hostility towards those who continue to disregard our language as useless? In the words of Dafydd Iwan - "Er gwaethaf pawb a phopeth ry'n ni yma o hyd!"
Adam Johns from Cardiff
If Welsh is so vibrant and alive then why does it need so much public money to prop it up?
Osian from Cardiff
Its about time we all realised what an amazing story of strength and survival the Welsh language has. It has survived against ALL odds. Against the horrific measures put in force during the Victorian age to try and stamp out the language completely amongst school children. Against strong apathy and discrimination, and against the huge influence of the media, (mainly from America) which has grown and grown over the last few decades to be part of our daily lives. And here we are in the 21st century, growing. To hear someone complaining that 'Welsh had spread into Gwent and Glamorgan' puzzles me. Does he seriously think that places called 'Llantrisant', 'Penarth', 'Cwmbran' are there just for fun, or possibly just a random mistake, which happen to be Welsh? Does he not think that it's quite odd that all this 'English-speaking' growth really came about during the last two centuries, when the mining industry was at its peak in the South Wales valleys? Funny, that. I think we all know what language was truly 'forced' on our ancient Glamorgan and Gwent inhabitants.
Dafydd o Llanrhaeadr
Let's be practical about language. It would be useful to people visiting Wales for example, or working in call centres to be able to understand how Welsh is pronounced. Is the Welsh alphabet and pronunciation taught in English schools and, if not, why not?
sophie, sir, gaer
i'm welsh and live in a fairly small town where i was taught to speak welsh in school and had no help with it from my parents, my older brother being in the same situation. even though we do not speak welsh to our parents, i would find it very odd and quite difficult to speak english to my brother. i also speak welsh to many of my freind from school. whre i live very few people speak standard welsh, but i do't see that as a problem because we can all understand eachother, as could pople from other regions, so i don't think people should fear that welsh is changing, just accept it, i man who speaks or even understands old english these days? language moves on the in the same way as fashion, end technology, yet we don't worry about those. wy'n falch fy mod i'n gallu siarad cymraeg fel cymrae, hyd yn oed os ydyn yn defnyddio, 'wenglish' o amser i amsen!!
jo swansea
welsh is quit a difficult language and is not taght enoghf in priamry and comprehensiv i think its wrong welsh is our language we should be taght it with pride and besides that most of the people i see about the streets dont even know the welsh national anthem come on every one knows the first line at least! i agree it should be taght in england to and it would be nice if other foregn countrys had a bit of expereanc of it to.
Hugo, Helsinki
In thia website's accent quiz it says: "The written letter "s" doesn't always sound like an "s". What sounds do you use for the two "s" letters when you say "houses"? In Bangor, people usually do use the "s" sound in each case. SurpriSing." That'll be because there's no "z" in the Welsh alphabet, so some native Welsh speakers pronounce the z-type "s" as s-type "s".
Lisa Dafydd, Denbigh
I believe that the welsh languages is the second most official language in britain, and it should be taught in england. They teach foreign languages, such as french, or spanish, so why not a language a bit closer to home? cymry am byth!
Adam Johns from Cardiff
In response to Jones' comment "If you don't want to speak Welsh, go live somewhere appart from Wales." Does that mean that all people not currently enrolled on Welsh evening classes should be deported? All school pupils who decide not to opt for FULL-COURSE welsh should be shown the door? If someone was to give the common and logical response of "There's not much need speaking welsh. They all speak english anyway.", would they be flogged in the streets? Welsh has taken on a sort of cult status, a bit like Star Trek. There's a hardcore of people who absolutely adore it and fight for it and then there's the typical person's indifference (but they don't have train announcements in Klingon FOLLOWED by English). Welsh has not got the support of the public. It's an elitist, devisive language.
Nia Jenkins, Sir Benfro
Perhaps if Adam Johns learnt our precious and beautiful language, and felt the advantages of being bilingual, perhaps he wouldn't be so bitter. Perhaps he is bitter because he does not have these advantages? All i can say is out of all of us here who are bilingual, the one guy who doesnt speak welsh seems to be the only one complaining! 11-9 i ni!
Kayte, Oxford
I think Welsh is an important British language, although not Welsh myself - My mam's from St. Davids- I have started to learn Welsh. Living In England I know many Welsh speakers which at first did suprise me. S4c digidol and the bbc learn welsh page have been so great.
Philip, London
I won't mind welsh becoming the second language of the uk and national media starting to provide programmes in welsh for national tv and radio. It will provide a more diverse society than the one that we life in at the moment.
Bethan from Llanrug
Why is Adam Johns so petrified of a bilingual Wales?! Surely a bilingual sign, which is what public services currently use is Wales can offend no one? The people of Wales should embrace bilingualism and encourage its benefits which extend beyond speaking a language that can, more or less, only be used in one country. Children who are raised in a bi-lingual household are proven to do better at school as well as being more tolerant of diversity and minorities. In today's climate this can only be a good thing.
Adam Johns from Cardiff
Just because a language started in Wales it does not mean that it is the 'Language OF Wales', it is the language of certain areas of Wales that have Welsh-speaking majorities, like Gwynedd, Ceridigion and Carmarthenshire. Why Welsh has spread into Gwent and Glamorgan, areas with only very distant welsh speaking heritage is beyond me. Wales should not be lumped together as one. I have nothing against Welsh gaining prominence in the North and far-West, but it shouldn't be forced upon the people of the areas with miniature welsh speaking populations.
Dave from Darlington
I lived in North Wales for 5 years and learnt the basics of conversational Welsh. I found it an interesting language to learn and use, and in North Wales it was spoken more often than not. I agree that there are dangers in enforcing the speaking of only Welsh for all activities, but feel that the natural bi-linguality of the people I met was an example to the English monoglot. Welsh and Gaelic should be part of the options for languages outside of their natural environments.
Kittus: Witley
But Welsh ISN'T a foreign language! If you live there it still IS your native tongue whether you speak or not! Iawn.
Jones
If you don't want to speak Welsh, go live somewhere appart from Wales. There isn't much left of Welsh tradition so lets preserve it. Surely it is just your ignorence and jealousy because you can not speak the manguage that causes you to resent it so.
Catrin o Benygroes
Dydwi ddim yn meddwl mae saesneg ydi prif iaith Cymru o gwbwl. Ella ei bod yn 'false language' yn Teeside ond mae hi'n iaith fyw iawn mewn llawer iawn o gymunedau yng Nghymru!
Adam Johns from Cardiff
It's a scandal that Welsh is compulsory up to the age of 16 in schools. Much more important subjects like History and Geography can be (and frequently are) dropped at 14. It makes no sense trying to force Welsh into the lives of English speakers from South-east Wales. If they are going to make a language compulsory then it should be a language that can be used globally, like French or Spanish. The welsh speaking elite are trying to create pride in the 'language of Wales' (don't make me laugh) among people in the South who have had nothing to do with it. We should never forget that Wales is 80% non-welsh fluent and a great proportion of those have absolutely no desire to learn what is essentially a foreign language.
Nia Jenkins, Sir Benfro
Dwi'n cytuno gyda Steffan o Gaerdydd: rhaid i ni sylweddoli fel Cymry fod yr iaith Saesneg yn rhan o'n hanes ni, a'i fod e'n chwarae rhan bwysig yn ein diwylliant nawr. Ond yn bwysicach fyth yw bod ni'n cofio ein iaith draddodiadol, a'n bod ni ddim yn gadael i'r iaith hynaf a phrydfertaf i gael ei chwalu a'i hatgofio, a'n bod ni'n byw yn ddwyieithog, Cymraeg a Saesneg law yn llaw, heb casineb at yr un na'r llall.
Barry Rhuthun
Rwyf yn cyfathrebu gyda fy frindiau yn y cymraeg, dydy o dim yn teimlon iawn i sharad saesneg iddynt felly dwi dim yn credu bod y cymraeg yn "false language"
Kittus: Witley
I'm glad that the Welsh Language is on the attack and is now being learnt in places like England via the internet! Well done everybody! Keep the Welsh Language alive (The Language of Heaven will never die!)
Owen Wynne-Jones from Yr Wyddgrug
Rydw i wedi gadael Cymru, a nawr dw i'n byw yn Norwich. Mae'n pwysig i mi i adnabod o ble rwyf wedi dwad o, a'r ffaith bod dw i'n medru siarad Cymraeg yn andros o help.
Rebecca from Lampeter
The Church of Wales, and the local university should do more to support the Welsh language.
Dwynwen, North Wales
As a Welsh person I am not offended by the use of or the English; however, I think it important to highten awareness of the Welsh culture throughout the British Isles, as well as the other three nations. To educate a new generation is not to tell them waht to think, i.e. 'hate the English' but to let them learn and make up their own minds. The battle between the English and the rest of the nations is nothing short of racsim on all parts and should be reconginsed and stopped. Understanding is what's needed, education the key.
Laura, Manchester
Yes Alun there are dangers but so long as we carry on as we are I don't see a problem. Languages change and adapt and it cannot be stopped, we shouldn't be forced to stop adapting and I'm thankful we're not.
John in London
In answer to Alun of Teesside: there is no danger of Welsh being a "frozen & therefore false language", it is and always has been a vibrant, living language.
Richard Dacobe from poole
Welsh has started along the road to recovery hopefully it will once again be the mother tongue of all welsh people.
Jeff of Abergavenny
Welsh is used as an everyday medium of communication by thousands of schoolchildren in South East Wales, the great majority of whom come from English-speaking homes. A kind of street language, disliked by purists, is used by these youngsters, absorbing many English words and influenced by popular culture. At the same time they are capable of using "standard" Welsh. Surely evidence of a living language?
Steffan yng Nghaerdydd
Dylid bod yn falch iawn o'r Gymraeg a'r Saesneg - ochr yn ochr a'i gilydd. Dylwn dderbyn mai Saesneg yw prif iaith y Cymry ond hefyd pwysigrwydd y Gymraeg.
Alun of Teesside
I can understand why some people want to protect Welsh, but there are dangers - e.g. a frozen & therefore false language, a compulsoriness that borders on tyrannical.
Harolds Carter: Aberystwyth
Read J.Aitchison and H.Carter. Language,Economy and Society. The Changing Fortunes of the Welsh Language in the twentieth Century.Cardiff, Univ.of Wales Press. 2000 and J.Aitchison and H.Carter. Spreading the Word. The Welsh Languiage 2001.Talybont, Y Lolfa. 2004
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