Welsh here. Not everyone speaks it, but that’s because the English (even as late at the 1950’s) used the school system to literally beat it out of us (look up the Welsh Not). Even with that concerted effort to force the language out, it’s growing again after a few generations have passed. Being from the south, I know relatively few people who speak it fluently, but I know exactly 0 people who would actually want it abolished.
My cousin is dating a guy who’s first language is welsh. His family live basically at the base of Snowdonia. He is fluent in English but welsh is definitely his preferred language. I thought he was a bit aloof when I first met him but he later explained he finds it hard to keep up with the conversation and be as witty and quick in English as he is in welsh, especially in a noisy pub. He’s in his early 30s and all his friends from home are bilingual but consider their native language welsh.
The language revival efforts in the British isles are honestly inspiring. In Scotland a lot of people are making sure their children are educated in Gaelic, even though they don’t speak a word themselves.
I don’t speak Welsh fluently (though am taking classes), but am sending my kids to Welsh medium schools (ie classes are conducted in Welsh, not just learning Welsh as a second language). We were told by the head teacher that 80% of the kids there don’t have parents able to speak it at home, so does appear to be a growing trend. I assume the feeling is similar in Scotland and NI, if not as many schools teaching in those languages yet.
If I had actually learnt/used the language then maybe I would feel less indifferent to it and have a connection to Welsh heritage. I don’t think it should be abolished at all but I might be tempted to make it optional rather than compulsory for practical reasons (I don’t hold that view strongly). Ideally we have more languages as compulsory.
Nah the national language is compulsory in pretty much every country.
Here in Germany we obviously have German classes, but also compulsory English and in many schools compulsory 2nd foreign language. For me this was the choice between french and Latin. Other regions have Dutch, Danish, polish, Italian or Spanish.
Welsh here. Not everyone speaks it, but that’s because the English (even as late at the 1950’s) used the school system to literally beat it out of us (look up the Welsh Not). Even with that concerted effort to force the language out, it’s growing again after a few generations have passed. Being from the south, I know relatively few people who speak it fluently, but I know exactly 0 people who would actually want it abolished.
My cousin is dating a guy who’s first language is welsh. His family live basically at the base of Snowdonia. He is fluent in English but welsh is definitely his preferred language. I thought he was a bit aloof when I first met him but he later explained he finds it hard to keep up with the conversation and be as witty and quick in English as he is in welsh, especially in a noisy pub. He’s in his early 30s and all his friends from home are bilingual but consider their native language welsh.
The language revival efforts in the British isles are honestly inspiring. In Scotland a lot of people are making sure their children are educated in Gaelic, even though they don’t speak a word themselves.
I don’t speak Welsh fluently (though am taking classes), but am sending my kids to Welsh medium schools (ie classes are conducted in Welsh, not just learning Welsh as a second language). We were told by the head teacher that 80% of the kids there don’t have parents able to speak it at home, so does appear to be a growing trend. I assume the feeling is similar in Scotland and NI, if not as many schools teaching in those languages yet.
the British trying not to commit cultural genocide for 10 Minutes (impossible)
Seems like the typical British MO. Same thing happened with te Reo Maori in New Zealand.
And Australia, America, Canada…
The British are real arses sometimes.
If I had actually learnt/used the language then maybe I would feel less indifferent to it and have a connection to Welsh heritage. I don’t think it should be abolished at all but I might be tempted to make it optional rather than compulsory for practical reasons (I don’t hold that view strongly). Ideally we have more languages as compulsory.
Nah the national language is compulsory in pretty much every country.
Here in Germany we obviously have German classes, but also compulsory English and in many schools compulsory 2nd foreign language. For me this was the choice between french and Latin. Other regions have Dutch, Danish, polish, Italian or Spanish.
So, no hurt in making Welsh compulsory.