Welsh speakers

[Gnojek]

Re: Welsh speakers

Yes I do. Based on your avatar, I'm in the next valley across from you. I went to a local Welsh primary school, then secondary school. I soon got used to the "Welshie" tag, that would sometimes mean having to justify why my parents sent me to a Welsh school, along with plenty of patronising "iacky da" and "say something in Welsh, then".

I fully appreciate some lose their Welsh after their school days end - mine got a little rusty after three years at university in Southampton - but thankfully I've kept mine and use it daily, both in work (mine is not a "Welsh speaking role") and socially. Although I'm proud to be able to speak the language and promote its use where and when I can, I'd never ram it down anyone's throat or be a language policeman. Each to their own in terms of their opinions although I do find some of the replies on the Cymru/FAW thread to be a little strange, but opinions are just that, there's no right and wrong.

As for those that have tried to learn it - or don't fancy starting - like any language, it's not easy (especially starting out) and I genuinely sympathise. That's especially true for monoglots. Being taught bilingually certainly helps at a young age and it seems widely accepted that being bilingual makes it easier to then learn a third language etc. I speak Welsh to my kids, who are fully bilingual as they speak English to my wife.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Welsh speakers

As for those that have tried to learn it - or don't fancy starting - like any language, it's not easy (especially starting out) and I genuinely sympathise. That's especially true for monoglots. Being taught bilingually certainly helps at a young age and it seems widely accepted that being bilingual makes it easier to then learn a third language etc. I speak Welsh to my kids, who are fully bilingual as they speak English to my wife.

Were your parents Welsh speakers ?

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: Welsh speakers

I understand basic football commentary in Welsh from watching Italian and Spanish football on Sgorio when I was a kid, but that's about it.
I can struggle through most of the national anthem parrot fashion, but no idea what I'm singing.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Welsh speakers

I understand basic football commentary in Welsh from watching Italian and Spanish football on Sgorio when I was a kid, but that's about it.
I can struggle through most of the national anthem parrot fashion, but no idea what I'm singing.

If you are happy with that , that's cool

If you want to learn there are loads of opportunities

Has the promotion of the language gone too far ?

Is it best just naturally letting young people carry the torch ?

Is it worth the money being spent ?

All fair questions which can be talked about without being accused of being anti Welsh language

[Gnojek]

Re: Welsh speakers

Were your parents Welsh speakers ?

One was, the other not.

[splott parker]

Re: Welsh speakers

Having a Catholic upbringing and schooling, it was more ‘Hail Glorious St Patrick’ than ‘O Great St David’. Half day off for St David’s Day and a full day off for St Patrick’s Day. No Calon Lan or Myfanwy, in fact no Welsh education at all. Looking back I do wish our history lessons were Welsh biased rather than, what it seemed like, glorifying conquering other ‘inferior’ countries, ‘educating’ them in ‘English’ ways and Empire building. One contradiction was that, with hindsight, I’d have thought there’d have been more on the struggle of the Irish to break free of Westminster than reciting Kings & Queens of England. All most probably due to Wales bowing to the English system. Has the curriculum changed now? Are pupils (I won’t call school kids students, that moniker is for further education) now learning Welsh history?

[ToTaL ITK]

Re: Welsh speakers

It's pathetic that the school system (at the time ) threw welsh german and french at me in the same year... I had no chance.

[goats]

Re: Welsh speakers

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Welsh_areas_by_percentage_of_Welsh-speakers

[Canton Kev]

Re: Welsh speakers

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...Welsh-speakers

Those numbers are nearly 12 years old

[JamesWales]

Re: Welsh speakers

Don't speak Welsh and I wish the whole topic would be depoliticised somewhat. Language is how people communicate. How mothers speak to children, how people order coffees, how people greet themselves etc.

There is no need for the endless political projects to promote the language. It is growing, it is not under threat. What's needed is more organic Welsh within the community.

Whenever this is put to the test, anecdotally or otherwise, Welsh rarely seems to be used; be it enquiries on companies dedicated welsh lines, requests for data in welsh, cash machine withdrawals in welsh, even down to the fact I used to live near Glan Taf and would walk past kids on the way to work - they were never conversing in Welsh together - why is that?

I enjoy the language as an outsider. I like listening to the music on radio cymru, I think it's nice to hear it spoken and I wish we had more welsh folk music nights in town etc, but I'm not convinced the endless agitation and promotion helps if I'm honest.

[splott parker]

Re: Welsh speakers

Don't speak Welsh and I wish the whole topic would be depoliticised somewhat. Language is how people communicate. How mothers speak to children, how people order coffees, how people greet themselves etc.

There is no need for the endless political projects to promote the language. It is growing, it is not under threat. What's needed is more organic Welsh within the community.

Whenever this is put to the test, anecdotally or otherwise, Welsh rarely seems to be used; be it enquiries on companies dedicated welsh lines, requests for data in welsh, cash machine withdrawals in welsh, even down to the fact I used to live near Glan Taf and would walk past kids on the way to work - they were never conversing in Welsh together - why is that?

I enjoy the language as an outsider. I like listening to the music on radio cymru, I think it's nice to hear it spoken and I wish we had more welsh folk music nights in town etc, but I'm not convinced the endless agitation and promotion helps if I'm honest.

You got me with ‘order coffees’

[JamesWales]

Re: Welsh speakers

You got me with ‘order coffees’

Merely one example!

[+ the native hipster]

Re: Welsh speakers

translation of yma o hyd ?

[Des Parrot]

Re: Welsh speakers

Born & brought up in Wales but no Welsh, I did teach myself the anthem ( for the FA cup final). Like others, Latin, French & Spanish at school, no Welsh option.

3 of my 4 sons speak Welsh, including the Manx ones, to varying levels. They speak Welsh around me to wind me up!

[Whisperer]

Re: Welsh speakers

Don't speak Welsh and I wish the whole topic would be depoliticised somewhat. Language is how people communicate. How mothers speak to children, how people order coffees, how people greet themselves etc.

There is no need for the endless political projects to promote the language. It is growing, it is not under threat. What's needed is more organic Welsh within the community.

Whenever this is put to the test, anecdotally or otherwise, Welsh rarely seems to be used; be it enquiries on companies dedicated welsh lines, requests for data in welsh, cash machine withdrawals in welsh, even down to the fact I used to live near Glan Taf and would walk past kids on the way to work - they were never conversing in Welsh together - why is that?

I enjoy the language as an outsider. I like listening to the music on radio cymru, I think it's nice to hear it spoken and I wish we had more welsh folk music nights in town etc, but I'm not convinced the endless agitation and promotion helps if I'm honest.

Yeah I never enjoyed the Language, It pisses me off that you can't get the choice of English commentary on S4C when the footie is on, different for rugby of course you can always have the language choice. and when I was a kid and there was only 3 TV channels I hated Miri Mawr.