"The existence of Welsh is one of the great paradoxes of British history and culture". Discuss.

[JamesBond007]

True.

How is the Cornish language holding up ?

[billErobreren]

It is sad that the Irish and Scottish, who fought so hard to preserve part of their culture, between them their languages ​​are being diluted because of English, paradoxically this is happening more now that both have their independent or semi-independent areas.

As perplexing as it is that Welsh has been preserved and shows promise to outlive her insular cousins, I don't see the Irish and Scottish situation as interchangeable nor similar. Scotland was the first solidified Kingdom in Britain, and the lands that they'd garner that were either Gaelic, Pictish, Cumbric, Norse or English speaking would give up something. Picts were less developed than the Gaels so the latter garnered the influence, the Cumbric spoken in Strathclyde wouldn't be long for this world either, most would be lost to the to English. Mind, that English showed up in Eastern Scotland close to the same time Saxons and Angles were pitching tents in Eastern England, so much of the lairds in Scotland would've been speaking either Gaelic or their Northern English offshoot, both are as native to Scotland as the other considering someone with a boat brought them over whether from Ulster or today's Schleswig. Oh that reminds me, the Norm spoken in the North died out too, the Island where they were once spoken, came with a Danish consort's dowry and they went to Scotland, not England, only picked up English/Scots because it was the most familiar one spoken by their new countrymen.

Ireland and Wales' situation is more comparable, neither were solidified kingdoms rather related principalities that acknowledged their kinship and everyone virtually spoke the same language, but ruled by princes that either claimed descent from Niall of the nine hostages or with the Welsh, some heroes from Y Gododdin. Ironically they'd be brought together by English expansion. Scotland, the lone standing kingdom, eventually ended with both crowns, along with the real estate from the 2 other countries. Wales' being this well preserved is a miracle, could be that their being quieter than the Irish worked out in the long run

It is co-official with English within Wales. It used to have a low status, now not so much.

By the by, have you picked any of it up? If there's an old language worth preserving, it's that one.

[Tooting Carmen]

By the by, have you picked any of it up? If there's an old language worth preserving, it's that one.

A little.

[Tooting Carmen]

How is the Cornish language holding up ?

Barely exists anymore.

[billErobreren]

Barely exists anymore.

Last I checked, it's only being revived and it's about 500 or so that made the effort to learn some of it, don't see a future for it, considering that.

A little.

Ah, shame, the sentence structure is a bit odd, so can't say I blame ya.

[Tooting Carmen]

Some stats about the usage of Welsh among our schoolchildren: https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalog...Welsh-Language

[Daco Celtic]

Irish, Scots, and Welsh are invited to my party . No other British Isles.

[JamesBond007]

Irish, Scots, and Welsh are invited to my party . No other British Isles.

Lowena dhis , Hirneth heb dha weles. A wodhes'ta kewsel Kernewek? Nyns yw unn yeth lowr !

[Tooting Carmen]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63860772


Latest figures show fewer people speak the Welsh language

The number of Welsh speakers has fallen in the past decade, with fewer children speaking the language.

In 2021 an estimated 538,000 in Wales aged three and over (17.8% of the population) said they can speak it, the Office for National Statistics found.

In 2011 562,000, or 19%, spoke it.

But after the figures were released First Minister Mark Drakeford ruled out making Welsh compulsory for all children, claiming it would set back the language.

During First Minister's Questions in the Senedd, he insisted this was not the way to securing a healthy future for the language.

"It will alienate people who are sympathetic to the Welsh language, it will set the language backwards," he said.

One of the main factors contributing to the overall decrease is fewer Welsh speakers aged three to 15.



The percentage of people able to speak Welsh recorded in 2021 is the lowest ever recorded in a census.

The 2021 census was held in March that year, during the coronavirus pandemic, following periods of remote learning for children.

The Welsh government said in its analysis that it was not known how the pandemic may have affected people's reported Welsh language ability.

Deputy Welsh language commissioner Gwenith Price believed there is "considerable" work to be done to boost the language.

"The proposed Welsh Language Education Bill must therefore do more than introduce minor adjustments to the current system, and guarantee an opportunity for all learners to develop into confident Welsh speakers," she said.

She recognised the census was carried out during the pandemic and this may have affected parents' understanding of children's skills

"It would be unwise to attribute these disappointing results to the effects of the pandemic alone," Ms Price added.

Education Minister Jeremy Miles told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Ginio he was disappointed, especially given the current enthusiasm for the language.

"These statistics are not going to make a difference to our full commitment as a government to the Welsh language strategy 2015 and the target of one million of speakers by 2050," he said.

'Use it or lose it'

Jill Little, who grew up in Ely, Cardiff, said she had no Welsh around her.

The 62-year-old has now joined an intensive Welsh course and been partnered with a Welsh speaker to help.

"It's very important. You have to keep practising. Use it or lose it as they say."


Jill Little is part of a Welsh intensive speaking course

Welsh tutor Caroline Murphy said: "I was hoping to hear more encouraging news.

"I think education is key and we need to be introducing more Welsh in schools and normalising the language and making learning it more accessible."


This Welsh tutor says we need to normalise the use of Welsh

The percentage of residents aged three and over able to speak Welsh decreased between 2011 and 2021 in all local authorities except Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Merthyr Tydfil.

Carmarthenshire saw the largest decrease from 43.9% in 2011 to 39.9% in 2021. Carmarthenshire also saw the largest drop in Welsh speakers between the 2001 and 2011 census, the Welsh government said.


The highest percentages of people able to speak Welsh were recorded in Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey

Among children and young people aged three to 15, the percentage who could speak Welsh decreased in all local authorities between 2011 and 2021.

There were small increases in the percentage of people able to speak Welsh in the younger adult age groups (aged 16 to 19, and 20 to 44 respectively), with decreases for the older age groups.

The National Eisteddfod cultural festival said it was "more important than ever" to inspire people to learn "our crucially important language".

"It's essential that the Eisteddfod continues to travel in the future, so that people in all parts of Wales get a taste of our language and culture on their doorstep," said chief executive Betsan Moses.

Six years ago the Welsh government set a target to have one million speakers in Wales by 2050.



Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for children, young people and the Welsh Language, said it was "extremely concerning" to see such a fall in the number of children speaking Welsh.

"This data shows that it's not enough to simply set a target - it needs to be backed up by action. The reality is we're now further away from Labour's goal of one million speakers by 2050 than we were 10 years ago," she said.

She said it showed the critical role of teachers with Welsh language abilities is, and investment in schools.

"We don't have enough of either, so if Welsh government are serious about reaching their target, they must ensure further investment in these areas."



Mr Miles said there were now more children in Welsh medium education than a decade ago, "so the progress is clear in that respect".

Welsh Conservative shadow minister for the Welsh language Samuel Kurtz said the drop was "a deeply disappointing statistic that shows the Labour government is further off meeting its Cymraeg 2050 ambition than it was when it set the target of reaching a million speakers in 30 years' time".

[Ruggery]

With English as the mother tongue, I am not surprised that other languages ​​are disappearing. Centuries ago it was imposed by the English, now it is because of the power that the English language has worldwide.

A pity the truth.