This could start a trend....

Seriously??

 

Not you sir, the article.

 

" As it should be" ?? Why??

in 2021, an estimated 538,000 usual residents in Wales aged three years and over (17.8%) reported being able to speak Welsh, which is a decrease since 2011 (562,000, 19.0%). It is also considered to be a very difficult language to learn.

Some on here quick to point the finger at 'negative' Nationalism' in England suddenly leap to teh defence of Welsh Nationalists drive to promote a language that is only used by a small percentage of the domestic population and a minority in a very few countries where Welsh people have migrated too.

You are missing the whole point of my post. I repeat I have nothing against people who want to learn their traditional language but forcing them to do so via expensive educational policies seems a waste of limited resources. Carried to its logical conclusion if every one in Wales only spoke Welsh they would become very isolated in the World of International commerce and business.
The same applies to Italy and many other countries where any people who wish to trade/work abroad have to learn a second language. For now the international language of business IS English be it U.S or U.K. It makes little logical sense to change what, of the majority of Welsh people, is already their first language to attempt to reverse that and make Welsh the first language and English the second.

England and America as well as many other countries tend to lag behind when it comes to language teaching. Many Belgiums, Germans, French, NIgerians Dutch I know ...(the list goes on). are bi-lingual to varying degrees mainly because they need to be for the aforementioned international 'portability' that speaking English offers. Even now an increasing number of English words, particularly in the new World of technical advancement are absorbed into other languages . Watch Italian TV for a short time and particularly in commercials it is amazing how many times 'English' words are used ..e.g.'laptop', 'computer' etc.

 

On a lighter note..I remember when we first toured North Wales in the band, long before Sat Nav, we had to rely on maps and we got lost since we appeared to be driving around in circles as we kept seeing road signs pointing to a place called 'Cyfleusterau' which was not on any map we had.

When we eventually got to our venue we explained how we got lost and asked where this mythical place was and was it like 'Brigadoon' appearing only one day every one hundred years.? He cracked up and explained it was actually a sign for 'Public convenience'.

 

It's an older form of Welsh that has mutated over the years... during the Falklands War, the Welsh Brits and Welsh Argentinian prisoners couldn't understand each other... apparently.

 

I had a welsh friend down that way this year and they were having trouble at the chile border, he didn’t speak welsh but his girlfriend does, he persuaded her to try speaking welsh to the border guard - he understood her and they were let in!

 

Welsh is the language of that part of the world. Just because its been suppressed over the centuries doesn't mean it should always be that way. How else will a language be reintroduced unless schools teach it as the main language ? Plus being bilingual is a positive, makes learning other languages easier for a start

 

Cymru v Armenia 16 June - Euro Qualifiers.
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Researcher is conducting a survey into sheep shagging.

First of all he visits a Cornish farmer.

"So, Cornish farmer, how do you shag your sheep?"

"Well, I take the hind legs of the sheep and put them down my wellie boot and take the front legs of the sheep and put them over a wall."

"That's very interesting," replies the researcher and he leaves the Cornish farmer.

Then he meets a Midlands Farmer.

"So, Midlands farmer, how do you shag your Sheep?"

"Well, I take the hind legs of the sheep and put them down my wellie boots and take the front legs of the sheep and put them over a wall."

"That's very interesting," replies the researcher. "That's how they do it in Cornwall too."

And he leaves the Midlands farmer.

Then he meets a farmer from Merthyr

"So, Merthyr farmer, how do you shag your Sheep?"

"Well, I take the hind legs of the sheep and put them down my wellie boots and take the front legs of the sheep and put them over my shoulders."

"Over your shoulders?" replies the researcher. "Don't you put them over a wall like everyone else?"

"What?" says the farmer. "And miss out on all the kissing?!"

 

The real question is, is culture about a language, or other things? The Undertones, Thin Lizzy & Stiff Little Fingers. They made a new language, not opposed to anyone speaking any language they grew up with, but who had the greater impact?