Spotlight on minority languages – Welsh

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In this article, the aim is not only to entertain you with interesting facts, but also to change your misconceptions about the language.

Welsh is a recognized minority language in the United Kingdom, but did you know that besides having official language status in Wales, it is also a recognized minority language in Argentina?

  • The dialect spoken in Argentina is called Patagonian Welsh. Its speakers can easily communicate with speakers from Wales, although Patagonian Welsh borrows some terms from Spanish.

According to the 2011 census, there are approximately 562,000 speakers in Wales.

  • Although not included in the above mentioned census, there are estimated to be between 5,000-12,000 speakers in Argentina.

Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic language family

  • Other Brythonic languages – Cornish, Breton
  • Extended family members (Goidelic branch of Celtic family) – Irish, Manx and Scottish Gaelic

At one time, Welsh was the dominant language in Wales.

  • It became a minority language by 1911, when around 43.5% of the population of Wales spoke Welsh.
  • According to the 2011 census, around 19% of the population of Wales speaks Welsh.

As the English language was becoming more dominant, Welsh children were discouraged from using the language in schools.

  • Until part of the 20th century, the Welsh Not was used in some schools in Wales. It was a piece of wood hung around the neck of children speaking Welsh, whom in turn could pass it on to a fellow pupil caught speaking Welsh. The child who wore it at the end of the day received a beating.
  • Today, Welsh language education is available both at the primary and the secondary level
  • Welsh language education is currently a compulsory subject in schools until the age of 16.

Now for a few fun Welsh words

  • popty ping microwave
  • plant children
  • toes dough
  • moron carrots
  • pili pala butterfly

Want to see or hear Welsh in action?

  • Radio: BBC Radio Cymru – founded in 1977
  • Television: S4C – founded in November 1982
  • Weekly newspaper: Y Cymro

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonian_Welsh

https://www.ethnologue.com/language/cym

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-rights/society/welsh-language/the-welsh-language/

http://hubpages.com/travel/funny-welsh-words

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