Hello everyone. Shwmae!
Today’s post is going to be slightly different to my usual, and quite honestly, I am slightly apprehensive about sharing it with you. I have always wanted to be able to share a post that speaks in depth about the Welsh language and its importance, but it is quite a daunting task. Everyone is going to have slightly opposing views on such things, which is the nature of this world, and so I don’t want anything I convey or suggest within this post to be taken offensively, as that is far from the purpose. I do not, however, want to convey a rose-tinted glasses type approach to the subject, as I wish to be honest here about feelings and experiences. Please read with an open mind.
It may seem slightly odd to some of you that I am writing a post about the Welsh language, perhaps raising the question over the purpose of the post. I think my main desire is to be able to promote the language and its importance to me, whilst also sharing my own journey (sounds slightly dramatic, I am aware) with the Welsh language, and my own suggestions as to how we can ensure that the Welsh language survives for many years to come.
It may seem slightly odd to some of you that I am writing a post about the Welsh language, perhaps raising the question over the purpose of the post. I think my main desire is to be able to promote the language and its importance to me, whilst also sharing my own journey (sounds slightly dramatic, I am aware) with the Welsh language, and my own suggestions as to how we can ensure that the Welsh language survives for many years to come.
I really believe very strongly in the value of the Welsh language. It is something that holds an important place in my heart; I cannot imagine living my life without the language, nor would I ever want to. It is straightforward for us, as Welsh speakers, to suggest that people should make more of an effort to speak Welsh, and for them not to do so is disrespectful, but such a stance can be rather patronising. There is a very thin line between approaching such a hot topic within Wales in an enthusiastic way and a rather patronising, and perhaps even aggressive manner. It is wrong to think that in order to gain more of a respect for the Welsh language it must be forced upon someone, at the end of the day, it is someone’s own personal decision to either make an effort to speak more Welsh, or not.
I did um and ah over whether I should be writing this post in Welsh, I questioned whether it was offensive to be conveying opinions on something without writing through the medium of Welsh. Would it seem rather hypocritical if I were to write this post in English, whilst emphasising the importance of the Welsh? But then I realised that to write this post in Welsh would defeat one of my main objectives- to ensure that the Welsh language and community is seen as inclusive; whether you be fluent Welsh, a Welsh learner, someone who wishes to learn Welsh, or perhaps someone who just wishes to learn more about the language. I don’t want to write a post that is only accessible to those who understand the language, as that would mean closing the door on so many. I think it is paramount that in ensuring that we move towards a future where everyone feels included within our Welsh community, as being part of the community is pretty awesome, or at least I certainly believe so.
Oddly, it took me a while to realise just how amazing being able to speak Welsh is and how fantastic it is to be a part of such a fantastic culture.
My mam is from Wales and my Dad is originally from Durham, Northern England, but has spent the vast majority of his life living in Wales. Technically I am not first language Welsh, but who cares about technicalities? As far as I am concerned, Welsh is my first language. Although my parents aren’t fluent Welsh speakers, my dad understands a lot of Welsh, and my mother has been learning Welsh for quite some years now (yay her!), the Welsh language has always been a part of my life. My first introductions to the language would have likely have been from my granddad, who came from a very Welsh background (well, I think the name Harri Gwynfor Morgan may give that way ever so slightly)- I’d spend a lot of time sitting on his lap singing all of the classic tunes “dau gi bach yn mynd i'r goed...” (I hope those familiar with this absolute classic are singing along right now...)
I went to a very lovely primary school, with really wonderful teachers who really promoted the importance of the Welsh language, and despite it not being a solely Welsh language primary school, I am certainly very grateful that I got to learn the language there. We sang in Welsh, performed in Welsh, had our own annual school Eisteddfod (I absolutely loved our school Eisteddfodau), used to compete in the Urdd…it was fantastic, and for a small school, we were given so many great opportunities!
Making the decision of where I’d go to secondary school was one of the hardest decisions my parents had to make. They made the decision that I should go to the Welsh medium secondary school. My mother felt very strongly about me having the chance to be fluent in Welsh, as she has always wished that she was raised as a Welsh speaker, but feared she wouldn’t be able to support me enough, or that my results would suffer due to me not being at perhaps the same level of Welsh as those who came from a far more ‘Welsh’ upbringing. But, she risked it and I am very grateful she did. I had the best time at my secondary school; I met some absolutely amazing people that I remain to care dearly about and made some memories that will remain with me for the remainder of my life. It was very difficult at first, however, to find my feet and my confidence there. There was a part of me that almost didn’t feel ‘good enough’ to speak Welsh (which is quite ridiculous really!) It all came down to me lacking in confidence when it came to speaking Welsh. I did feel like I was not as good as my classmates; I hadn’t succeeded very much in the Eisteddfod, nor had I really been brought up in what felt like a really Welsh community. I was also incredibly shy, so felt very insecure about my ability to carry a conversation in Welsh. It almost felt like I had to speak Welsh rather than I wanted to.
I saw a great change in my mindset when I got to year nine. I absolutely loved my Welsh lessons, and became so inspired by my teacher. This teacher was of great support to me when my grandfather fell very ill, something I am eternally grateful for. I became so inspired by her. I wanted to become better at Welsh, to learn all of the skills and to speak it as much as I could. And, so I did. It was like a little switch went on in my head, I fell in love with language and all that it meant. I started reading more, watching more Welsh TV, I’d always speak to my school friends in Welsh (fellow Welsh speakers) even if they’d respond in English. I really felt as if I belonged to some sort of community. I fell in love with Welsh music, poetry and prose. I had got to that point by choice and I think that is what made it all the more special to me.
The Welsh language plays an integral part in my life. There is something about hearing your language that gives you sense of comfort and belonging. I love listening to Welsh music (I do love a bit of Welsh folk ‘canu gwerin’ to be honest…Sian James over Beyonce any day…thank you very much). Whilst we're on the topic of Welsh favourites, I am absolutely loving a little bit of Radio Cymru at the start of my day, so much so that I ran from my 9:00 lecture that finished at around 9:50 to get to my car [which is parked about 15 mins away], just so that I didn’t miss Bore Cothi at 10:00am, yesssss, that is very true. [Shoutout to Bore Cothi for always putting a little smile on my face in the morning!] These are little things that keep me connected to my language, and things that are very important to me. It is funny how the connection to the Welsh language does always give me a sense of belonging. There is something really nice about that.
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| My brother and I in Rome 2011, about to watch Wales vs Italy. |
The goal is that by 2050, there will be ONE MILLION Welsh speakers. How amazing would that be? It would be fantastic. I think it is so important to appreciate that in order to reach that number, there are going to have to be significant efforts to inspire people to want to speak the language. Something that will require ensuring that we welcome these people with open arms, no matter how Welsh their background, or how much Welsh they know. They must feel included, inspired, encouraged in order to succeed in feeling they have the confidence to speak the Welsh language and identify as a Welsh speaker.
I hate reading all the cr*p (apologies for not using a nicer word, but I don't think a nicer word would be as impactful) in the press about how the Welsh language is dying, or even worse, one article claimed that we should "let it go" because "the Welsh language should be consigned to history" (ucchhh, who do these people think they are?) Such statements can be taken very offensively. It did, however, get me thinking and researching. Why is it such a struggle to engage more people to speak such a wonderful language?
According to statistics, it is the lack of young people speaking Welsh that is raising concerns. Many young people who can speak don't feel comfortable speaking the language with their friends, with fears of making mistakes/not sounding good. This is a common concern. More and more people have anxiety when it comes to speaking the language because they worry they'll make mistakes. I for one find this really sad. It is so sad that people let such fears stop them from progressing and gaining confidence, but I can totally understand such anxieties. I mean, the Welsh language is a difficult language to grasp if you haven't been taught it at a young age. There are many words that have multiple meanings, there are some difficult pronunciations and so SO SO SO so many rules (I was never best friends with the mutations!) It is hard. And it is daunting, so that is why it is so important that we make these people feel confident in their abilities. If we want our language to grow and develop we need to continue to move forward; welcoming people of all backgrounds, abilities, ages and nationalities in being part of what is a fantastic community of Welsh speakers. It will make a difference. I know from my mam that learning Welsh as an adult is no mean feat. It is a challenge, and confidence can prove to be a huge barrier in allowing for progression. She has told me how difficult it can be when you are surrounded by people who are completely comfortable and fluent in the language, and you feel a little daft, but it is people like her (those who are making these efforts to learn) that are making a big difference.
There is also some kind of feeling amongst some young people that the language is perhaps uncool, I can appreciate that the representation of the Welsh language in media etc was possibly directed more towards the more 'mature' crowd in previous years, however, new programmes on S4C (Oh my goodness, how good was 'Un Bore Mercher'?? Oh, and 'Byw Celwydd'??) have really changed my opinion, as well as events such as 'Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae' and 'Dydd Miwsig Cymru' really inspiring use of the language. These small little things can make a big difference in promoting the language, but also adding to the appeal of the language. A few years ago I thought of Welsh music with a very narrow point-of-view believing that if any music was released in the Welsh medium must have been a choir. I now am aware that there are a variety of amazing Welsh artists (not that choirs aren't amazing) out there (if you want to listen to a few of my favourite Welsh songs/artists, I have made a Spotify playlist: click here! :) as you can tell, my taste is quite eclectic! Enjoy). If more people knew of all the amazing things available in Welsh; I do hope more people would be inspired to give speaking Welsh a go.
I don't want this post to come across as if I'm trying to suggest that if you don't speak Welsh you should be ashamed or something. I just wanted to emphasise why I believe the language is so important, whilst also promoting the use of the language/how we could increase Welsh speakers. It is completely YOUR decision whether you speak Welsh or not, and you shouldn't feel pressured into speaking it out of guilt, you should want to speak it. The Welsh language is a beautiful thing that should be spoken with pride.
If you are someone who speaks Welsh 90% of the time, fantastic! If you are someone who can speak Welsh, but chooses not to, fine. But, ask yourself why. If you are someone who is thinking of learning Welsh or is learning Welsh, good on you! That is so great! You are making a difference.
The honest truth is, the world is changing, things are moving. It is not possible to develop and grow if we stay stuck in a little comfortable bubble of 'traditional' Welsh speakers; we have to keep pushing forward laying the foundations for the generations to come. I actually came across the following video in Welsh: ' Ymateb Connagh i "Blismyn Iaith" ' whilst putting together the finishing touches to this post, and quite honestly it really hits the nail on the head when it comes to the problem of getting more people speaking Welsh (if you can speak/understand Welsh, please give it a watch - I think Connagh raises some really valid points). He speaks of how there is an "elitism" and "snobbery" amongst some fluent Welsh speakers, and quite frankly, I can see where he is coming from. If you're a Welsh speaker who is putting someone down because they can't speak Welsh as fluently and confidently as you, yet remain to complain about how people aren't speaking enough Welsh, I think you need to really think long and hard about the message you are projecting. If you feel 'uncomfortable' listening to a Welsh learner speaking the Welsh language because they have to really concentrate on what they are trying to say, that says more about you. How the heck are we expecting that we'll get one million Welsh speakers by 2050 if we're not supporting the people who are making the effort to learn the language, the people that are actually vital in allowing us to possibly achieve that goal? The honest and blunt truth is; it would be naive to believe that the Welsh language is going to thrive without it changing, moving, developing and gaining some new energy. Tradition is important to the Welsh language and culture, yes, but we cannot remain completely stuck in the past. Wanting the Welsh language to survive means encouraging more and more people to feel confident and happy to speak the language, no matter how long they've been speaking it, or how good they are at speaking it. They are making a HUGE difference.
Thank you so much to the Welsh learners for making a conscious effort to learn the language and thank you to those that support them in doing so.
Okay, I'm going to stop speaking now. I do hope that what I have said makes sense and provokes some sort of thought process. I just love the Welsh language so dearly.
If you are someone who speaks Welsh 90% of the time, fantastic! If you are someone who can speak Welsh, but chooses not to, fine. But, ask yourself why. If you are someone who is thinking of learning Welsh or is learning Welsh, good on you! That is so great! You are making a difference.
The honest truth is, the world is changing, things are moving. It is not possible to develop and grow if we stay stuck in a little comfortable bubble of 'traditional' Welsh speakers; we have to keep pushing forward laying the foundations for the generations to come. I actually came across the following video in Welsh: ' Ymateb Connagh i "Blismyn Iaith" ' whilst putting together the finishing touches to this post, and quite honestly it really hits the nail on the head when it comes to the problem of getting more people speaking Welsh (if you can speak/understand Welsh, please give it a watch - I think Connagh raises some really valid points). He speaks of how there is an "elitism" and "snobbery" amongst some fluent Welsh speakers, and quite frankly, I can see where he is coming from. If you're a Welsh speaker who is putting someone down because they can't speak Welsh as fluently and confidently as you, yet remain to complain about how people aren't speaking enough Welsh, I think you need to really think long and hard about the message you are projecting. If you feel 'uncomfortable' listening to a Welsh learner speaking the Welsh language because they have to really concentrate on what they are trying to say, that says more about you. How the heck are we expecting that we'll get one million Welsh speakers by 2050 if we're not supporting the people who are making the effort to learn the language, the people that are actually vital in allowing us to possibly achieve that goal? The honest and blunt truth is; it would be naive to believe that the Welsh language is going to thrive without it changing, moving, developing and gaining some new energy. Tradition is important to the Welsh language and culture, yes, but we cannot remain completely stuck in the past. Wanting the Welsh language to survive means encouraging more and more people to feel confident and happy to speak the language, no matter how long they've been speaking it, or how good they are at speaking it. They are making a HUGE difference.
Thank you so much to the Welsh learners for making a conscious effort to learn the language and thank you to those that support them in doing so.
Okay, I'm going to stop speaking now. I do hope that what I have said makes sense and provokes some sort of thought process. I just love the Welsh language so dearly.
Thanks so much reading!
Happy Welsh Week people of Carmarthen! Oh, and happy St David's Day (DYDD GWYL DEWI HAPUS) for tomorrow. Eat plenty of cawl and Welsh cakes!
Llawer o gariad
xxx
Love always,
Eve
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xxx
