do you regard yourself more welsh if you speak the language?

6 Comments

1. Cocia Ŵyn 'di A!Y says:

   August 22, 2010 at 5:30 pm

   Of course….how many Spaniards do you know that don’t speak Spanish, or Germans who don’t speak German? To Welsh speakers, "Welsh" people who say they are proud to be Welsh, and who’ve lived here for years but still can’t put a coherent sentence together in the language of their own country are just English people with a Welsh accent. How many don’t even know the words to the Welsh national anthem??…it’s not as if it’s difficult to learn.
   I know more Portuguese from a few weeks holiday in Portugal than many so-called ‘proud’ Welsh people know about Welsh after living in this country for over 20 years!!!

   Which is more Welsh….Welsh(speaking) Welsh or English (speaking) Welsh?….it’s a no-brainer!
2. Pip Istrelle says:

   October 7, 2010 at 9:47 am

   I’m from Pembrokeshire. I regard myself as Welsh, always have done, and I’m proud of that fact. *Logically* the language you speak in Wales shouldn’t define your level of “Welshness”, consider Pembrokeshire as an example. North of the landsker has traditionally been Welsh speaking, south of the landsker traditionally not. That doesn’t make someone born and bred in South Pembs any less Welsh than someone from North Pembs and for someone to consider otherwise is just plain rude and ignorant – Even if that part of Pembrokeshire has traditionally be called the Little-England-Beyond-Wales ;o) However, from an *emotional* perspective, of course you’re language is going to define you more strongly.

   I’m North Pembs, family’s not far from Fishguard/Abergwuan, however, I don’t speak Welsh because although my mother was a Welsh speaker she only ever spoke to my brother and I in English when we were growing up I’m trying to rectify that now by learning Welsh as I would like my daughter (nearly 2) to be bi-lingual.

   Give me a few years and I’ll be able to tell you if I feel any more Welsh than I do now
3. Matthew Hamilton says:

   October 24, 2010 at 5:45 pm

   Cocia Ŵyn ‘di A! – You are totally wrong. Some areas of western and northern Wales are Welsh-speaking areas, as you well know, but that does not make their inhabitants more Welsh than people in non-Welsh speaking areas. All the people from the valleys, Newport, Cardiff, the Welsh/English border areas that I’ve met (and that’s a lot as I’m originally from Blackwood/ Y Coed Duon) are EXTREMELY proud to be Welsh. Whether they speak English, English and some Welsh or are bilingual, all the Welsh people I’ve known in my life would die for Wales. Don’t refer to me as a ’so-called’ Welsh person, I’ve represented Wales at sport and I represent Wales every day in my new home (Canada). You have a lot to learn about our country my friend.
4. Carole says:

   November 25, 2010 at 5:09 am

   to Cocia Ŵyn ‘di A!Y
   YOU ARE SO WRONG. and SO ARROGANT.

   I am of Welsh decent and have returned to Wales. Although my Grandparents spoke Welsh. It was not passed on to my Father.
   My Mother was of Irish exrtraction. So I am a Celt and VERY proud if it.
   I do not speak Welsh other than than the normal greetings.
   However I do not feel any less Welsh than my Welsh speaking neighbours.
   Wales For Ever .
5. tom says:

   March 9, 2011 at 6:06 pm

   I’m an Englishman living in Wales and having learnt Welsh consider myself more Welsh than all those Welsh ppl who quickly dropped Welsh at school because its widely seen as a pointless language.

   (Still support England in football though!)
6. Bronwyn Jones says:

   March 14, 2011 at 2:25 am

   Dewch ymlaen pobl!
   Dysgwch Y Gymraeg!
   Defnyddiwch Eich Cymraeg!

   Come on people!
   Learn Welsh!
   Use your Welsh!