Do you think Welsh and Irish will still be here within a century as strong living languages?
Monday, September 21st, 2009 at
6:25 am
btw i Speak welsh it's my native language but with english and other languages as they are what are the chances?
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Tagged with: languages • native language • welsh
Filed under: Written and Spoken Welsh
Is dócha liom – I hope so. I speak Irish – not completely fluently – I’m not a native gaelgóir. I absolutely love the language and it’s upsetting to think of it dying out. I think the way it’s taught in secondary schools needs to be changed. There’s too much focus on written grammar, when in all fairness (and I’m a teacher), most people aren’t going to use written Irish again in their professional careers. There should be way more focus on conversational Gaeilge. Most kids seem to enjoy it in primary school, but they’re not examined on it (or any other subjects via formal state exams) at that level. So many beautiful stories and poems would be lost, and a whole way of speaking too.
Yes, as long as there are nationalists living in those countries..
I’ve Welsh blood myself
I doubt it
In that time they will all be Hissing
edit
Two thumbs down speaks volumes
Glad My Old Dad isn’t here to see all this
He was extremely proud of His Welsh Heritage
CYMRU AM BYTH
Well……………. Welsh will!! We are raising generations of native first language Welsh speakers, using the language naturally every day, creating new Welsh words to match innovations as they come along, making sure that Welsh is recognised in places such as this and is used in commerce, education, politics and social occasions.
Of course Welsh will be stronger in some areas of Wales than others. And, as with English, different areas will have different accents and dialects. But Welsh will survive…………. and thrive………….. there is a saying "Use it or lose it"……….. Welsh is in use every day……………….so………………….. future assured!!!
So?? Who did I upset???
They will as long as people keep speaking them, and people pass them on to their children as their native language. Hopefully anyway.
I think there’s a very good chance that Welsh will, provided we get the balance right between legislation and the softly-softly approach. For example, I approve in principle of requiring the private sector to do notices etc bilingually, but I think there’s a great danger of alienating non-Welsh speakers who have their own businesses. We also need to really work hard on getting Welsh speakers to use their language on as many occasions as possible, to bring their children up in the language, and to stay in Wales! I fail on the last count, but you just can’t do the work I do in Wales.
But the good thing is that there are lots of native Welsh speakers (and learners) of all ages, and good visibility and a high level of use.
As for Irish: I’m very much afraid that the chances are not good. I hope it does survive, but I can’t see what can really be done to make it happen.