welsh a language in danger
DESCRIPTION
This is my project "Treball de recerca" about the welsh languageTRANSCRIPT
Welsh: A language in danger!
Miriam Rosa Espinet
2nd Batxillerat
I.E.S Josep Lladonosa
Introduction to my project
When I was in Wales , I slowly became aware of the presence of another language, a language that I could see everywhere but I never heard being spoken.
Therefore, I decided to make an investigation of their language and culture, to found the answer to this question: “How can a country be proud of its culture if they lose their language? “
Methodology
To try to find answers to my questions I used various methods:
Questionnaires to Welsh people.
Interview to a Welsh person.
Comparisons with our bilingual area.
Two weeks in Wales on a student exchange.
WALES
Wales is a country of the United Kingdom. This territory has been occupied by different cultures. Celts were the first to arrive until they were defeated by the invading Romans in 43 AD. In the 5th and 6th centuries came the Saxons who pushed the Welsh further and further towards the west.
In 1282 Edward I of England introduce the English common law system and abolished Welsh law.
Therefore, Wales became part of England, even though its people spoke a different language and had a different culture.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a small country of Europe. Its capital is London. The United Kingdom is an abbreviation of “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” and is the political name of the country which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
People from England are called English, but Welsh, Scottish and Irish are all British. The union of all these countries become The Great Britain.
Welsh Language
Welsh is a Celtic language, like Scottish and Irish Gaelic.
It is estimated that Welsh is spoken by 16 to 20% of the population, although in North and West Wales 50% speak the language.
Historic treatment of Welsh The Laws in Wales Acts 1536–1543 were a series of
parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and the norms of English administration introduced, in order to create a single state and a single legal jurisdiction, which is frequently referred to as England and Wales. The Acts refer in particular to two Acts of Parliament passed in 1536 and 1543 during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, who came from the Welsh Tudor dynasty.
Section 20 of the 1535 Act makes English the only language of the law courts, and that those who used Welsh would not be appointed to any public office in Wales.
Catalan Language
Catalan is a romance language result of the progressive evolution of Vulgar Latin.
Catalan developed on both sides of the Pyrenees Mountains it spread though Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and most of Valencia.
Historic treatment of Catalan
On the 6th of January 1716, Felip V signed the Decret de Nova Planta which included the prohibition of Catalan in administration and the abolishment of all Catalan institutions, such as La Generalitat or Les Corts Catalanes.
Comparison between Welsh and Catalan
There are certain similarities in the way the language were treated.
This treatment had serious consequences for both languages, but people protect them.
Therefore, why Catalan people still talk Catalan and Welsh people don’t talk their language?
Comparissons Between Welsh and Catalan
Welsh Language Catalan Language
Wales Acts 1536–1543 Decret de Nova Planta 1716
English is an internacional language
Spanish is an internacional language
English migration to Wales of the XIX century
Spanish migration to Catalonia of the XX century
English
Is the fact that Welsh is competing with one of the most widely spoken languages in the world an important factor in the number of people that speak Welsh?
The fact that Welsh people have used English to communicate internationally would not have helped to encourage the use of Welsh
Welsh Immigration
Following the industrial revolution Wales - particularly South Wales - became a melting pot of European nationalities and cultures.
Initially workers from England, Ireland and the rural areas of Wales fed a growing demand for labour in the South Wales coalfields.
Life in the Valleys
Mining has been one of the great Welsh industries for many years along with the iron and steel trades.
During the industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, the valleys of south Wales became the iron and steel capital of the world.
Welsh Culture
When I started to do my project I though that Welsh people don’t have the option to read in their language, or watch television in their language, or listen music in their language.
Before I investigated I see that they have an own TV channel, an own radio and a lot of welsh music. They have good literature and press, too.
Welsh is a complete culture but Welsh people don’t have interest in it.
Welsh and their words: A politician
David Lloyd George, although born in Manchester of Welsh parents, was brought up in Wales.
He entered the House of Commons at the age of twenty-seven as a member of the Liberal Party.
He became the first Welsh Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1916, a post he held until 1922.
Welsh and their Words: A poet
Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea and worked in London as a journalist writing radio and film scripts at the same time.
He creates the atmosphere of a typical Welsh village by the magical use of words and characters.
One of his most famous poems begin with the lines opposite, which he wrote sitting beside the bed of his dying father.
Welsh and their words: An actor
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, born 31 December 1937 is a Welsh film, stage and television actor.
Considered to be one of film's greatest living actors. He is known for his portrayal of cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
YMA O HYD Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen,
Does neb yn ei nabod o;Mae mil a chwe chant o flynyddoeddYn amser rhy hir i'r co';Pan aeth Magnus Maximus o GymruYn y flwyddyn tri-chant-wyth-tri,A'n gadael yn genedl gyfanA heddiw: wele ni!
Ry'n ni yma o hyd, Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth,
Chwythed y gwynt o'r Dwyrain,Rhued y storm o'r môr,Hollted y mellt yr wybrenA gwaedded y daran encôr,Llifed dagrau'r gwangalonA llyfed y taeog y llawrEr dued yw'r fagddu o'n cwmpasRy'n ni'n barod am doriad y wawr!
Cofiwn i Facsen WledigAdael ein gwlad yn un darnA bloeddiwn gerbron y gwledydd'Mi fyddwn yma tan Ddydd y Farn!'Er gwaetha pob Dic Siôn Dafydd,Er gwaetha 'rhen Fagi a'i chriwByddwn yma hyd ddiwedd amserA bydd yr iaith Gymraeg yn fyw!
You don't remember Macsen,nobody knows him;Sixteen hundred yearsIs too long to remember;Magnus Maximus left WalesIn the year 383Leaving us a proper nationAnd today - look at us!
We're still here despite everyone and everything
Let the wind blow from the EastLet the storm roar from the seaLet the lightning split the heavensLet the tears of the weak-hearted flowLet the servile lick the floorDespite the blackness around us
We are ready for the breaking of the dawn!
We remember that Macsen the Emperorleft our country in one whole piece,And we will shout before all nations'We'll be here until the Judgment Day!'We'll be here until the end of time,And the Welsh language will live!
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU HAVE A WELSH NAME OR SURNAME?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Less than 20 Between 20and 40
More than40
Yes
No
Results of the questionnaires
CAN YOU SPEAK WELSH?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Less than 20 Between 20 and 40 More than 40
Yes
No
A bit
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU SPEAK WELSH AT HOME?
0102030405060708090
100
Less than 20 Between 20and 40
More than 40
Yes
No
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU SPEAK WELSH AT SCHOOL?
0102030405060708090
100
Less than 20 Between 20 and40
More than 40
Yes
No
Sometimes
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU SPEAK WELSH WITH ANY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES?
0
20
40
60
80
100
Less than 20 Between 20 and 40 More than 40
Yes
No
Sometimes
Results of the questionnaires
CAN YOUR PARENTS SPEAK WELSH?
0
20
40
60
80
100
Less than 20 Between 20 and 40 More than 40
Yes
No
Results of the questionnaires
CAN YOUR GRANDPARENTS SPEAK WELSH?
0
10
2030
40
50
6070
80
90
Less than 20 Between 20 and 40 More than 40
Yes
No
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN WELSH AT SCHOOL?
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Less than 20 Between 20 and 40 More than 40
Yes
No
Results of the questionnaires
HOW OFTEN DO YOU WATCH A WELSH CHANNEL?
0102030405060708090
Less than 20 Between 20 and40
More than 40
Always
Sometimes
Never
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO WELSH MUSIC?
0102030405060708090
100
Less than 20 Between 20and 40
More than 40
Always
Sometimes
Never
Results of the questionnaires
DO YOU THINK WELSH PEOPLE SHOULD USE WELSH MORE OFTEN THAN ENGLISH?
0102030405060708090
100
Less than 20 Between 20 and40
More than 40
Yes
No
Conclusions
The conclusions of my project are exactly what I thought when I decided to make this project:
Welsh language needs help because is near to disappear.
The government is trying to revive the language with projects in Welsh language.
If Welsh people don’t care about their own language anybody will do it.
Welsh people don’t have interest in their culture.
What can we do to help the Catalan language to not be in danger?
We shouldn’t wait until a 25% of the population speak the language like in Wales.
We must be careful with our language and love it because it’s something characteristic of our country and if we don’t care about it nobody will do it.
We must raise awareness among young people of our society to look after our heritage.
Gratitudes
I’m very grateful to my project tutor, Montse Barri for her help and support in all these year full of work.
Diolch am eich sylw
Thank you for your attention