Question about the Welsh language
Larry G
I have a question about the Welsh language? How many people in Wales speak
the language? What is the percentage of mother tongue speakers?
Is the language alive in the sense that people live their daily lives in it?
I've noticed that many British institutions on their websites are offering
services in Welsh in addition to English? Do people live in Welsh today,
such as everyday activities such as buying stamps, going to dinner, watching
television, etc.?
Thanks for any answers on this subject. Not being from the UK, I find it
interesting. :)
Larry
Nigel Stapley
"Larry G" <thela...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aq5uo5$6u7l7$1...@ID-37509.news.dfncis.de...
> Hi everyone,
Hi, Larry.
>
> I have a question about the Welsh language? How many people in Wales
speak
> the language?
Best guess - about 600 000 (not sure if last year's Census figures are out
yet). Plus others in other parts of the "U.K." who are not counted in the
Census in those areas.
>What is the percentage of mother tongue speakers?
Again, a guess : probably about 70%, bearing in mind that some who state on
the Census form that they *can* speak it may not have much of a grasp - it
might be a "pride" thing.
>
> Is the language alive in the sense that people live their daily lives in
it?
Yes, where conditions allow. Those conditions usually include living in a
predominantly Welsh-speaking community (of which there are somewhat fewer
than before), especially ones where the local businesses and services
(shops, Post Office, etc.) are still in the hands of local people. This,
too, restricts the possibilities.
Somebody once asked a Welsh-speaker : "Do people actually, erm, make love in
Welsh?". To which he got the reply that, ys, they did, except when they did
it in silence.
> I've noticed that many British institutions on their websites are offering
> services in Welsh in addition to English?
The more cynical would say that it was often nothing more than a token
gesture, especially when you see the quality of the language used. But
public bodies at least are under some legal requirement to provide such a
facility.
> Do people live in Welsh today,
> such as everyday activities such as buying stamps, going to dinner,
watching
> television, etc.?
>
See my earlier answer :-)
> Thanks for any answers on this subject. Not being from the UK, I find it
> interesting. :)
>
> Larry
>
--
Regards,
Nigel Stapley
(remove <gwrthsbam.> to reply)
huwwaters
I use it everyday. 100% certain.
Huw
Lewis Meurig
> Hi everyone,
>
> What is the percentage of mother tongue speakers?
About 20% of the population are able to speak welsh well enough to hold
a conversation and about half of those claim to use Welsh more than
English in their daily life.
I learnt Welsh first and though I could understand English by the age of
seven I hardly ever had to speak it until I went to University.
huwwaters
of
> all in the Principality) only claim the high 60s for mother tongue
speakers.
> A more likely estimate is under 20% (600000 divided by an overall
population
> of 3m gives you exactly this figure)
Cencus figures show: (W.S. = Welsh speakers) (All constituencies)
Aberavon: 9%
Alyn % Deeside: 10%
Blaenau Gwent: 2%
Brecon & Radnor: 18%
Bridgend: 8%
Caernarfon: 79%
Caerphilly: 8%
Cardiff Central: 7%
Cardiff North: 8%
Cardiff South & Penarth: 4%
Cardiff West: 7%
Carmarthen East & Dinefwr: 66%
Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire: 25%
Ceredigion: 59%
Clwyd South: 22%
Clwyd West: 29%
Conwy: 41%
Cynon Valley: 10%
Delyn: 18%
Gower: 20%
Islwyn: 3%
Llanelli: 47%
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy: 65%
Merthyr Rudfil & Rhymney: 7%
Monmouth: 2%
Montgomeryshire: 23%
Neath: 26%
Newport East: 2%
Newport West: 2%
Ogmore: 8%
Pontypridd: 10%
Preseli Pembrokeshire: 24%
Rhondda: 8%
Swansea East: 11%
Swansea West: 9%
Torfaen: 2%
Vale of Clwyd: 21%
Vale of Glamorgan: 7%
Wrexham: 10%
Ynys Môn: 62%
I hope this is of help.
Huw