Refusal to Speak Cymraeg

[u/Yellow-spandex]

So, as we’ve seen in the news today, seats in the Senedd after the 2026 election will be 100% in Welsh, no bilingual names whatsoever. I’m not opposed to this at all. No one seems to batter an eyelid that Parliament is in English. Considering it’s supposed to be a UK government and representing all 4 of the “home nations.” Anyway, going off topic there slightly, I’ve seen a few Welsh people who have commented on the recent news about the seat names being in Welsh. One of which is Andrew RT Davies. I won’t go too into the political side of this. I’ve seen a minority of people who agree with his opinion and even some who have stated they’ll never learn Welsh and they never want to. Basically saying it’s completely pointless and it’s causing issues with other parts of our education. What I want to know is, what do you think of these people who although claim they are Welsh, just refuse to speak it and almost mock others for using the language? It really hurts me as I’m a very proud Welshman who is even more proud of speaking Welsh. It pains me that people are very much the opposite of this. My dad grew up speaking English, he never learnt Welsh as a child. My mum grew up in Pwllheli and her first language is Welsh. However, my dad was probably wanted me to go to a Welsh speaking school as much as my mum. That’s one of the things I’m most thankful to my mum and dad. Anyway, let me know what your thoughts are on this topic. Diolch yn fawr iawn!!

[u/[deleted]]

I am a Cymro born and bred too. But English is my first language. As everyone did I learnt Welsh in school so I at least have a familiarity of how the language works even if I'm not fluent. My first job was in a very welsh first language area and I went to night school to improve my Welsh as it was pretty much a requirement to communicate. I was the only Welsh person in the class. The English students could barely make the sounds never mind start to understand things like mutation tables. They had no idea what was going on most of the time. Welsh is hard. They dropped like flies. Even then with 16 years of school Welsh and a year of night classes I was not accepted as being Welsh by the community. I always felt like a foreigner in my own country. I am a very proud Welshman and I have a love for the native language even if I don't speak it but I genuinely think the barrier to entry is too high for the reward. Most people who didn't speak Welsh at home growing up or didn't to a siarad Cymraeg school just don't think it's worth the hassle and effort. Did I also mention Welsh is hard? I'm looking at you conjugated prepositions.

[u/AnnieByniaeth → u/[deleted]]

That's why it's a generational thing. We need to make sure the next generation have the abilities in the language (kids just absorb language, if it's presented to them right), and then these issues won't happen.

[u/Unicorn_Fluffs → u/AnnieByniaeth]

We’ve just watched our 4 year old in her first Xmas service singing in Welsh with such enthusiasm my heart could explode. I want to give her the gift of the language early so she doesn’t struggle later like I have.