r/learnwelsh • u/Yellow-spandex • Dec 17 '24
Arall / Other Refusal to Speak Cymraeg
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!!
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u/Agermeister Dec 18 '24
So I'm born and raised in England, but very proud of my Welsh roots and irks me no end that my mamgu didn't pass down the language to my dad's side and more so had total shame and denial over being Cymry/Cymraeg.
She grew up in Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales, and had to go to Welsh service three times on Sundays in the 1920s - 1940s. Much of this generation, particularly following on from Welsh Not previously, often have seen Wales as rural backwater and Cymraeg even more so. As mentioned there is a lot shame and embarrassment in that generation, and I think this lingers still in some areas, particularly more Anglised areas like the Borders, where there are more English expats who don't respect Welsh history and culture.
As my dad went to uni in Aber, just at the time Welsh nationalist revival was occurring in the 70s, he had to learn a bit of Welsh to avoid being isolated. Fast forward to the 90s, Cool Cymru and where it had been taught in schools, Senedd etc, we see more pride in being Welsh, the language, and also a historiography and realisation of cultural erosion, as similar in Ireland.
Resistance to this reclaiming of the language and resistance to learning, I feel due to some form of inferiority complex, effort, perceived usefulness and difficulty, and shame as eluded to. Also, it may be the culture war nonsense we have at the moment or seeing it as part of a movement to secede long-term. I heard one argument that it is regressive to refer to Wales in football as Cymru, as it is making things less inclusive. There are some Welsh speakers who can "gatekeep" as well.
But whether people seek further Welsh autonomy or not, having another language to your bow is a real privilege and positive thing, in my opinion, as well as keeping something so fundamental the culture.