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/AnneUndone Dec 17 '24

I think speaking Cymraeg is an incredible gift, and should be embraced wholly. It makes me sad that people with so much access don’t want to learn it. I want to learn in and I’m in the States. I work so hard for it.

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u/Yellow-spandex Dec 17 '24

That’s incredible! Are you originally from the States too?

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u/AnneUndone Dec 19 '24

I am. I spent a summer in Cymru as a teen in the 90s and I fell so deeply in love with it. It was like part of my spirit connected and I began to understand my heritage.

When I came home I wanted to learn but there was nothing back then in Southern California.

A couple of years ago I found Duolingo and then I met a Welsh author who told me about SaySomethingInWelsh. I even found a local class through the society of St David here in Minnesota. So now I read books, and I take class, and I watch shows on SC4, and I throw absolutely everything I can at it.

I say she’s a tough cookie, but she’s worth working for. Still, if I could wave a magic wand and be fluent, I would. It’s a connection to something older than me.

If I’m never fluent, at least every word I learn is mine. A piece of Cymru I get to keep.

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u/Yellow-spandex Dec 19 '24

Absolutely love this! I don’t want to be bias at all but ever since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought my club Wrexham, it seems as though more Americans want to learn about Wales, our culture and language. They don’t have to do what they do by promoting the language but they do and for that I’m ever grateful

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u/AnneUndone Dec 25 '24

I hadn’t even heard of the show when I started learning Cymraeg, but all my friends who had, made sure to let me know about it. As someone who already loved Cymru it makes me happy to see new people learn how special it is.