The Welsh Language

Since I have been in Czech Republic, many people have come to me with the question, "what exactly is the Welsh language?" So I have prepared some information about it in the form of a short article, I hope you find it informative and it gives you an insight into the nature of Welsh and its origins.

Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon: A nation without a language is a nation without a heart.

The Welsh language has an incredibly rich history; intertwined with the nation’s culture and heritage the ancient dialect has survived migration, revolution and persecution to become a contemporary institution and symbol of pride among the Welsh people.

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Despite this, beyond the borders little is known of Wales and its language, as a small country of just 3.5 million inhabitants it is often overlooked as an extension of England, and many people do not realise it as an officially bilingual nation with its own perplexing narrative.

So what is the story of the Welsh language; how did it come to be that even the proudest Welshman still might find himself without his native tongue; and what is changing people’s attitudes towards this subject?

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