Learning and speaking Welsh with u3a - in England!
Rhys, from Witney u3a's Welsh group, busts common myths about the Welsh language and shares the joys of learning Welsh in England.
How much do you know about Welsh? Let me guess:
- There's a severe shortage of vowels
- Welsh place names are unpronounceable
- Wales has the UK's longest place name
- It sounds 'gutteral' - like someone clearing their throat
- Most words in modern Welsh are borrowed from English, and Welsh is a dialect of English.
These are common beliefs, but only one of them is right!
Myth 1: Lack of vowels
Welsh actually has more vowels than English, because 'w' and 'y' are also vowels. So it has five vowels overall.
Myth 2: Hard to pronounce
Welsh is a phonetic language. Once you learn the rules, place names are easy, and spoken exactly how they're written - no exceptions. Unlike places like Gloucester, Leicester, Derby and Bicester...
Myth 3: Gutteral sounding
The beauty of language is a matter of taste. But few are more beautiful, in my view, than the one your mother spoke when she first talked to you.
Myth 4: Borrowed English words
Some words in Welsh are borrowed from English, but borrowing from a dominant language is a characteristic of minority languages the world over.
Welsh is certainly not a dialect of English. It's one of the family of Celtic languages which includes Scots Gallic, Irish (also known as Gaelic), Manx, Cornish and Breton. All of these languages are much older than English.
Tiles from a Welsh Scrabble set are ideal for learning vocabulary!
Myth 5: Longest place name in the UK
This one is actually true! The longest place name in the UK is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. If you disentangle it, it all has meaning. But let's not forget that it was manufactured by the locals to attract Victorian tourists keen on photography and rail travel!
Members of Witney u3a's Welsh Group
Learning Welsh in England
Witney u3a has Welsh Group which is thriving. The members either want to experience Welsh having never spoken it before, or re-learn it having spent part of their childhood in Wales.
There are also some fluent speakers who want to keep their language alive and share its beauty with others.
Let these people speak for themselves:
First, from enthusiastic learners: "We’ve all had experience either of Wales, Cornwall or languages not encountered every day (such as Estonian). Hitherto, however, Welsh has been a bit of a closed book! This u3a Group, which covers both Welsh language and culture allows us to explore what Welshness means and learn this new language pretty much from scratch."
Next, from re-learners: “As I've grown older, my Welsh roots have started to tug, and I was delighted when the opportunity arose to revisit the language I've always regarded as my native tongue.”
And, finally, from our fluent speakers: “Need we say more than quote the last line of our national anthem: ‘O bydded i’r hen iaith barhau.’ (Google Translate is pretty good!)
Are there any u3a groups out there, I wonder, learning Gallic, Irish, Manx, Cornish or Breton?