- Posts: 408
- Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2014 12:55 pm
While I agree that Zach's attacks on the Welsh language are unedifying I don't think calling for people to be banned is the right way forward. I've campaigned for Plaid and Cymdeithas for many years so I'm certainly not partisan, but I do think that people who resent the Welsh language - especially if they themselves are Welsh - are entitled to their opinion.
The Welsh language has been under attack from England for centuries. That is indisputable. The medieval Crown and Marcher lords legislated to discriminate and eradicate Welsh. There was the Welsh Not. Gwynfor Evans had to threaten to kill himself to secure S4C - which has been greatly diminished since 2010. The BBC chose Julian Ruck to discuss Cymraeg last night on Newsnight which can only be interpreted as a huge V-sign to the language.
However, for many monoglot English-speaking Welsh people, the Welsh language is emblematic of the ruling class in Wales.
Many senior positions in government and civil society are filled by Welsh-speakers. The "Taffia" and "Crachach" are identified with the Welsh language. I've said before (to almost universal ridicule) that many empires find it convenient to install an ethnic, cultural or linguistic minority to run their client states, as a way of "dividing and ruling".
As distasteful as I find Zach's attitude I do have some sympathy with it and to deny that we live in a very divided nation, where that divide is perpetuated by the vested interests of the Welsh speaking elite, is to turn your back on reality.
The Welsh language has been under attack from England for centuries. That is indisputable. The medieval Crown and Marcher lords legislated to discriminate and eradicate Welsh. There was the Welsh Not. Gwynfor Evans had to threaten to kill himself to secure S4C - which has been greatly diminished since 2010. The BBC chose Julian Ruck to discuss Cymraeg last night on Newsnight which can only be interpreted as a huge V-sign to the language.
However, for many monoglot English-speaking Welsh people, the Welsh language is emblematic of the ruling class in Wales.
Many senior positions in government and civil society are filled by Welsh-speakers. The "Taffia" and "Crachach" are identified with the Welsh language. I've said before (to almost universal ridicule) that many empires find it convenient to install an ethnic, cultural or linguistic minority to run their client states, as a way of "dividing and ruling".
As distasteful as I find Zach's attitude I do have some sympathy with it and to deny that we live in a very divided nation, where that divide is perpetuated by the vested interests of the Welsh speaking elite, is to turn your back on reality.