Welsh language photograph

Welsh Language

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Official language in Wales
Recognised minority language in United Kingdom
Early formsBrittonic
Old Welsh
Pronunciationkʰɘmˈraiɡ
Language family Indo-European languages
Celtic languages
Brittonic languages
Writing systems Latin script
Welsh orthography
Welsh Braille
Date of Reg.
Date of Upd.
ID1052231
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About Welsh Language


Welsh; or y Gymraeg is a Brittonic language of the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa. Historically, it has also been known in English as 'British', 'Cambrian', 'Cambric' and 'Cymric'.

Should some place names be written only in Welsh?

Should some place names be written only in Welsh?
Nov 12,2023 6:21 pm

... Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles said there was " a strong argument" for using just the Welsh in some cases...

Welcome to Wrexham, Philadelphia and the Welsh language

Welcome to Wrexham, Philadelphia and the Welsh language
Nov 11,2023 5:31 pm

... However, the first Welsh Language book to be published in the USA was in Philadelphia in 1721 and there were Anglican clergymen conducting services in Welsh in the early part of the 18th Century...

HSBC scraps Welsh language phone line

HSBC scraps Welsh language phone line
Nov 8,2023 1:11 pm

...By Elliw GwawrBBC Wales political correspondentHSBC bank has been criticised by politicians after announcing that it will no longer offer a Welsh Language phone line in the new year...

Bafta Cymru: Hollywood star Luke Evans 'ecstatic' at win

Bafta Cymru: Hollywood star Luke Evans 'ecstatic' at win
Oct 15,2023 6:21 pm

... Set in the 1980s, it tells the tale of the campaign for a Welsh Language TV channel and Gwynfor Evans, whose threat to go on hunger strike ultimately led to the foundation of S4C...

Rugby star Mike Phillips's Welsh praised after S4C boss sacked

Rugby star Mike Phillips's Welsh praised after S4C boss sacked
Oct 15,2023 5:51 pm

... A TV executive was sacked by Welsh Language channel S4C after allegations she verbally abused pundit Mike Phillips at the Rugby World Cup...

Wrexham University professor dropped over road sign post

Wrexham University professor dropped over road sign post
Oct 13,2023 11:31 am

...By Rob ThomasBBC NewsA professor has lost a university role after he described the use of the Welsh Language on road signs as " potentially dangerous"...

S4C boss sacked after alleged abuse of Mike Phillips

S4C boss sacked after alleged abuse of Mike Phillips
Oct 13,2023 9:41 am

... The Welsh Language broadcaster s chief content officer, Llinos Griffin-Williams, It is understood two incidents took place in France on Saturday...

Hillary Clinton offered to set me up on a date, says Welsh minister

Hillary Clinton offered to set me up on a date, says Welsh minister
Aug 9,2023 11:01 am

... On BBC Radio Wales s podcast, the education and Welsh Language minister said he struggled with a lack of positive gay role models and that his family " absolutely did not talk about it" at the time...

Should some place names be written only in Welsh?

Jun 14,2023 3:10 am

By Alun JonesBBC News

Calls have been made for Some places in Wales to be solely known the Welsh version of their name.

While the meaning and spelling of Some - Swansea being Abertawe, for Example - are very different, others are similar.

These include Merthyr Tydfil in English, which is Merthyr Tudful in Welsh, Caerphilly and Caerffili, and Treorchy or Treorci.

Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles said there was " a strong argument" for using just the Welsh in Some cases.

It Follows a petition presented to the Welsh Parliament and a principle promoted by Welsh Language Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones.

The petition, presented to the Senedd by linguist Mihangel ap Rhisiart, called for the use of " only Welsh names for places in Wales" and collected a total of 1,397 signatures.

Mr ap Rhisiart said it would show " respect for Wales as its own nation with its own history and culture; and as a mark of acknowledgement concerning Some of the cultural oppression that has historically been inflicted on Wales and her language and culture".

He added, " English names might initially continue to be used by Some out of habit but in all official avenues and in both spoken and written media, the original Welsh names for places in Wales should be used. "

Mr Miles, responding to the petition, said " we should aim for one spelling when there are only a few letters of difference between the Welsh and English versions".

However, The Minister warned " we've seen in The Past how changing only one letter in the name of a town or village, or adding a hyphen in order to standardize orthography, can lead to strong disagreements in local communities".

" I therefore continue To Believe that we need to find a way of reflecting the wider range of perspectives and implications which exist. "

What is the original name?

When there are different names in Welsh and English for the same town or city, Mr Miles said " it is not always clear what the 'original' name is for a particular settlement".

In the case of Cardiff, he added, " the modern Welsh name for The City , Caerdydd, comes from the mediaeval Welsh form, Caerdyf, which in English has developed into the modern spelling of Cardiff (with the Welsh 'f' (or v) becoming 'ff' in English).

" In this case, therefore, it would be difficult to determine which of its modern names is truer to its old form.

" By discarding the Modern English name, for instance, one could argue that we would be erasing The Connection with The City 's mediaeval Welsh name. "

But Mr ap Rhisiart told The Bbc earlier this year his idea was very simple.

" All I'm saying is that one place does not need two names, " He Said .

" I'm not trying to get people to change their habits - I'm just talking about something official, like only having one name on The Road sign. "

The Welsh Government 's programme for the current Senedd term stated it would " act to protect Welsh Language place names".

Welsh Labour 's co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru aims " to ensure that Welsh Language place names in the built and natural environments are safeguarded and promoted for future generations". Welsh place name standardisation guidelines say: " The aim should be to use only one form when there is only a letter or two difference between the Welsh form and the 'English' form, tending towards the Welsh version. "

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Source of news: bbc.com

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