Wales in 45 minutes Gwion Lewis Wales: Basic

Wales in 45 minutes Gwion Lewis

Wales: Basic facts Wales – one of 4 nations of UK; Some 4.5 million people; Roughly half a million people use Welsh as their first language; Roughly 2.5 million can understand basic Welsh; Wales is not independent, but some self-government in form of National Assembly for Wales;

Government in Wales National Assembly has devolved powers in health, education, housing, planning, Welsh language No powers in relation to tax, energy or foreign policy Government traditionally left-of-centre Frequent coalitions Referendum passed for more powers

The Welsh Language Celtic language Same family of languages as Irish, Scots-Gaelic, Breton, Cornish, Cumbrian and Manx Welsh were the original “Britons” Compulsory language of state education in Wales Challenge: equality with English

Alphabet a b c ch d dd e f ff g ng h i l ll m n o p ph r rh s t th u w y

Longest place name in the world Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Welsh in action “Fy enw i yw Gwion. Yr wythnos hon, rydw i’n ymweld ag Odessa, dinas yn ne Wcrain, er mwyn rhoi tair darlith yn ymwneud â’r Gymraeg a Chymru. Cefais wahoddiad i ddod yma gan y Cyngor Prydeinig. Neithiwr, bum yn ymweld â’r ty opera trawiadol. Rwy’n gobeithio nad dyma fydd fy ymweliad olaf â’r ddinas arbennig hon.”

Mutations cath fy nghath dy gath ei gath ei chath cat my cat your cat his cat her cat

Language trends Awaiting census results General trend: small but steady increase in Welsh speakers Result of: compulsory education policy emphasis on children’s TV programming “brain drain” from north to south

Challenges facing Welsh Globalization Increasing global status of English Mobile telecommunications Absence of strong Welsh media brand Weak public transport infrastructure Lack of entrepreneurship

Welsh and the law Law of England and Wales Language law - historically weak New law passed in 2010: Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2010 Official status Welsh Language Commissioner Welsh Language Tribunal Enforcement powers, inc fines

Economy 20C: agriculture, heavy industry & public sector 21C: public sector, tourism & agriculture Growth of cities; rural depopulation Impact on linguistic profile SE Wales hit by closure of coal mines in late 20C

Environment 2 National Parks: Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons Keen support for “green” energy, including ‘energy from waste’ and biomass Windfarms at sea Very likely to host new nuclear power plant

Culture Annual highlight: National Eisteddfod Awarding of crown and chair Nation of singers: linked to strength of churches and chapels? Greatest singer: Bryn Terfel Greatest playwright: Saunders Lewis Greatest poet: Dafydd ap Gwilym

Media S4C Controversy over future: BBC? BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales No daily newspaper in Welsh No heavyweight daily newspaper in English Tradition of uber-local newspapers

Current political issues Independence from the UK? Separate membership of the EU? More powers to the National Assembly? Student financing Nuclear power Language standards Welsh/British identity: Royal Wedding

Similarities with Ukraine Ongoing debate about equality between language groups Desire by many to have representation in the EU Continuing debate about role in wider “union” Heavy reliance on public sector Need to energize entrepreneurship

[email protected] Gwion Lewis