Wales in 45 minutes Gwion Lewis Wales

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 f ll rh b ff m s c g n t ch ng o th d h p u dd i ph w e l r 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 cat fy nghath my cat dy gath your cat ei gath his cat ei chath 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 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 • 20 C: agriculture, heavy industry & public sector • 21 C: public sector, tourism & agriculture • Growth of cities; rural depopulation • Impact on linguistic profile • SE Wales hit by closure of coal mines in late 20 C

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 • S 4 C • 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

glewis@landmarkchambers. co. uk Gwion Lewis