Language is in decline

3:48pm Tuesday 12th February 2013 in Letters

JOHN Major’s government drafted the Welsh Language Act in 1993. The Act, making Welsh an official language of Wales and giving equal status, did not receive Royal Assent until February 9, 2011. Political commentators stated that ‘Political blackmail’ was used by the Nationalists to reach this end. Recent surveys have shown a decline in its use. EVEN IN ITS HEARTLANDS!

Less than 10 per cent of Welsh-speakers are using Welsh in their everyday life. The language is in terminal decline. Throwing money at it is not the answer. It is not working! Dr Thomas, you are right to say that you cannot put a price on culture and language. Unfortunately that is exactly what is happening. Ystrad Mynach Hospital does not have the facilities expected, while expensive Welsh signs are everywhere. I have, all my life, stated that I feel as though I have a limb missing because I cannot speak my own language. Even if I had had the opportunity to learn, I would have had to travel far and wide to use it. That is why, when others called me a ‘Little Englander’, I wonder if they have any idea how insulting they are.

Len Price Manor Park Newbridge

Comments(14)

Llanmartinangel says...
6:06pm Tue 12 Feb 13

Good letter.

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Mervyn James says...
7:12pm Tue 12 Feb 13

I can tell you, that IF all funding for welsh was withdrawn tomorrow the NHS STILL would not benefit from any of it, its just another excuse to blame welsh for everything. Nationalists do NOT run the WAG either.

The Welsh NHS is in Crisis, all over the UK. And as I am aware there is no welsh language used elsewhere but Wales. So do we blame welsh for Stafford and elsewhere as also ?

The NHS is dead, long live the NHS..... it needs BILLIONS..... to stand still.

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gathin says...
2:00am Wed 13 Feb 13

Oh no- the use of the Welsh lingo is in decline?
I think the dancing monkeys in Cardiff should just let all other budgets go and concentrate on getting everybody speaking it, then we'll be a massive business mecca as everybody needs to speak this lively, vibrant and ubiquitous language!

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Llanmartinangel says...
7:51am Wed 13 Feb 13

I'm quite sure Meri Huws has her storm-troopers goose-stepping into Cerridigion to root out those pesky English speakers and have them shot right away. It's outrageous that they aren't watching Pobol y Cwm with the other six people.

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gathin says...
7:56am Wed 13 Feb 13

What a wondeful use of our tax subsidising s4c to make very expensive programmes for a tiny minority.
I am so proud to be Welsh and I don't care that the town I live in has no decent shops or footfall, there's no industry here or jobs and that all the politicians have our well-being at heart. Thanks WAG- you're the best!

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Bobevans says...
8:53am Wed 13 Feb 13

Money is tight and front line services are having to be cut in Wales. The Welsh NHS struggles to meet demand yet the WAG cuts its budget. Welsh on the other hand has falling demand yet it's budget has been protected by the WAG. That makes no sense to me. THe priorites are wrong

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Llanmartinangel says...
8:55am Wed 13 Feb 13

Mervyn James wrote:
I can tell you, that IF all funding for welsh was withdrawn tomorrow the NHS STILL would not benefit from any of it, its just another excuse to blame welsh for everything. Nationalists do NOT run the WAG either.

The Welsh NHS is in Crisis, all over the UK. And as I am aware there is no welsh language used elsewhere but Wales. So do we blame welsh for Stafford and elsewhere as also ?

The NHS is dead, long live the NHS..... it needs BILLIONS..... to stand still.
That doesn't make any sense. You either accept that WAG spends its (our) money how it chooses or it doesn't. If it doesn't then what is its function? Since it has no tax raising powers of its own then what it spends on Welsh has to come from somewhere.

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Mervyn James says...
10:49am Wed 13 Feb 13

I'm happy they do :) 500,000 welsh people must have some rights.

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Llanmartinangel says...
11:02am Wed 13 Feb 13

Mervyn James wrote:
I'm happy they do :) 500,000 welsh people must have some rights.
So must 2.5 Million.

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Owain Vaughan says...
12:23pm Wed 13 Feb 13

"I cannot speak my own language." -- The most illogical thing ever written.

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Llanmartinangel says...
12:48pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Owain Vaughan wrote:
"I cannot speak my own language." -- The most illogical thing ever written.
I'd missed that. Hilarious.

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Mervyn James says...
5:14pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Llanmartinangel wrote:
Mervyn James wrote:
I'm happy they do :) 500,000 welsh people must have some rights.
So must 2.5 Million.
So YOU decide if these people have a right ? this isn't the way it works, by your own admissions. I think your finance point went out the window the first time you attacked it. The claims against welsh language are now well in the realms of fantasy and hatred.

Ac mae pobl yn cael goruchaf iawn os rydych wedi prisio? nid yw hyn yn ddehongli'n union y gwaith, gan eich derbyn eu hunain. Y meddwl bod eich Point cyllid yn mynd allan y ffenest y tro cyntaf i rentu i chi ymosod arno. Mae'r hawliadau yn erbyn y Gymraeg ym myd ffantasi a Bringer Of Light yn awr Ora et labora.

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Llanmartinangel says...
5:25pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Another entirely incomprehensible post Mervyn. And that's not including the second bit.

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Mervyn James says...
2:56pm Fri 15 Feb 13

We aim to please...

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