If correct, that's plainly an astonishing moment of triumph for Welsh language and culture. Centuries of systematic London-ordered attempts to eradicate the language and to assimilate the nation have reached their end point with a democratically elected Wales-only government conducting its business in Welsh, without any artificial steps having been required to achieve that. However, unusual circumstances certainly have been required to get there, and I do slightly worry about the future dangers for Plaid Cymru in a country that remains overwhelmingly English speaking.
Decades ago, I heard someone say that the fact that Scottish nationalism was an English-speaking phenomenon gave the SNP a huge advantage as compared to their Welsh sister party. I initially thought that was a very odd thing to say, but when I thought about it for five minutes I realised it was obviously true, because the SNP don't have to get over the hurdle that Plaid historically have faced of trying to convince the majority population that they are not a party that belongs only to the minority language group. Plaid have finally cleared that hurdle by becoming seen as the only viable progressive alternative to Reform, but the concern might be that once their government loses some of its early popularity, people might revert to thinking that Plaid is not, after all, for "people like us" and Labour might start to gain some attraction again.
Hopefully Plaid have some sort of strategy in place to counter any damaging signals that are being inadvertently sent out. They could probably do with explaining whether it is feasible for a monolingual English speaker to become a senior Plaid Cymru minister in the future without first having to learn Welsh fluently as a sort of 'entrance exam', and what the practical arrangements would be if that happens.
We talk about culture wars in Scotland, but the straight choice between Plaid and Reform that Wales has just made was absolutely monumental in cultural terms. Reform would have been happy enough to eradicate the Welsh language, while Plaid conducts government business through it.
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The culture wars by the right wing miscalled “Scottish” daily Mail continues. What a dross of a right wing promo leaflet. I dont often feel superior but on the odd occasion I see someone actually buying it I ( usually elderly with Pringle jumper) I feel clean.
ReplyDeletePlaid would be mad to be Welsh only. Even in their cabinet meetings there would be one or two who's Welsh wasn't natural - would they provide an official interpreter?
ReplyDeleteAnd it's so exclusive. I'm Scottish but don't do Gaelic, My parents were Welsh but didn't speak Welsh though they could pronounce the place and personal names, as can I, mostly.
They need to decide - do they want Independence or ane exclusive members only language club?
They're not Welsh only. If they're Welsh speakers they're right to talk to each other in Welsh. If we think that's wrong, isn't that our own Anglo-centric prejudice? The party is open to all and I'm sure when they have a 'mixed' cabinet they'll resort to the language of our imperial masters.
DeleteLess than 20% speak Welsh in Wales, and most of them around North Wales where I had customers. In the South like Cardiff where the Senedd itself is, it would be much less. In fact it would be like the Cabinet in Holyrood speaking in Gaelic. Or indeed, Stormont Gaeilge!
DeleteIt would make them look exclusionary, aloof, stuck on themselves, oblivious to the people they represent - mostly by far, English speaking.
Nothing to do with "Anglo-centric prejudice"
That was me.
DeleteThe point I'm raising is perception. If voters don't see themselves reflected in a government, they may stop voting for it. It would be unthinkable in this day and age to have no women in a Cabinet, for example. There's usually a range of ages, and often ethnic minorities. Wales is a country comprised of both Welsh speakers and monolingual English speakers, so it's an unusual situation to have only one of those two groups represented in Cabinet.
DeleteLatvia is the first EU country to introduce acoustic voting in national elections.
ReplyDeleteIt is true, they're all fluent in Welsh. Cabinet business will be done in Welsh, but all minutes etc will be bilingual, and if it's televised there will be simultaneous translation for people watching in English. All of this is pretty normal in Wales, it's just that the previous Labour cabinet held its meetings in English, rather than bilingually. Their minutes would have been bilingual too though I assume.
ReplyDeleteWales will be Independent before Scotland as our culture is now 95% Anglicized and thus totally toxic.
ReplyDeleteThat's not true at all. The paradox of Wales is that the indigenous language has proved much more resilient than in Scotland, but parts of the country are also much more Anglicised than anywhere in Scotland. Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders may vote Tory but they're culturally as Scottish as anywhere further north.
DeleteSorry to disagree James but the Scottish borders are definitely not in any shape or form as culturally Scottish as anywhere further north
DeleteThe borders are now a sneering encampment of anti Scottish English people, so sneering has it become that it's uncomfortably unpleasant to walk around and just simply do your shopping in places like Castle Douglas where they've bought up every business and shop they possibly can to create their little England bedecked with union flags and matching bunting
Rev. Bath says "Shìos leis a Gàidhlig!" to the ducks, while bathing in his rather fetching wee Butchers Apron Speedos.
ReplyDeleteFun fact: if I had published KC's comments on this post, they would make up 40% of the entire thread. But only one of the comments was about Nessie, so we must admire his restraint.
ReplyDeleteBut KC's posts might be more interesting to read than Factola's very strange efforts.
DeleteThey really wouldn't be. Trust me on this. I've read them.
DeleteA significant amount of misunderstanding here. First, James is correct that there is a risk to Plaid and the decision to normalise Welsh must be balanced by an inclusive attitude to all Welsh residents. However, it should be said;
ReplyDelete1. The Welsh language has parity with English in Wales. Thus, if Cabinet members can all speak Welsh then why would they / why should they use English?
2. There is a misconception as to where people speak Welsh. Split Wales geographically into north west, north east, south west and south east. Some contributors assume that Welsh is confined to the north west but they are wrong. The largest number of Welsh speakers are in the south west followed by the south east then north west and finally north east. There are significantly more Welsh speakers in Cardiff than in Ynys Mon even if the higher % might be in Ynys Mon .
3. The Welsh language is not divisive. Welsh medium education keeps growing and a feeling of ownership towards the language is clear amongst Welsh people. There is an attitude against the language by some residents of Wales but many are those who have moved to Wales to retire or start afresh. Not all recent arrivals are unsupportive with many being passionate learners and sympathetic but there is some truth in a 'white flight' element being pro Reform and opposed to embracing the language.
In truth, Welsh will not be a barrier to Plaid and it's embrace by the Plaid Cabinet is a good thing . You cannot compare Welsh to Gaelic. Winnie Ewing was once ridiculed for stating after a visit to the Western Isles that she was learning 'your language ' but she was right. Gaelic, unlike Welsh, was never the language of all Scots (a decent number would have been Welsh speakers in Ystrad Clud and Rheged (the kingdoms of the Old North) as we in Wales refer to them whilst many more would have spoken old English which became Scots or modern English in due course. Most Welsh people, speakers of the language or not, recognise that we don't all speak Welsh in Wales as a direct result of policies adopted by the British state. As such, the full recognition of the language by our Government will alienate only a very few.
BTW - I am not a member of Plaid Cymru and did not vote for them. No agenda here!