History of the Welsh language facts for kids

The Welsh language has a long and exciting story, stretching back over 1400 years! It has changed and grown through different stages, known as Primitive Welsh, Old Welsh, Middle Welsh, and Modern Welsh.

Where Did the Welsh Language Come From?

The Welsh language grew from an older language called British. This was a Celtic language spoken by the ancient Britons. It probably arrived in Britain during the Bronze Age or Iron Age. People likely spoke it all over the island, south of the Firth of Forth.

During the early Middle Ages, the British language started to split into different dialects. These dialects eventually became Welsh and other similar languages like Breton and Cornish. We don't know exactly when Welsh became its own distinct language.

Some experts believe that a very early form, called "Primitive Welsh," was spoken from about 550 AD to 800 AD. This early Welsh might have been spoken in both Wales and a northern area called the Hen Ogledd (meaning "Old North"). This area is now parts of northern England and southern Scotland. The very first Welsh poems, by poets known as the Cynfeirdd (Early Poets), are thought to be from this time.

What Was Old Welsh Like?

The next period is Old Welsh ([Hen Gymraeg] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), which was spoken from the 9th to the 11th centuries. We have more writings from this time. As Germanic and Gaelic people settled in Britain, the Welsh speakers in Wales became separated from those in northern England and the southwest. This led to the languages changing and becoming different.

Important books like the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin come from this era. Some poems in these books were even older, written in Primitive Welsh.

Exploring Middle Welsh

Middle Welsh ([Cymraeg Canol] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) was the language used from the 12th to the 14th centuries. We have many more writings from this time than from earlier periods. This is the language of almost all the old stories of the Mabinogion, even though the tales themselves are much older. It's also the language of the old Welsh law books.

A modern Welsh speaker can understand Middle Welsh fairly well, though it takes some effort. A famous writer named Gerald of Wales shared a story about King Henry II of England. In the 12th century, King Henry asked an old man if he thought the Welsh language would survive. The old man bravely replied that the Welsh nation and language would never be completely destroyed by people.

Modern Welsh: A New Era

Early Modern Welsh

Modern Welsh can be divided into two parts. The first part, Early Modern Welsh, was used from the early 15th century to the end of the 16th century.

Late Modern Welsh and the Bible

Late Modern Welsh began in 1588 with the publication of William Morgan's translation of the Bible. This Bible had a huge impact, helping to keep the language stable. The Welsh spoken today is still considered "Late Modern Welsh," similar to Morgan's language, though it has changed over time.

The 19th Century: Dictionaries and Challenges

The Welsh language got another boost in the 19th century. This was when some of the first complete Welsh dictionaries were published. Experts like Daniel Silvan Evans worked hard to record the language accurately. Modern dictionaries, like the Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru (the University of Wales Dictionary), are based on these early efforts.

However, Welsh faced challenges. In schools, children were often discouraged from speaking Welsh. There was even a policy called the Welsh Not. A stick or plaque was given to any child caught speaking Welsh, and they had to pass it on to the next child who spoke Welsh.

The Industrial Revolution in Wales brought many English workers from about 1800 onwards. These new workers rarely learned Welsh. This meant that Welsh and English speakers often used English when they were together. So, speaking both languages became very common. English slowly became more dominant, especially outside the most rural areas. However, non-conformist churches were a big exception, as they strongly supported the Welsh language.

The 20th Century: Fighting for Survival

By the 20th century, the number of Welsh speakers was dropping quickly. It seemed like the language might disappear in a few generations.

The 1911 census showed that about 43.5% of people in Wales spoke Welsh. This was a decrease from 49.9% in 1891. However, some counties still had many Welsh speakers, like Anglesey (88.7%) and Merionethshire (90.3%).

1921 Census and the Founding of Plaid Cymru

The 1921 census showed that 38.7% of people in Wales could speak Welsh. In the five main Welsh-speaking counties, over 75% of people still spoke Welsh. For example, in Anglesey, 87.8% spoke Welsh.

In 1925, a political party called Plaid Cymru (The Party of Wales) was founded. Its main goal was to promote and protect the Welsh language.

Tân yn Llŷn (Fire in Llŷn) 1936

In 1936, people became very concerned about the Welsh language. The UK government decided to build an RAF training camp in Penyberth, a Welsh-speaking area in Gwynedd. This decision caused a lot of anger.

The UK Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, refused to listen to protests from half a million Welsh people. Saunders Lewis, a famous Welsh writer, said that the government wanted to turn a place important to Welsh culture and language into a military site.

On September 8, 1936, the building was set on fire. Welsh nationalists Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine, and D.J. Williams took responsibility. They were tried in London and sentenced to nine months in prison. When they were released, 15,000 people welcomed them as heroes.

Welsh Broadcasting and the 1931 Census

When radio broadcasting started in Wales, Plaid Cymru protested because there weren't enough Welsh-language programs. They even encouraged people to stop paying their TV licence fees. This pressure worked, and by the mid-1930s, more Welsh programs were broadcast. A Welsh regional broadcasting channel was officially set up in 1937. However, a dedicated Welsh-language television channel didn't appear until 1982.

The 1931 census showed that the percentage of Welsh speakers had dropped to 36.8%. Anglesey still had the highest number of speakers at 87.4%.

Welsh Courts Act 1942

After the "Tân yn Llŷn" incident, the three Welsh nationalists were tried in court. Their pleas in Welsh were not accepted as valid. This caused outrage and highlighted the lack of status for the Welsh language in the legal system. A petition was started, leading to the Welsh courts act 1942. This law made it possible for people to plead in Welsh in court.

The Flooding of Tryweryn 1956

In 1956, the Liverpool City Council wanted to build a water reservoir in the Tryweryn Valley in Gwynedd. This meant flooding Capel Celyn, a Welsh-speaking village with a lot of history. Even though almost all Welsh politicians (35 out of 36 MPs) were against it, the plan was approved in 1957. This event showed how little power the Welsh language and its communities had at the time.

Tynged yr Iaith (The Fate of the Language) and the 1961 Census

In 1962, Saunders Lewis gave a famous radio speech called Tynged yr iaith (The Fate of the Language). He warned that the Welsh language would die out unless people took direct action. He was reacting to the 1961 census, which showed a drop in Welsh speakers from 36% in 1931 to 26% in 1961.

Lewis wanted to encourage Plaid Cymru to do more to promote the language. His speech led to the creation of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) later that year.

Welsh Language Act 1967

As concern for the Welsh language grew in the 1960s, the Welsh Language Act 1967 was passed. This law gave some legal protection for using Welsh in official government business. It was based on a report that suggested Welsh should be treated equally in courts and public administration. Before this Act, only English could be spoken in government and court proceedings.

Fighting for a Welsh TV Channel

After a political defeat in 1979, the UK government announced it would not keep its promise to create a Welsh-language television channel. This caused widespread anger in Wales.

In early 1980, over two thousand members of Plaid Cymru said they would go to prison rather than pay their television licence fees. Then, Gwynfor Evans announced he would go on a hunger strike if a Welsh-language TV channel wasn't created. The government eventually gave in, and the Welsh Fourth Channel (S4C) was launched on November 2, 1982.

Welsh Language Act 1993

The Welsh Language Act 1993 made the Welsh language equal to English in Wales, especially in the public sector. Before this, English was the only language allowed in law courts and public administration, according to old laws from the 1500s. While the 1967 Act gave some rights, the 1993 Act was the first to truly put Welsh and English on an equal footing in public life.

This Act created the Welsh Language Board. Its job was to promote Welsh and make sure the new rules were followed. It also gave Welsh speakers the right to speak Welsh in court in all situations. The Act requires public services in Wales to treat Welsh and English equally. However, it doesn't force private businesses to offer services in Welsh.

The 21st Century: Continuing the Journey

In 2000, Cynog Dafis, a politician from Plaid Cymru, called for a new movement to support the Welsh language. He felt that the language's needs were not being met and that a strong plan was needed to help Welsh grow. He encouraged Welsh language groups to work together to make using Welsh "attractive, exciting, a source of pride and a sign of strength." He pointed to places like Catalonia and the Basque Country as good examples of language promotion.

However, another politician, Lord Elis-Thomas, disagreed. He believed there was enough support to protect the language's future without a new law. This caused some debate among Welsh language supporters.

2011 Census

The 2011 census showed that the percentage of people who could speak Welsh had dropped slightly, from 20.8% to 19%. This meant that the total number of Welsh speakers in Wales decreased from 582,000 in 2001 to 562,000 in 2011. However, this number was still higher than the 508,000 speakers recorded in the 1991 census.

Images for kids

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  Welsh-language poster for the First World War-era Derby Scheme (1915)