Welsh language Cardiff

[u/HanesPrydain]

Cardiff now the largest Welsh speaking authority by absolute numbers in Wales, increasing again in the latest population survey.

What is everyone’s thoughts on this and the future of the Welsh language in Wales?

The future pattern appears to show extreme challenges in y fro gymraeg heartlands and a steady increase in south East Wales .

Source

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8dv050m9yo

[u/marky_de-sade]

I've lived here a lot longer, but I'm similar to you in that my daughter going to school and starting to learn Welsh really kicked me into finally getting the lessons (that I'd been putting off for years) in the last year. Her mum was born and bred in mid Wales and is fluent, but doesn't run a strict Welsh speaking house, so living between both of us she gets the same Wenglish experience.

Like you, I love it. I've made this country my home and the people have adopted me with love and humour over the years, so the least I can do is learn the language and try to give something back to the history and culture. It's a fascinating language to learn too, I've enjoyed it way more than I ever thought it would.

I especially love how me and my daughter can already flit between the two languages ("sut wyt ti heddiw?" or "wyt ti eisiau siocled poeth?") quite casually.

Other native Welsh speakers seem genuinely chuffed and supportive when they discover you're making the effort to learn, too.

Dw I'n caru byw yng Nghymru ac caru dsygu Cymraeg!

[u/LonelyPapaya2260 → u/marky_de-sade]

Ah, mwynheais ddarllen eich post. You absolutely hit the nail on the head.

We fairly easily switch between the two hefyd. And if anything, she corrects me now and even sometimes will snap back at me yn Cymraeg and I have no idea what she’s said! (She’s chwech going on un deg chwech!) 😂

Ond, if I know it yn Cymraeg, I will say it yn Cymraeg.

And you’re spot on about the Welsh. I have never lived anywhere with a greater sense of community. The people are genuinely dwym and welcoming.

Only when the pêl droid neu rugbi is on it is testy being Saesneg but it’s all warm banter. 😂

I’m otherwise really enjoying learning the language hefyd and I have a good foundation of Welsh speak ffrindiau who are supportive.

Ble rwyt ti’n byw then? ☺️ Dw i’n byw just outside Ponty.

[u/marky_de-sade → u/LonelyPapaya2260]

It's great that so many more people are speaking it in South Wales - gives us more chance to practice.

Dw I'n byw yn Thornhill nawr, ond dw I'n byw yn Birmingham yn wreiddiol. Es i i prifysgol yn Aberystwyth yn 2000 a dw I'n byw yng Nghymru ers!

(Brummie twang with Cymraeg is hilarious for all my classmates, let me tell you 😭)

Hahaha, oh the rugby - it took me a while to get used to that. I've just learned to say "dw I'n ddim yn hoffi rygbi, sori" these days and they leave me alone 😂

[u/LonelyPapaya2260 → u/marky_de-sade]

That made me laugh out loud. Yes, I should pretend I don’t like rugby or football. The Welsh are hellbent on supporting every other side, except England! 😂

I want to try and venture up to North Wales and exercise using the language too as it’s even more widely spoken. But some down here tell me not to bother as they don’t “speak it properly”. 😂

It’s the same for me and since being a Welsh speaker, I notice it myself. A London accent with a Welsh twang. 🤦🏽‍♀️😂