Home schooling - anyone else had a bit of a shock??

[Mark Bolam]

I couldn’t help but think of this -

 

[struie]

16 hours ago, Big J said:

I'm going to sound like an ignorant bellend, but can someone possibly explain to me what the point of learning languages like Welsh is (or Gallic in Scotland)? It's a genuine question, if you'll allow me to explain.

 

Given that the objective of learning a language is to communicate with other people, I've always struggled with the notion of learning a language that isn't widely spoken, unless it's in order to live in a country where it's exclusively spoken. So for instance, learning Finnish is a requirement to live in Finland, but there are only 5.5 million Finns. 

 

However, in the case of Wales and Welsh, everyone already speaks English, which is a perfectly adequate way of communicating with 1.5 billion other English speakers. Welsh is only spoken by just under 1 million people. 

 

Surely, if you're going to go to the effort of learning a second language, it ought to be useful outside of the context of your community when everyone in that community already speaks English. Just seems like a wasted effort to me.

 

I understand that there is a cultural and historic angle, but I've always taken a very practical approach to learning new skills. If it doesn't serve a purpose, I'm not interested.

 

Be kind in your responses! ?

you just answered your own question.

[breffni]

2 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

I'd not advocating the eradication of minority languages, rather that I don't agree with their promotion over what is clearly a more useful and universal language (English). That money would be far better spent on teaching world languages.

 

 

We're planting either grassland or arable fields at low level, neither of which have much ecological value. With the moorlands, exactly how biodiverse do you think they really are? 

 

 

The resurgence of the Welsh language seems to have more to do with resentment towards the English than any practical application, which I think is unfortunate. I'm happily in favour of it to be taught as a minority language, and supported within the community, but it's genuinely useless in an international context. It's not a good use of government resources at all, and that money would be far better spent on upskilling kids in other ways (other languages, other subjects, vocational learning etc). Parts of Wales suffer from uniquely awful deprivation and lack of economic opportunities, and anything that can be done to benefit the populace as a whole has to be worth considering. Being able to "caution, reversing lorry" in Welsh when there is an English sign right next to it doesn't fit that criteria! ?

There are massive problems with the lack of biodiversity in the uplands of Britain but planting with conifers is hardly going to improve that situation.

 

[topchippyles]

Matter of fact, You guys with such negativity to the understanding of  the culture that has kept these languages going for generations and will continue to thrive. Wales is a devolved country with its own elected  self ruling  assembly (spending powers) Scotland  has the same and  just under half of its country craves for total self rule (ask your selves why)  Proof in the pudding the old saying goes aye Big J 

 

Patagonian Welsh

Description

Patagonian Welsh is a variety of Welsh language spoken in Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, Argentina, specifically in the province of Chubut. The numbers used in Modern Welsh originated in Patagonia in the 1870s, and were subsequently adopted in Wales in the 1940s.

Edited May 8, 2020 by topchippyles

[breffni]

2 hours ago, topchippyles said:

Matter of fact, You guys with such negativity to the understanding of  the culture that has kept these languages going for generations and will continue to thrive. Wales is a devolved country with its own elected  self ruling  assembly (spending powers) Scotland  has the same and  just under half of its country craves for total self rule (ask your selves why)  Proof in the pudding the old saying goes aye Big J 

 

Patagonian Welsh

Description

Patagonian Welsh is a variety of Welsh language spoken in Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, Argentina, specifically in the province of Chubut. The numbers used in Modern Welsh originated in Patagonia in the 1870s, and were subsequently adopted in Wales in the 1940s.

Went to Patagonia 12 years ago. My ex was speaking Welsh to people which was great.

[topchippyles]

2 minutes ago, breffni said:

Went to Patagonia 12 years ago. My ex was speaking Welsh to people which was great.

These guys just do not have the celtic blood in them which is a shame ?

[Mick Dempsey]

14 minutes ago, topchippyles said:

These guys just do not have the celtic blood in them which is a shame ?

Which guys?

[topchippyles]

Anyone without celtic blood. You would not understand Mick really unless you new the feeling that comes with it. Fought off 4000 zulus see lol. This is exactly what i mean right to the point, fiction or not  (passion)

 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Yes, I can only imagine.

 

 

[Rich Rule]

Mick, I thought you would have had Celtic blood being as you are from an Irish family...?