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

[Big J]

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! ?

[Mick Dempsey]

15 minutes 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! ?

Agree J, I’ve had discussions with Irish relatives about just this.

 

Teach the kids German, Spanish, French, Russian etc. If you want the next generation to thrive and trade with the world.

[Stere]

Not being fluent is a disadvantage as a certain % of rural first language Welsh speakers are arsey  if you are "local" but can't speak it , also alot of gov jobs require Welsh theese days. (25% of jobs are public sector ?)

 

Not really a good overall arguement for saving the language but its useful for self advancement if you plan to live in Wales too speak it especially in the more  Welsh bits of Wales.

Edited May 7, 2020 by Stere

[Steve Bullman]

On 06/05/2020 at 19:41, Squaredy said:

Half the UK medal winners from the 2012 Olympics went to private school.

Is this because they’re brighter or their rich parents are better connected?

[Big J]

34 minutes ago, Stere said:

Not being fluent is a disadvantage as a certain % of rural first language Welsh speakers are arsey  if you are "local" but can't speak it , also alot of gov jobs require Welsh theese days. (25% of jobs are public sector ?)

 

Not really a good overall arguement for saving the language but its useful for self advancement if you plan to live in Wales too speak it especially in the more  Welsh bits of Wales.

But that doesn't actually make any sense. For a person who speaks perfect English to hold it against someone that doesn't speak Welsh is obtuse. Communication is the key objective here. How it's acheived is largely irrelevant. What does a command of Welsh actually bring to a public sector job? Would Welsh speakers not have broader horizons and more opportunities if all the investment in Welsh language education was put into Mandarin, German, French, Spanish etc? 

 

I can't see a modern day advantage to it. As I said earlier, I understand the cultural and historical context, but how does it objectively improve the lives of those that speak Welsh? If you're bilingual in English and Welsh, you can integrate easily in Wales or the English speaking world. If you're bilingual in English and (say) Spanish, you can integrate in the English speaking world, and then converse with another 477 million people in 20 other countries. 

[Mick Dempsey]

1 hour ago, Steve Bullman said:

Is this because they’re brighter or their rich parents are better connected?

That private schools can afford better coaches and better facilities is a big factor, but there are others.

Edited May 7, 2020 by Mick Dempsey

[breffni]

16 minutes ago, Big J said:

But that doesn't actually make any sense. For a person who speaks perfect English to hold it against someone that doesn't speak Welsh is obtuse. Communication is the key objective here. How it's acheived is largely irrelevant. What does a command of Welsh actually bring to a public sector job? Would Welsh speakers not have broader horizons and more opportunities if all the investment in Welsh language education was put into Mandarin, German, French, Spanish etc? 

 

I can't see a modern day advantage to it. As I said earlier, I understand the cultural and historical context, but how does it objectively improve the lives of those that speak Welsh? If you're bilingual in English and Welsh, you can integrate easily in Wales or the English speaking world. If you're bilingual in English and (say) Spanish, you can integrate in the English speaking world, and then converse with another 477 million people in 20 other countries. 

I think learning more than one language helps with others. My daughter has been learning Welsh 4 years and is now fluent. She also can speak basic Spanish as well as some Irish. Learning Welsh has definitely made it easier for her to pick up other languages. To Welsh/Irish/Gaelic speakers it's important culturally to keep the language alive. What's your criteria for keeping a language alive?

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Imagine if she was fluent in Portuguese or Italian, bit more useful than Welsh or Irish.

 

[breffni]

2 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Imagine if she was fluent in Portuguese or Italian, bit more useful than Welsh or Irish.

 

She's only 7 so give her time. Wouldn't be more useful if she stayed in Wales or Ireland. 

[Mick Dempsey]

The older you get the harder it is to learn a new language.

It is great that she’ll be able to understand Pobyl y com on the tv and understand the road signs, but it’s a dead language kept alive to the detriment of the youth.