Celebrate minority languages in the UK, do not use them for political gain or mockery

Sarah Fahrat
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read

Ever since I was a little girl, Wales has been a massive part of my life. My godparents are proud Welsh nationalists who always sought to integrate my siblings and I into Welsh culture. Though a mystery to other English kids, I danced my fair share of twmpaths, wrote poetry for eisteddfodau and knew a bit too much about the lore of the land. My fondest memories with my sister were running down the beautiful Rhossili bay, watching the sunrise over Cader Idris and sailing from Cemaes to Llandudno. I was always proud of my Welsh connection, and the bilingual lifestyle that a lot of Welsh people are blessed to have.


I always hated people mocking the Welsh language. I have been told that it is irrelevant, that the Welsh are wasting their time and that the language should die once and for all. To those people I say one simple fact; You do not understand Wales.


Up and down this amazing nation, kids are culturing themselves by taking a life changing path: bilingual education. The amount of kids attending Welsh medium schools had been on the increase this past year at both primary and secondary school levels. Wales has done it right: children have the opportunity at these schools to take a variety of subject in the medium of Wales, true bilingual education. Culture is often transmitted through language and Welsh is an interesting one. As someone who has been exposed to many languages, Welsh is emotional, expressive and complex. It has a uniqueness to it and it is not alone on this.


All languages enable us to tell a story that cannot be translated into any other language in a way that properly does it justice. So whether its Scots, Gaelic, Cornish or any other minority language, the government should be helping to support these languages. There has been a resurgence of minority languages and it is vital to get people interested, aware and learning. It should not be something to mock or be embarrassing, it is a part of the amazing culture native to these isles. If our politicians could see the merit, that would help but for the most part, the importance of this issue does not make it further than the devolved assemblies. Parties should not be using these languages as bartering tools.


Welsh is not the language of Plaid Cymru and Gaelic is not the language of the SNP. If they really cared about language, they would be urging th other parties to legislate for the protection and celebration of those languages in an efficient and meaningful way. I often get weird looks when I am heard speaking Welsh and not being a Plaid Cymru supporter. I am a liberal nationalist but that does not mean I do not care about the Welsh language. There are others like me and we should not be an exception to the rule. Language should not be used for political leverage, that corrupts what is good about it. If nationalist parties can not see the harm they are doing then they are blind. All parties have the right and the duty to protect and celebrate language.