Lets be realistic about native UK languages
The purpose of language teaching in schools should be to give children a useful start in widely spoken languages that they may be able to use later in life during the course of travel or employment. There is also the important secondary goal of teaching awareness of other cultures and an appreciation that English is not the 'be all and end all' of world languages. Speaking Gaelic (and especially Welsh or Cornish) is likely to be largely useless to most people in the UK. I have certainly not suffered from living in the UK for 30 years and not knowing a word of any of them, whereas knowing a little French and German has been beneficial on occasions both when travelling and working. It is important not to belittle the importance of native UK languages to those who speak them, and their continuation among communities where they are traditionally spoken should be encouraged. But lets have some common sense - what is the points in teaching Gaelic to children in Surrey? I would think teaching people Mandarin, Hindi or Urdu would be far more valuable than Gaelic, Welsh or Cornish, as they are globally widely spoken languages. In todays global economy knowledge of one of these languages could make a real difference to employment prospects.
Sent by: Jonathan
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Languages are basically a way to think the world. I think in Catalan so I think Catalan "ideas". You think in English so you think English "ideas". Anyway, to learn in your own language, Irish, Catalan, English, or Cornish, is never opposite to learn more languages afterwards. And yes, to learn "important" languages is a good way to be global... but always from your local.
Wouldn't it be an interesting subject for research, also it is our heritage.
Why would anyone in Surrey be taught Gaelic when it's not even "allowed" into schools in Scotland? Your opinion on the idea of imposing the English language on the whole of the British Isles would be different if you were Scottish, or Welsh, or Irish. Let's ask ourselves why native languages in the British Isles are in the state they are in. They are dying out because of attitudes like your own, when in the hands of powerful people, or corporations, destroy these languages. I think the other native languages in the British Isles have no hope in this day and age and it's really sad, and we should and must try everything possible to keep them alive, it doesn't mean imposing them on Surrey where English is the native language, just in their own traditional homelands. It's called culture, something that the modern British state has no time for.
Ignoring the various cultures and languages that make up the British Isles has left us poorer, not just in the Celtic countries but in England too. Why deny what makes our part of Europe so unique? I'd love to see Welsh, Cornish, Gaelic or even Anglo-Saxon offered in schools as an alternative to French, German and Latin.
Learning a language for economic reasons ... that's why languages are good to know. Learning a language to maintain your culture and identity ... that is the best damn reason to learn.
I have one more point to add to all these fine points! You say Jonathan that there's no point learning these languages as no one speaks them. Well I have two friends who speak Irish and they can have wonderful conversations about anything they want with the fairly certain knowledge that they won't be understood. Do you realise what a powerful thing that is!!! Also, coming back from Ireland on the train (via London), I was pleasantly surprised to be surrounded by genuine Welsh speakers. This was my first ever experience of hearing Welsh in a real life situation. I found the experience wonderful, and although I'm not Welsh, it made me proud of being British and know that there are people in our country speaking a couple of languages that both belong to them. And of course this will facilitate further language learning. And I felt compelled to ask them about Welsh which has always struck me as quite complicated to pronounce! And a wonderful train journey ensued, including happy babysitters for my poorly two year old! So although I don't speak it, it certainly helped communications!!! So, no, not useless!!!
Maybe teaching native languages to a point of fluency is unrealistic but maybe we should learn how to pronouce Welsh and Irish so we can at least know where we go!!! It's hardly like these places are easy to guess how they are said!! Then we wouldn't treat Wales as some freaky side bit of the UK. Wales is a very beautiful country and I feel stupid that I can't pronounce the place names!
This made my blood boil. I felt that this was extremely short-sighted. I am bringing my little boys up in England to speak both Welsh and English. Yes, it is tough but I have a responsibility to pass on my heritage to my little ones and that includes the Welsh language and the ability to think and speak in Welsh (which may come in very useful if either of them wants to work in government in Wales or in other walks of life in Wales). The ability to speak both Welsh and English at an early age has helped me with a host of other languages and the richness of the Welsh heritage has added something valuable to me personally which is intangible. How short-sighted can you be Jonathan? Passing on something as valuable as any language and its cultural context cannot and should not be devalued by the rationale that you adopt!
The reason Welsh, Cornish and Gaelic are not spoken is because they have been repressed by the Saxon culture through the centuries. Have you ever heard of 'The Welsh Not'. We therefore owe a great deal to these languages and should therefore restore them to their rightful place in British society. It will then be useful for everyone in the world to a few words of the native British languages. I'm sure you wouldn't dream of teaching your children a foreign language before they learnt English. Why should it not be the same in Wales and other parts of Britain where other languages exist.
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Learning any language is beneficial ! Most people in the world are bi, tri or multilingual. Monolingual speakers are the minority on the planet
I know quite a few non-Welsh speaking Welsh people and every one of them is sad not to be able to speak Welsh.
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