SPECIAL: Wyt ti’n siarad Cymraeg?
In a two-part series exploring the history and future of the Welsh language, Richard and Gideon guide us on a journey through time, featuring interviews with expert guests and historians.
In part one, ‘History of the Language’, Gideon and Richard ask, "Do you speak Welsh?”. They discuss the falling numbers of Welsh speakers and the various factors behind this decline.
With contributions from special guest experts, they delve into the history of Cymraeg, the roots of the language and how key events in history have impacted its usage—from the Roman Occupation, the English Reformation and the Industrial Revolution all the way to the 20th century.
In part two, ‘Fate of the Language’, Gideon and Richard pick up the story by looking at the catalyst for Welsh language activism in the 60s and 70s, the successes of the movement and the changes brought about by the establishing of the Welsh Assembly.
With more contributions from special guest experts they learn about the sociological and neurological benefits of learning a second language and share some of the many tools for learning Welsh available today.
Image: Christopher Saxton's Proof Map of Wales, compiled 1580. Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru - The National Library of Wales
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