To want to learn Welsh?

[CesareBorgiasSkeletonOnesie]

When I am not Welsh, do not live in Wales, an such have no connection other than really liking going on holiday there? I like learning languages (though have a habit of getting to a basic conversational standard then losing interest) but haven’t tried a Celtic language yet. DH thinks I’m being silly and should either spend the time getting better at something I already speak or ‘learn something actually useful,’ and says if we ever do go to Wales and I try to speak Welsh people will think I’m being odd.

Verdict?

• hire a room. Stupid stupid autocorrect

That sounded much worse than I intended. Welsh is not a niche concern for Welsh speakers! It was a clumsy way of saying ... well... what??! For a non native speaker with no connections it is no weirder than any other hobby or interest.

Expressed very badly, apologies!

I'm Welsh, speak the language fluently and live in a deprived area of South Wales. I'd say about 60% of locals speak it so I would dispute a PP's assertion that you wouldn't find someone to use it on.

I'm actually from Cardiff where the rates are lower - but still around 35-40% I'd guess. North Wales and West Wales (Excepting Pembs) = definitely over 70% of people speak it.

Felly pob lwc i ti!

I’m Valleys Welsh but wasn’t born here and didn’t learn it in school. I did GCSE Welsh a few years ago so can have a basic conversation and can understand more than I can say.
OP go for it!

" basically draw a linew between Bangor and òoh I dunno, Borth?!?! Colour in the bit west.of that line and that is your native language communit "

sorry but that is rubbish

Confused I’m from Cardiff too- but I don’t think it’s as high as 35-40% 🤔

Do it!!!! It’s amazing. Get on duolingo and put the Say Something In Welsh app on your phone!

Much of north Pembrokeshire is Welsh speaking, less in the south below the landsker line. There are a couple of good Welsh dramas on iPlayer currently-un bore mercher and bang. Joiwch!

THeres a great app. Say something in Welsh it think it’s called.

Tbf I think it's a bit rude to travel without at least learning enough to exchange pleasantries and carry out basic transactions. If you want to learn Welsh then go for it and make it your hobby. Just because it may not necessarily have a practical use doesn't mean it's a waste of time. Learning languages, especially as you get older, is a good way to keep your brain fit and if it makes you feel happy then all the better.

DullandOld oh ok I am just being polemical! But in my experience that kind of area is where you routinely hear adults speaking to their children in Welsh. I think census data is broadly supportive of the picture of spoken welsh being predominant in the north west, west-ish coast, small pockets of the norrh coadt of the southern sticky out bit and with a high-density pocket or two elsewhere, particularly Snowdonia.

Tell me if I'm wrong!

Actually, I have mostly Cornish heritage on my dads side and would love to learn Cornish!

@DullandOld obviously there is a language fade in from the South/South East up to the North/North West.... that's all I was trying to convey. It's a small linguistic community however you come at it.

ye i know Ragusa, but I was just thinking of the Welsh speaking community of Aberystwyth/Ceredigion/Carms being called 'outliers'..

Statistical outliers :) not socio-linguistic outliars. Heaven forfend.

Outliers. ffs :) I am very clearly a linguistic outlier

Apparently Cardiff is around 30-40 per cent on the census I think. Definitely read that. I think you just don’t hear it in town so much unless you deliberately go to certain cafes etc.

I can speak Welsh although I'm really rusty, it's a lovely language but rarely used, even those who can speak Welsh tend to mix it with English. I've only had one conversation in Welsh since I left school but it does mean I can mostly understand the rugby commentary on S4C

Ragusa - I think it's a bit unfair to cut off the Welsh speaking heartland at Borth. It goes all the way down to Carmarthenshire as others have noted.

The percentage of Welsh speakers in Cardiff is 10%, which is a high number considering Cardiff is the most populated city in Wales. There are plenty of opportunities to practise your Welsh even outside what we call the Fro Gymraeg. Every area has a Welsh chapel or school or some kind of society or club.

Chocolate - it's 10% in Cardiff. You can google it for confirmation.
15% for the question of 'some knowledge of'. Here are the stats by county:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Welsh_areas_by_percentage_of_Welsh-speakers

Bit of a waste of time, you can get by perfectly well in English there so why bother?

And that's why Brexit happened.

YANBU! I am currently teaching myself Japanese for no good reason other than the fact that I've always wanted to learn a language with a different alphabet. I'm a languages teacher, so it should be easier for me than most.... Nope. It's really really hard!

Anyone else reading this thread out in that lovely, sing-songy Welsh twang a lot of Welsh English speakers have?

Maenad, I'm in the valleys too!
From Cardiff originally but moved north as it was cheaper!