Regular readers of this blog cannot have failed to notice the discussions on Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish on this blog. As regular readers, you’re entitled to ask me why I feature these languages on the blog? After all, do you really need to learn Irish, Scottish or Welsh?
Without our roots, we will not stand and we will not reach. It is very difficult to kill a language. Latin, the mother of many tongues around the world, is considered a dead language but a good understanding of Latin will help you when learning many European languages and it is this “tool aspect” of the language that, in a way, has kept it alive beyond the point of its death. That said, languages can die. They are as mortal as their speakers.
We need to understand where we come from as a culture. If we don’t make the effort, history will snigger at us as we make the same mistakes all over again. But learning Scottish, Irish and Welsh isn’t about looking to the past.
I lived in Wales for 3 years. Deepest North Wales. The place where, if you’re lucky, you can glimpse the odd person in traditional Welsh dress. Sure, surviving the Six Nations Rugby Tournament was an ordeal in itself but, for the most part, Wales welcomed me with open arms. To this day, I know the Welsh to be amongst the friendliest people in the world. They welcomed me with open arms and I will never forget that. Also, once you’ve fallen in love with a Welsh woman (and I fell in love with 3), you realise that some of the best people in the world really do come from Wales. The Welsh are a proud people with a rich and vibrant culture. To ignore that is to isolate ourselves in a bigotry that belongs in the dark ages. When we focus on our nationality alone, we are individuals shouting in the dark. When we maintain our individuality but focus on others, we become part of a community. I am English. But then again, who on earth am I?
This article would not be complete without mentioning the Scottish people. Once again, thank you for my time in Edinburgh. Scotland is also a proud nation with a rich and vibrant culture. The Scots are also some of the friendliest people in the world. I spent two days in Edinburgh in July last year and I became so taken with the place that I went back a month or so later with a two week stay.
And then there’s the Irish. I’ve been lucky enough in my life to have had two amazing friends from Ireland. Ireland is a proud nation with a rich and vibrant culture and, yes, you guessed it, they are friendly people.
So, that’s one reason why those languages feature on this blog. Those cultures welcomed (or, in the case of Ireland, will hopefully welcome me very soon) me with open arms and, here on my blog, they shall receive the same hospitality from me. Stand with me once and I will stand with you forever.
Scottish, Irish and Welsh music is as wonderful and popular today as it always was and the establishment of the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament (I can’t believe I ate sausage and chips behind that place) has finally prompted due care and attention to be placed on safeguarding the Welsh and Scottish Gaelic language. S4c airs programming in Welsh and BBC Alba presents programming in Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic. I told you, looking at and learning these languages isn’t about looking to the past. The present and the future are exciting times for those languages too.
I am English. I love my country. I love England and I love the UK. I am English but I do not acknowledge the supremacy of my native tongue. English is one voice amongst millions.
Languages are tools. But it is a mistake to see them as just being tools. They are alive. Our breath fuels their pulse. Through these languages and others, a culture can speak to its present and look towards its future. Through these languages and others, a nation can stand up and be counted whilst embracing a friend. Through these languages and others, we can discover a little bit about who we are. I am English. But then again, who am I?
Do you need to speak Welsh, Gaelic or Irish to visit those countries. Perhaps not. But do you really want to be just a tourist? Wouldn’t you rather be a traveller?
