Since that Welsh fella on Big Brother spoke his Celtic language at any given moment, Big Brother first said "No, not allowed", then suddenly the English diary room woman would speak a few words of Welsh back to the man. OK..
When Big Brother thankfully died down and ended, I noted numerous references to the Celtic language on British TV networks. Most notably morning and evening chat shows. Usually you would have a Welsh person trying to teach an English person a few words of this "newly discovered" language.
I cringe every time I see a chat show and there is an enthusiastic Welsh man trying to teach another Briton some Welsh words. The student is usually squirming in his interview chair and giggling like teenage girl. "Oh, WOW, I don't know what that means.. he he he giggle"
Let's face it.. Britons, being monoglots (and other people from other English speaking states), are generally useless at languages. If you speak English as your first lingo you can pretty much get by throughout your life without learning anything else.
But why should Britons suddenly find an interest in a language that has been around longer than English itself? Are Britons not aware that there are other languages than English still thriving all over Britain to this day? Does it take television and not education for Britons to realise this?
If you look at the UK wiki page you will see that Welsh has been added to the UK fact box. Ummm, fine. But what about Scots Gaelic and Cornish, what about Irish and Ulster-Scots? All these languages including Welsh are minority languages in the UK. I just don’t see why Welsh has had a sudden romantic interest amongst the Brits.
Sorry, just a bit of a rant.. Any thought on the lingo situation?
When Big Brother thankfully died down and ended, I noted numerous references to the Celtic language on British TV networks. Most notably morning and evening chat shows. Usually you would have a Welsh person trying to teach an English person a few words of this "newly discovered" language.
I cringe every time I see a chat show and there is an enthusiastic Welsh man trying to teach another Briton some Welsh words. The student is usually squirming in his interview chair and giggling like teenage girl. "Oh, WOW, I don't know what that means.. he he he giggle"
Let's face it.. Britons, being monoglots (and other people from other English speaking states), are generally useless at languages. If you speak English as your first lingo you can pretty much get by throughout your life without learning anything else.
But why should Britons suddenly find an interest in a language that has been around longer than English itself? Are Britons not aware that there are other languages than English still thriving all over Britain to this day? Does it take television and not education for Britons to realise this?
If you look at the UK wiki page you will see that Welsh has been added to the UK fact box. Ummm, fine. But what about Scots Gaelic and Cornish, what about Irish and Ulster-Scots? All these languages including Welsh are minority languages in the UK. I just don’t see why Welsh has had a sudden romantic interest amongst the Brits.
Sorry, just a bit of a rant.. Any thought on the lingo situation?