When forefathers/mothers promoted ysgolion meithrin in Cardiff and comprehensive schools “Hywel Teifi like” across Wales in the 70′s they were despised and considered ” immigrants “from West or North Wales or “odd” with very little social awareness – “that to get on you spoke English ” in whatever class circles.
Apparently, 83 languages with “global” influence are spoken and written by 80 percent of the world population. Most of the others face extinction at a rate, the researchers say, that exceeds that of birds, mammals, fish and plants. Not welsh as Wales stands for a deeper heritage. Real Wales values what is beyond measurement.
Linguist Ken Hale put it more bluntly in his well known quote :”When you lose a language, you lose a culture, intellectual wealth, a work of art. It’s like dropping a bomb on a museum, the Louvre.”
In Wales we have a come a long way.We have gained much ground.
Those who want a “Jordan -tanning shop ” type civilisation can ponder one day on how it happened and pervaded society- why nobody said to young girls and boys -there are people who are fake and have a deluded talent but consider and look at the alternative - those who have talent and have a capacity to love something that benefits us -everyone.The Eisteddfod promotes this without reservation.No call for tanning shops yet on the “Maes” even in the welsh rain!
The Eisteddfod shows the way – talent is on show which makes Cowell’s commercilaisation look rather amateur – and I am a fan of his for being positive and getting people thinking…at least.
This week- Tudur Hallam from Carmarthenshire, who won for his poetry on the theme “Ennill Tir” (“gaining ground”). Only Boys Aloud! Cordydd – Bois y Castell (Llandeilo), Maesteg Gleemen, Blaenporth (Ceredigion), Cor Meibion Caerdydd (Cor Taf Caerdydd (Cardiff) Llangwn and Ddwylan (North Wales) -only some of the great examples.
Some however prefer the superficial -what do we do- we must continue to prefer to learn and be smart and enjoy the intelligence that our language gives us.To be intelligent is what each teacher wants from a pupil.Same for us as a society -promoting learning is not easy and should not be placed on the shoulders of a few teachers (under paid and under valued).
Any “cost accounting” in relation to the welsh language will never take into account the intangible, but nonetheless very real benefits inherent in cultural and civil diversity, cross-cultural communication and the human language bank. The emotional and psychological benefits of the Eisteddod will continue the vision that Wales will be an intelligent nation and the language continues as part of our cultural cornerstone.
The resourceful and hard working Eisteddfod chief executive Elfed Roberts in an interview on Radio Cymru at 6 o’clock last night (with the remarkable and excellent Beti George) was very pleased - he should be -although numbers are down -S4C and BBC carried great coverage.Stop measuring Wales -start believing-this was a gaining ground Eisteddfod.