The English language has pervaded most of the developed world, largely through the empire building exploits of the English monarchy and many centuries of trade links abroad. English is recognised worldwide as the language of business, of education and of entertainment, but many people do not know that the English we speak today is a relatively new language, with many words 'borrowed' from other languages including Greek, Latin, French and a variety of old Norse dialects. The Welsh language, on the other hand, is an ancient Celtic tongue that has been spoken in one form or another on our little island for thousands of years; centuries ago, Welsh dialects could be heard as far north as parts of Scotland.
Sadly, the Welsh language is now considered a minority language, with little over half a million Welsh speakers left in Wales. However, it is a living language; in certain parts of Wales, Welsh is likely to be heard in the streets, the shops, the pubs and in homes.
If you are considering visiting Wales on a holiday or a business trip, it is worth learning a few simple phrases in Welsh. Please refer to the Wikipedia article and Clwb Malu Cachu for pronunciation tips.
Please: plis
Thank you: diolch
Thank you very much: diolch yn fawr iawn
Can I have...? : Ga i...?
Good morning: bore da
Good evening: noswaith dda
Good afternoon: p'nawn da
'Bye!: Hwyl!
OK: iawn
Yes: ie
No: na
(there are a lot of rules about 'yes' and 'no' - but 'ie' and 'na' will be forgiven by most Welsh speakers)
Pint of beer: peint o gwrw
Bar of chocolate: bar o siocled
Where is...? : Lle mae...?
How can I find...? : Sut alla i ffeindio...?
The beach: y traeth
A shop: siop
A pub: tafarn
A restaurant: bwyty
The station: yr orsaf
A bus stop: safle bws
The post office: swyddfa'r post
If you're interested in learning more than just a few phrases in Welsh, I recommend the book Colloquial Welsh by Gareth King (Routledge) - and visiting Clwb Malu Cachu where you can download cheat sheets covering grammar, idioms, swearing and lots more, and where you can practice your new Welsh skills with other learners on the Yahoo Group.
Welsh music is another fantastic way to learn colloquial Welsh; listen to artists such as Super Furry Animals, Anweledig, Radio Luxembourg, Euros Childs, Swci Boscawen and Cerys Matthews for starters.
A final word: if you walk into a Welsh pub and everyone starts speaking Welsh, please don't be paranoid. It's not because you're a tourist... it's because Welsh is their first language!
