There is a Welsh proverb which says: “Cenedlheb iaith cenedl heb galon”and which means “Anation without a language [is] a nation without a heart”.
At the beginning of the third millenium Welsh is spoken by around half a milion people in Wales or about 20 percent of the population of 2.7000.000. This is more than double the number that spoke Welsh in the Middle Ages but around half the number that spoke it at the beginning in the 20th century. Welsh is understood by about 750.000 people in Wales. Welsh speakers are scattered in equal numbers all over the country. Some areas in the North and West are thought of as the Welsh heartland because the percentage speaking Welsh there is quite high, from 50 to 80 percent! But nummerically, Cardiff and Swansea areas have as many Welah speakers as the counties of north Wales. Welsh has been spoken for 1600 years and the Welsh language survived until today although people - especially the English people- tried more than once to bann it away. The English language has had and still has a strong influence on the Welsh language. History is one of the main reasons which made the Welsh language vanish.In the first part of my work I will have a look on the History of the Welsh language. What happened in the past that there are only 20 percent of the Welsh population who can speak Welsh left?
In the second part I will examine the process of borrowing words from another language. The Welsh language mainly changed through borrowing words from the English language. As well as the Welsh gentry adopted the English manner and culture it also adopted the English language. In this part I will look in which way both languages borrowed from another and what were the reasons for borrrowing. In the last part I will answer the question if Welsh is a vanishing language and if it is the fault of the English language that Welsh nearly died out.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The History of the Welsh language
3. The change of the Welsh language through English loans
3.1 English loans in Welsh
3.1.1 Welsh loans in English
3.2 List of Tables
4. Conclusion
5. References
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper aims to examine the historical and linguistic factors contributing to the decline of the Welsh language, specifically focusing on the impact of English loanwords. It investigates how historical policies and cultural shifts influenced language contact, ultimately questioning if Welsh is a vanishing language due to English dominance.
- Historical evolution of the Welsh language in the context of English influence.
- Linguistic processes of borrowing and accommodation of English loanwords in Welsh.
- Social and economic drivers for language shifting and the emergence of "Wenglish."
- The sociolinguistic state of the Welsh language in the early 21st century.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The change of the Welsh language through English loans
Borrowing is the process used by a certain language to adopt words from another language. These words were made part of the vocabulary of the language which “borrows”. The borrowed word is then a so-called loanword. Any word, which comes etymologically from another language (i.e. which has its origin in a foreign language) can be borrowed. Language can not only borrow words. They can borrow any kind of linguistic material. The language which borrows is called the recipient language (RL) and the language which is borrowed from is called the donor language (DL). There are different reasons why a language borrows from another language. Two main reasons for borrowing are need and prestige. For example, English borrowed a lot of words from French to make their language more elegant.
A loanword has to undergo the process of accomodation before it becomes part of the vocabulary of the RL. The loanword has to be remodelled to fit the phonological and morphological structure of the RL. Loanwords can be identified through phonologiacal clues which means that words which violate the typical phonological patterns are likely to be loans. The phonological history of a language may help to identify the loan and to establish the direction of borrowing. Also the morphological complexity can help to determine the direction of borrowing because usually the DL is the one which is morphological complex and the RL is the one with the monomorphemic form.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the status of the Welsh language at the start of the third millennium and outlines the paper's aim to explore the impact of English borrowing.
2. The History of the Welsh language: This section traces the decline of Welsh from the 16th century onwards, highlighting the role of administrative, educational, and social policies in prioritizing English.
3. The change of the Welsh language through English loans: This chapter defines the linguistic process of borrowing and explains the criteria for identifying loanwords and their integration into the recipient language.
3.1 English loans in Welsh: This part details the specific absorption of English vocabulary and sounds into the Welsh language and discusses regional variations influenced by contact with English speakers.
3.1.1 Welsh loans in English: This section examines the reciprocal but limited influence of Welsh on the English language, primarily noting its survival through place names.
3.2 List of Tables: This section provides categorized lists of English-Welsh linguistic examples, including similar terms, translated concepts, and compound words.
4. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings on language endangerment, arguing that the replacement of native terms with English equivalents poses a critical threat to the survival of Welsh.
5. References: This section lists the academic sources utilized for the research analysis.
Keywords
Welsh, English, Loanwords, Borrowing, Language Contact, Wenglish, Sociolinguistics, Linguistic History, Endangered Language, Bilingualism, Phonology, Morphology, Language Policy, Cultural Heritage, Wales
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper explores the status of the Welsh language and its gradual decline, specifically investigating the role of English linguistic influence and the adoption of English loanwords.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The document covers the history of Welsh, the mechanics of linguistic borrowing, sociolinguistic factors affecting Welsh speakers, and the emergence of the mixed dialect known as Wenglish.
What is the core research question?
The paper seeks to determine if Welsh is a vanishing language and if the influence of the English language is the primary cause for its decline.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author uses a historical and sociolinguistic approach, analyzing language contact, the phonological and morphological integration of loanwords, and historical educational/legal developments.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body examines historical threats to Welsh, technical definitions of borrowing, empirical examples of English-to-Welsh loanwords, and the sociological impact of language loss.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Welsh, English, Loanwords, Borrowing, Language Contact, Wenglish, Sociolinguistics, and Endangered Language.
What does the author mean by the term "Wenglish"?
Wenglish refers to a dialect resulting from language contact in Wales where speakers mix colloquial Welsh with English, often replacing available Welsh terms with English equivalents.
Does the author believe the Welsh language can be saved?
The author notes that while Welsh is in clear danger, efforts such as educational support, media availability, and cultural awareness in the 20th century have provided a degree of resilience, though the challenge remains significant.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Kröschel (Author), 2002, Welsh - A vanishing language through English loans, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/58172
