Welsh Channel 4.

[santa claus]

Originally Posted by TheAnimus

It's fair to call it a daft language because it lacks a lot of the logic and structure other modern languages have (even the oriental ones, which are just so damn confusing).

For example, take the english for microwave oven.

Microwave to describe a catagory of wavelength that includes those which excite via resonse water.

Take the welsh.

oven and 'ping'.

Wounderful langauge.

Whilst its not bad that learning a language is a bad idea, its just that often languages are used as barriers between peoples and cultures. Who on earth wants someone who can speak welsh and english, over someone who could speak spanish/french/german/cantonease/english. Who?! How on earth is that good for the evooluation of man and english.

Extolling the virtues of a language at the expense of another in a grammatically inaccurate post would be ironic except for the fact that we know the reason why the post is not word perfect. Knowing that reason makes it as daft to be insulting about any perceived irony as it is daft to potentially insult others by denouncing their native tongue.

The UK is diverse and many languages other than English are spoken. All are as important as English itself is in the modern world.

It’s more important to have one voice than it is to have one language.

[Stewart]

Originally Posted by santa claus

The UK is diverse and many languages other than English are spoken. All are as important as English itself is in the modern world.

Erm... no.

[TAKTAK]

Originally Posted by Stewart

Erm... no.

QFT, england = speak english (including regional) (unless your on holiday)

if i moved to a different country i'd try and learn their language.....

[TheAnimus]

Originally Posted by santa claus

It’s more important to have one voice than it is to have one language.

I hope that dosen't mean what i think you mean.

Its more important we all say the same things, think the same, worship the same idols.

I really hope thats not what you mean. Understanding, and easy communication between people is a great way for them to realise what they have in common and become humanised to one another.

All languages can be weighted on merrit, based on the number of people who fluently speak it, and the quality of the language itself.

[AledJ]

Originally Posted by TheAnimus

It's fair to call it a daft language because it lacks a lot of the logic and structure other modern languages have (even the oriental ones, which are just so damn confusing).

For example, take the english for microwave oven.

Microwave to describe a catagory of wavelength that includes those which excite via resonse water.

Take the welsh.

oven and 'ping'.

Wounderful langauge.

Whilst its not bad that learning a language is a bad idea, its just that often languages are used as barriers between peoples and cultures. Who on earth wants someone who can speak welsh and english, over someone who could speak spanish/french/german/cantonease/english. Who?! How on earth is that good for the evooluation of man and english.

Now as a proud welsh man that hit a nerve, but i'll keep this civil.

How can you say its a daft language just because of its logic! Welsh and English are completely different languages, and so we have different words for different things that also have different meaning because of language.

Your point about who would want someone who could speak Welsh and English. Well sorry to burst your bubble but a lot of companies would. For example, a lot of companies in Wales advertise or welsh speakers to help with their Welsh customer base. Also there the National Assembly who always need Welsh speakers.

[TheAnimus]

Originally Posted by AledJ

Your point about who would want someone who could speak Welsh and English. Well sorry to burst your bubble but a lot of companies would. For example, a lot of companies in Wales advertise or welsh speakers to help with their Welsh customer base. Also there the National Assembly who always need Welsh speakers.

ok, lets try this one more time, any idea what the GDP of wales is?

i can't even find it on bloomberg, its that significant.

Lets look at the other options in europe, we've got spansih, massive amount of money with those people (mexico is an intresting EM). I've been trying to find time to learn some spanish after having a few breif lessons from a spanish friend.

We've got german which is pratically runing the ECB.

French for so much of the world.


But no, welsh, lets learn welsh, you might as well have a paint stripper drinking class.

[AledJ]

Why does a nationality and its language have to have money attach to it ??? Its obvious you don't appreciate an historic language such as Welsh. And here is a little history lesson for you- Welsh is an older language than English (not that it really maters anyway)

I don't care what the GDP of Wales is!! Its also offensive for you to say that Wales is insignificant due to ahving no GDP. Just because Welsh is not a language that is not used outside Wales expect Patagonia, does not mean it has any less value. Its idea like yours that nearly wiped the language out altogether.

Found some more hstory:

16 signers of the Declaration of Independence and 11 U.S. Presidents were of Welsh descent or had ties to Welsh descendants.

America's past presidents and vice presidents of Welsh descent include Abraham Lincoln, James Monroe, Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, Calvin Coolidge and Andrew Jackson. Thomas Jefferson, the great American Statesman spoke Welsh.

That’s just a small bit. Is it still as insignificant??

[TheAnimus]

Originally Posted by AledJ

Its idea like yours that nearly wiped the language out altogether.

What a crime.

There are many languages in the world to choose from. All i'm saying is why would anyone choose welsh? Looking at it from an economists poitn of view (because its easy) shows just how completely insiginificant it is.

Should i not of read a translation of crime & punishment, or dear old friedrich nietzsche?

Its a case of not having enough time to read + learn about all the things out there, the art is picking the 'important' things out and learning them.

All i'm saying is you can't possibly argue that keeping the welsh language alive in everyday spoken form is a benefit over any other modern language? (please note i'm not sugesting that people learn another arcian rarely used language instead, thou its hard to deny most modern europian langauges influances from latin).

Its a case of if your going to learn a second language, whats the point of choosing welsh? Is historical studies enough of a compelling reason?

[Stewart]

English.

First Language: 400 million.
Second Language: 1400 million.
Total: 1.8 billion.

Official Language: 53 countries.

Wiki Quote: 'Modern English, sometimes described as the first global lingua franca, is the dominant international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio and diplomacy.'

Other Stuff: English is currently the language most often taught as a second language around the world. 87% of Dutch people, 85% of Swedish, and 83% of Danes can speak English to some degree.

When combining native and non-native speakers it is probably the most commonly spoken language in the world, though possibly second to a combination of the Chinese languages. Difference being, of course, those Chinese languages are spoken in... China. English travels around the world with you.

So, in short, its the daddy.


Now Welsh.

First Language: 750,000
Second Language: Gavin Henson.
Total: 750,001

Official Language: 1 country. And thats a principality. (Its Wales btw)

Wiki Quote: 'The most recent census figures (2001) presented in "Main Statistics about Welsh" by the Welsh Language Board, indicate 582,400 (20.8% of the population of Wales in households or communal establishments) were able to speak Welsh'

20%. Can speak Welsh. In Wales.

Other Stuff: The total effect the Welsh language has upon the world is making the road signs in Wales slightly bigger.

So, in short, LET IT GO!

[Paulm@scan]

I can understand why Welsh people want to try and keep their language spoken and I can undersatnd The Animus about choosing a second language. Personally I would not choose Welsh as a language and could not understand why anyone would want to go out and learn it as it probably would not be benificial to anyone who did not live in Wales.

The lauguage sounds stupid to us English as many of us will never diverge in a second language but the welsh have their own language as thier second language to English which no matter how silly the language seems to us really is quite understandable wanting to keep to thier heritage. I mean to be fair when have us English respected anything that is not theirs, we never have anything good to say to the Scots yet once we feared them in battle. We may have the vast mojority of our Island but I can guarantee you the best most scenic parts of GB is in either Wales or Scotland.

When we retire and get old and wrinkly were do people move to if they have the money (not including Fleetwood) Wales or Scotland.

IMO Welsh is pointless but who are we to critisize In fact English have that much slang and different meanings for the same word its actually know of one of the hardest languages to learn in some cases.

[Stewart]

Originally Posted by Paulm@scan

I When we retire and get old and wrinkly were do people move to if they have the money (not including Fleetwood) Wales or Scotland.

Bournemouth or France.

Yes, Wales is a beautiful country... thats got nowt to do with the language though.

[santa claus]

Originally Posted by TheAnimus

any idea what the GDP of wales is?

Erm.. no. Oh dear, what are you on about?

[Stewart]

Its got hills and stuff. England just has Woolworths.

[santa claus]

Woolworths is beautiful.

[Raz316]

Originally Posted by Stewart

Seen it? Sky channel 134.
HANGONAMINUTE!

So what exactly are you whining about? Welsh or a Welsh TV channel?

[Stewart]

I'm not whining about anything, I'm just posting, trying to make light hearted conversation, otherwise the forum would be full of boring bastards like you who never say anything of any interest or note, and then have a go at anyone who does.

Do you see?