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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 The Linguist 25
FEATURES
language, and a compulsory subject in
schools, but continued to decline rapidly as
a language of everyday use.
In Scotland, Gaelic was relegated to a very
minor second place. Some have attributed
the decline of Scottish Gaelic to religious
differences, not simply between Catholic and
Protestant, but also between Protestant
denominations. In Wales, the religious
connection was more positive. Largely
Methodist/Calvinist, Welsh Sunday Schools
ensured a high level of literacy in Welsh in
those areas where it was predominantly a
mother tongue – as well as a degree of
standardisation owing to the Welsh Bible,
translated almost as early as modern English
versions. Another important influence was
the existence of Welsh workers' political and
cultural clubs in the old industries, which
often met to discuss the issues of the day.
Unsurprisingly, it was in Wales that
resistance to the increasing use of English
was most pronounced. The 1960s saw
campaigns by the Welsh Language Society
on such matters as bilingual road signs and,
after a long struggle, an extraordinary couple
(Eileen and Trevor Beasley) won the right to
communicate in Welsh with local government
in Welsh-speaking areas. Finally, Gwynfor
Evans, a Welsh MP, threatened to fast to the
death in 1980 if Welsh was not accorded
reasonable rights, particularly a TV channel.
CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Children in traditional dress (left).
At the annual National Eisteddfod
(festival) all competitions are held in
Welsh; and (below) a map shows the
percentage of Celtic language speakers
living in different parts of the British
Isles and northern France
