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Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages. | |||
The most recent census figures for Wales (2001) indicate that 582,400 (21% of the population) were able to speak Welsh. However, in the western parts of the country the language is spoken by over 50% of the population. | |||
The Welsh Language Act 1993, gives Welsh equal status with English in the public sector in Wales and the teaching of the language is compulsory in all schools up to the age of 16. | |||
Although most Welsh records are written in English, understanding some basic elements of the Welsh language can help you with your research. Do not, however, rely on a translation of a record made by using a dictionary. Get help from someone who knows the language. | Although most Welsh records are written in English, understanding some basic elements of the Welsh language can help you with your research. Do not, however, rely on a translation of a record made by using a dictionary. Get help from someone who knows the language. | ||
=== The Welsh Alphabet === | === The Welsh Alphabet === | ||
Though the Welsh and English alphabets are very similar, each has some letters not used in the other. The letters | Though the Welsh and English alphabets are very similar, each has some letters not used in the other. The letters q, v, and z are not used in the Welsh language and the letters j and k only occur in 'adopted' words. The following double letters are treated as a single letter in Welsh: ch, dd, ff, ll, ng, ph, rh, and th. These letters are part of the Welsh alphabet. | ||
When you use a Welsh dictionary or an index written in Welsh, use Welsh, not English, alphabetical order. | When you use a Welsh dictionary or an index written in Welsh, use Welsh, not English, alphabetical order. | ||
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*http://users.comlab.ox.ac.uk/geraint.jones/about.welsh/ | *http://users.comlab.ox.ac.uk/geraint.jones/about.welsh/ | ||
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[[Category:Wales]] | [[Category:Wales]] | ||