Introduction
Welsh language is categorized in the Celtic group of languages. The Celtic is classified as an Indo-European language family and descended from earlier forms called proto-Celtic which was spoken across Europe by Iron Age tribes. Since the ancient times the language has been present in Britain and the traces of some words can still be found in English speaking areas. It is believed that it came to Britain through miners of metals such as gold eight thousand years ago. The miners settled in the rocky places around West Britain that had abundant metals (Davies, 2006).
Circumstances which made the Welsh language to become obsolete
At the end of the 5th century, the tribe started a migration which caused a conflict with their neighbouring societies to the East and South of Europe. Despite an interest in the Culture of the Welsh language by the scholars, it has been diluted by the native speakers of English. It has been suppressed and relegated as an inferior language through the governing powers. The governing power ensures that official businesses should be conducted in English. Welsh indigenous language has suffered colonization by other cultures and languages.
During the second half of the 20th the Welsh language and culture began to decline. It remained a minority language that was getting extinct. English became the official language and Native Welsh speakers were banned from holding public offices making it to decline further. Promoting its use and cultural values became very difficult. Past imperialism has made English language dominant and popular among the people in Europe. The government of Wales Act 1998 and the Welsh language Act 1993 made it compulsory for it to be taught in schools protect it from extinction. Some poems and articles written in Welsh have been preserved for later generations. However this is becoming impossible because the language continues to be diluted by other language (Kockel, & Craith, 2004)
Can a group maintain a strong identity without having a common language to bind them?
Language is the cornerstone of cultural unity, national identity, and community cohesion. This is an important aspect that binds a community together. Without a common language there would be no cultural ties. Individuals have strong feelings about their identity and culture and when it is threatened they become protective and passionate over it. In today’s world there are thousands of languages which serve as both dividers and unifiers of humanity. Human languages such as vocabulary change constantly because flexibility of a culture is infinite. In the modern world technological advances and innovations are the major causes of cultural diffusion. The standards held about the culture becomes difficult to uphold as problems arise whose language is more superior to the others. National self interest and cultural identity have become increasingly significant around the globe. The distribution of languages is useful for cultural change and development. Communities need to understand why diffusion of languages happens and its effect on humanity. Through language diversification an analysis has been made about similar words which have the same meaning in various languages which explains their origin. It is therefore possible to reconstruct an extinct language which preceded the evolving one (Kockel, & Craith, 2004).
Conclusion
Welsh language which is extremely ancient is the basis for Egyptian hieroglyphics, Hebrew and Sanskrit. Previous documentation has shown signs that the language is declining at a fast rate. A revitalization of the language is taking place to protect it from becoming obsolete.
References
Davies, C. (2006). The Welsh language: the story of Britain's oldest living language. Talybont,
Ceredigion: Y Lolfa.
Hobsbawm, E. J. (20121983). The invention of tradition. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Kockel, U., & Craith, M. (2004). Communicating cultures. Münster: Lit ;.
