Alternate Names: Cymraeg
Dialects: Northern Welsh, Patagonian Welsh, Southern Welsh.
Status Notes: De facto provincial language in Wales.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 508,000 in United Kingdom (1991 census), decreasing. Population total all countries: 536,890. 32,700 monolinguals (1971 census).
Language Use: 19% of the Welsh population speak it; 33% understand it (1998). 44,600 between 5 and 9 years old, 47,100 between 10 and 14 years old (1991). Positive attitudes. 542,000 also use English [eng].
Language Development: Welsh as the medium for education is increasing. 525 primary and secondary schools provide Welsh as the medium of education to over 82,000 children (1999). Compulsory in most Welsh schools. The Royal National Eisteddfod meets annually. Magazines. New media. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1588–2004.
Typology: VSO.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: United Kingdom