The Welsh Language: History, Survival & Revival Knowledge Organiser
A Years 5–6 knowledge organiser on the Welsh language — its Celtic origins, the suppression under the Not-Our-Language (NOL) system, the Welsh Language Acts, and why Welsh has survived when other minority languages have not.
Preview
Page count: 2. Print-ready PDF — letter / A4 friendly. Click image to see all pages.
Key vocabulary
- 1 Cymraeg (Welsh language) One of the oldest living languages in Europe. Celtic origin, from the Brythonic branch. Approximately 900,000 speakers in Wales today, with a further 150,000+ outside Wales.
- 2 Welsh Not / Not-Our-Language (NOL) A wooden board hung around the neck of children caught speaking Welsh in school in the 19th century. Passed from child to child — the child wearing it at the end of the day was punished. A deliberate policy to suppress Welsh.
- 3 Welsh Language Act (1993) Gave Welsh official status in Wales for the first time. Required public bodies to offer Welsh language services. A major step toward legal equality for Welsh.
- 4 Welsh Language (Wales) Measure (2011) Gave Welsh official status on an equal basis with English in Wales. Created the role of Welsh Language Commissioner.
- 5 Eisteddfod The annual cultural festival conducted entirely in Welsh. The National Eisteddfod and the Urdd (youth) Eisteddfod are the two main ones.
- 6 Gwynedd / Gwynedd Cymraeg The county of Gwynedd in northwest Wales has the highest proportion of Welsh speakers — around 65-70% of its population.
Learning objective
Describe the origins and history of the Welsh language; explain the Welsh Not and its impact; and understand how Welsh has been revived and protected through legislation.
About this resource
Welsh language history books
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For teachers
For children
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