Hi All, Just a bit of gloating!
Welsh is the oldest European language still spoken. Unfortunately, Cornish, which has a similar root to Welsh, is now no longer spoken, as the last Cornish speaker dies some months ago. But they are now trying to resurrect the Cornich language, and trying to do what has been happening in Wales for many years - classes in Welsh, and all 'local officials' (which includes dinner ladies in the schools etc) having to have the Welsh! Carol - the Welsh exile living in Suffolk, UK - which about as far away from Wales, to the east, as it is possible in the UK to be, I think! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Peach" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 4:10 PM Subject: [lace-chat] English language > I sat mesmerised by a programme on TV about our English language. > It seems it was King Alfred the Great whose seat of power was at > Winchester decided that English the spoken word would also be > the written word. These books are at Winchester Cathedral. Then > in 1066 the spoken word was French, yes we were taken over by the > French, for three hundred years French was the language spoken > here. There were over 4,000 French words that were used by the > English. Melvin Bragg was the commentator, not sure if there is > going to be another instalment about the English language. > I hope so. > > I do know that on Richard & Judy programme on TV the other > week there were two men who had discovered a hoard of coins, > many going back before the Romans, plus there was written > words on the coins, it will be interesting to find out what will > be learnt about our language from these coins, so perhaps there > was a written language here long before King Alfred decided > he would have the written word. > > Jean UK or should I say England, no one mentioned about what > languages were spoken then in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. > > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED]
