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Post by coedwen on Jan 9, 2008 14:47:50 GMT -1
Come with me in February when I hold the first Rade and learn that. Dear Craig Are you still planning to do this- I was just wondering when it might be and whether it would be for anyone or by invitation only? Don't worry if I'm not on the list I can take it Many Blessings Coedwen
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Post by kes on Feb 17, 2008 9:48:33 GMT -1
As a new member, I hope I am not speaking out of turn. I am not from Wales, I speak no other language than Australian, or 'strine as some say. The Ozzie language/vernacular/intonation was established by the time of the 3rd Fleet in Australia. It is a combination of many languages, mainly 18th Century English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish and even Chines along with the local dialects of the traditional Australians. My partner speaks 3 languages. One of which is Mauritian a creole language based on many cultures. The first people of Mauritius were both West African Slaves and their captors, mainly Portuguese. Now for the explanation of this ancestry. We visited Ghana in 1998. Partner heard conversations in their local dialect that he understood. He didn't know why. We visited his home, his first time in 38 years. He spoke his own language fluently for the first time in 38 years and recognised the same words he had heard in Ghana. The words were still in use in Mauritius, only melded with others to create a new language. Then, we visited Wales and Brittany and he heard more words he had heard in his own language from Mauritius. Not French, but ancient tongues combined with other ancient tongues, embroidered upon and shortened to suit new peoples. When we visited these two countries, and I am of Scotts descent ( my grandfather), and these countries felt like home. We listened to the ancients in languages that have been in our blood for milennia. We heard them speak, often seeking us. We felt loved, and we had only found that my partner was of ancient Welsh ancestry a short time before. We felt at home, not because of a modern language, but of old blood. The land is the language, it speaks to us all if we are prepared to listen. we were sad to leave and hope to return in a year just to thrust our toes into our folks soil.(so to speak...) But, we hate the thought of the death of traditional languages. We sat in cafes just to listen to the modern languages of England. The songs they create even when we do not know the words, we understand the tune. Mauritius is under threat of losing its first meld of language, Creole. Australia was embarassed by their vernacular. Now, we are proud, we love the sound of our gutteral language that speaks of all our different heritage. Now, our schools no longer teach French as a second language, the teach those of our closest neighbours and those of the traidtional peoples of Australia. So, please don't lose your language. Speak it to your children from birth, your neighbours children, even offer to teach it in day care or pre school when children will soak it like a sponge. If a language is being lost it can only be your own fault. My partner now speaks to our new grandchild in his own language, a language that sings to us like cool clear water on a very hot day. We hope he will be able to teach others and we can keep an old language alive. It may not be used forever in Mauritius, but we hope it will be kept alive in this far flung shore. Dont lament the loss of a language or a land if you play no part in its future.........glad to be alive and chatting....Kes
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Post by Tegernacus on Feb 17, 2008 11:44:33 GMT -1
Dont lament the loss of a language or a land if you play no part in its future......... absolutely spot-on. And that's the whole point of groups like this, to keep traditions alive (or rediscover lost ones). As has been said above, you don't need language to connect with the land, but I think you do need language to connect with the people. So much has been lost, we owe it to the future to remember, record, and use the knowledge we find.
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