The Guardian view on the Welsh language: words that matter
Photo : Fans sing the Welsh national anthem at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium before a rugby game. Photograph: Action Plus/Rex/Shutterstock
The revival of Welsh is not without parallel in Europe — Basque has thrived in a similar fashion. But the language has attained a level of cultural cachet despite the authorities’ apathy or even hostility to it. It was only in 1988 that Margaret Thatcher’s government made Welsh a compulsory language up until the age of 14 in Welsh schools. Welsh-language films have been nominated for Oscars and rock acts sing in Welsh. What is emerging is a distinct identity: modern, multicultural, independent, outward-looking, connected to other small nations. All of which helps to explain why Netflix’s decision to buy the Welsh-language drama Dal Y Mellt is so significant.