The United Kingdom is a mixed bag of history, language and culture. Whilst English is the predominant language spoken throughout, there is a considerable wealth of different languages spoken that are both native to the land and part of our multicultural landscape. Many variations of Celtic languages are here and on our doorstep\u2026 but does anyone actually use them?<\/p>\n
Is it Ffasiynol<\/i> (\u2018cool\u2019 in Welsh) or Fionnuar<\/i> (\u2018trendy\u2019 in Irish) to speak the historical, spiritual language of your country? Even \u2018modern\u2019 adjectives like \u2018trendy\u2019 and \u2018cool\u2019 sound somehow better<\/i> in Welsh and Irish, respectively, but are they used in the queue at the supermarket or to gossip at the bus stop? \u00a0Or is it outdated and something perpetuated only by grandparents in wistful nostalgia?<\/p>\n
Welsh and Irish are both beautiful, lyrical Celtic languages that are soothing on the ear and hard work on the tongue. For a non-native, at least. Many heads have been turned by an alluring, lilting Irish word, and even Tolkien was mesmerised by the tone of Welsh, using it as a base for some of his Elvish dialects<\/a> as well as Middle-Earth<\/a> place names.<\/p>\n