Reclaiming Cymraeg

Language is a powerful force in cultural history. It is the voice that speaks to the future, and when that language is suppressed, so is the story of the past. Legends surrounding the figure of King Arthur have been retold for 1500 years in hundreds of languages around the world. His legend dominates late Celtic poetry, and he has played an integral role in Welsh cultural identity. Medieval Welsh poets were not that far removed from the druids who maintained the memories of the tribe. The intricacies of the language of the poems were not just artistic statements; they also acted as the history and memory of the Welsh people.

The Act of Union in 1536 by Henry VIII was the start of the Anglicization of Welsh language and culture, robbing a people of their past. This made it no longer acceptable to associate with their heritage. With the suppression of their language, they lost an integral part of their cultural identity.

The Celtic revival of the 20th century saw a slow reclamation of the Welsh language (Cymraeg) and now the country is legally bilingual. The survival of the Arthurian legends show that the Welsh wished to retain much of their cultural spirit and heritage despite an early suppression of their language. The Welsh are still struggling with the ramifications of so much cultural loss. Some stories will be lost forever; but by reclaiming their language, they can take back the power to control their own history and re-appropriate the poetic legends that were so definitive in their past.