Anyone know owt about Wales?

[englishmann]

I'm considering the prospect of going for an MA/PhD in English Literature at Cardiff University. This not a post about zomg what should I do, visas, passports, planes(!!!)...I'm a British citizen, getting a BA at an American university and have looked into similar programmes in the UK before

Comments

[dionysia]

I guess you haven't visited Cardiff, huh? *laugh*

Cardiff is completely bilingual, so no knowledge of Welsh is necessary.

[englishmann]

I haven't, no, but I know that they are still Welsh-speaking, and I've had family members who were given a hard time whilst on holiday. People speaking Welsh on purpose so that they couldn't understand or be understood.

[loganberrybunny]

People speaking Welsh on purpose so that they couldn't understand or be understood.

That's a real shame. I always thought it was an urban myth, until it happened to a family member... in the Welshpool tourist information centre!

[englishmann]

I won't lie: it kind of scared me off a bit.

[ladyynara]

Cardiff is completely bilingual, you should have no problems there whatsoever. It's a great city.

[englishmann]

So, as you say it's a great city, might you have any input as to the tattoo question then...?

[ladyynara]

That I am not sure to be honest. I've visited Cardiff many times, and almost went to uni at Glamorgan uni (a bit north from Cardiff) but didn't so haven't spent any substantial time there other then visits. I wouldn't have thought you would have *too* much trouble, usually the Welsh/English thing is 'innocent' semi-racist jibes rather than a kicking, but if there's a English/Welsh rugby match on, you might want to stay out of the pubs if they're uncovered...

[loganberrybunny]

How difficult would it be to survive in Cardiff with no knowledge/beginner's knowledge of Welsh?

Very easy, unless you deliberately make it hard, for example by going to cultural events conducted in Welsh. The 2001 census showed that only about a sixth of Cardiff's people spoke Welsh, and only about a tenth were fluent. That's probably grown a little now, but it's by no means a Welsh-speaking city as the term would usually be understood. In most places you'll stand out much more if you speak Welsh than if you speak English.

[englishmann]

Brilliant, thank you. Would you say it'd be a good thing to learn a bit anyway?

[loganberrybunny]

Up to you, really. Public notices, road signs etc will almost all be bilingual, and you're unlikely to see much Welsh-only stuff unless the person writing it has done so as a conscious decision. You might easily go a week without hearing any Welsh at all in Cardiff, so it would be more of a thing to do because you were interested than a thing to do because it would be practically useful. I doubt there are any true Welsh monoglots left anywhere in Wales, though in the remoter spots there may well be people who are a bit uncomfortable in English.

[evisceria78]

no help here but I want to see your tats.

[englishmann]

Please? lol.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v60/piratejenn212/tattoos/

My leg is a work in progress, and the photos are from various stages. You can also see the stages of my arm, though they aren't organised well in the album: lion, Union Jack around the lion, plain Union Jack was the order; the flags connect to form an arm band.

[evisceria78]

yes yes sorry, Please!
Thank you for sharing. They are awesome.

[englishmann]

Thanks. :)

[spencerpine]

I lived in Cardiff for a year and I don't know Welsh.

Not sure about the tattoos. There's some strong nationalism about, but I was never sure how much it was anti-English.

Graham

[englishmann]

It's the strong nationalism I'm thinking of...