Minority Languages as Collateral Damage in the Climate Crisis: The Incidental Result of Ecoviolence on Y Gymraeg/Welsh Language

doi:10.1017/9781009341622.013

10 - Minority Languages as Collateral Damage in the Climate Crisis: The Incidental Result of Ecoviolence on Y Gymraeg/Welsh Language

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 February 2025

Lowri Cunnington Wynn

Edited by

Peter Stoett and

Delon Omrow

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Peter Stoett: Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University
Delon Omrow: Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University

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Summary

This chapter focuses on the impact of ecoviolence – in particular, climatic uncertainty – on the language and culture of three areas within the Northwest Wales Coastline and within the county of Gwynedd. These are considered the Cadarnleoedd y Gymraeg. The Cadarnleoedd is often contested as a political tool rather than a formally recognised linguistic or cultural territory, as is the Gaeltacht in Ireland and the Gaidhealtachd in Scotland. Here, it is used to describe the areas in Wales where the Welsh language is strongest, with at least 50 per cent of the population able to speak it. There has been a consistent decrease in the number of people able to speak Welsh in Wales, which is challenging the sustainability of the language in its traditional heartlands.

Keywords

language death climatic uncertainty Gwynedd Cadarnleoedd y Gymraeg Cadarnleoedd Ireland Scotland

Type: Chapter
Information: Ecoviolence Studies
Human Exploitation and Environmental Crime
, pp. 170 - 182

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009341622.013 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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