The Welsh

There is no other part of the British Isles where national traditions are more cherished than in Wales. The Welsh still proudly wear their national dress on festive occasions. The Welsh language is still very much a living force and is taught side by side with English in schools of Wales. And Welshmen, who have a highly developed artistic sense, have a distinguished record in the realm of poetry, song and drama.

Wales really begins with the Anglo-Saxon victories in the 6^th and 7^th centuries which isolated the Welsh from the rest of their fellow -Britons. Until the ll^th century the Vikings made frequent raids on the coast. Then came the Normans who penetrated into the south of the country and established many strongholds, in spite of strong resistance organized by the Welsh. However, the subjection of the people was completed by Edward I who made his son, afterwards Edward II, the first Prince of Wales.

Welsh is spoken by half a million people, 20 per cent of the population of Wales. Welsh and English are both official languages in Wales. Nearly all Welsh speakers are bilingual, although most would think of English as their second language. The Welsh language is a Celtic branch of the Indo-European languages and has some roots in common with them.

The Welsh call their country Cymru, and themselves they call Cymry, a word which has the same root as «comrade, friend».

Vocabulary

the Welsh [welʃ] - уэльсцы

Cymru ['kimru] - валл. Уэльс

Cymry ['kimri] - валл.уэльсцы, валлийцы

to cherish - лелеять, хранить в памяти

festive occasion - праздник

side by side - плечо к плечу; рука об руку

artistic sense - художественное чувство

to have a record - иметь репутацию

distinguished - известный, выдающийся

to penetrate into - внедряться, вторгаться