Dear all,

I have followed the recent debates on language and academia 
with interest.  They have raised many points that have relevance to 
my own research, so I thought it was time to stop 
lurking, and to offer some thoughts.  Language is both something 
which my project is looking at, and something which I use to 
conceptualise and define my project (problematically at times).

My research is looking at Welsh migration to, and Welsh life in 
London since 1945.  An important set of questions revolves around how 
Welsh people have experienced life in the city, and how they have 
negotiated their identities as Welsh people in the city.

Perhaps the key inspiration for my research is an interest in 
issues of Welsh nationality, nationalism, and language.  In a whole 
number of ways, issues of language are an extremely important aspect 
of Welsh national identity.  For instance, groups such as 
Cymdeithas yr Iaith (The Welsh Language Society) have campaigned 
to gain equality between the Welsh and English language in Wales.  
They heavily criticise the monolingual dominance of English in 
Wales over the Welsh language, and promote 
the development of a bilingual nation. 

Much of my research involves talking to individual Welsh people who 
have either moved from Wales to London, or who were born in the city. 
Language has often emerged as an important issue, as people have 
talked to me about their feelings as Welsh people, and their 
experiences in London.  This has not just been Welsh speakers.  
One non Welsh speaker told me that not 
speaking the language didn't make her any less Welsh.  

One of the problems in my research, is that, almost without realising 
it, I might end up defining and delimiting what Welsh identity is,
 and then go out to London to find it.  It is very easy to focus
 on Welsh networks (such as chapels), and to look at them as 
if they were the totality of Welsh life in London. And with 
this, there is also a danger, of reducing Welshness, 
to Welsh language.  Non Welsh speakers (who seem to be less likely to 
be member of networks such as Welsh chapels), are far harder to find.

And then there's me.  I am English, came to Wales, and learnt Welsh.  
I write mainly, though not exclusively, through the medium of 
English.  But I draw heavily upon Welsh language material, some of 
it, of an academic nature.  I conduct many of my interviews through 
the medium of Welsh.  It could be argued that by learning this 
language, I have gained access to both a set of people, and a 
literature.  Certainly the recent debates on the forum, have made me 
realise that I need to think about this.

Does anyone have any thoughts/similar experiences?

A final point.  Another issue that has been raised by my research, is 
the complex interrelationships between Wales, England and Britain, 
which Welsh migration to London highlights.  I can't help thinking 
there is some irony, in light of our debate, that I am researching Welsh life 
(with all that it entails) in the heart of the English metropolis.

Diolch am eich amser


Jeremy Segrott

----------------------------------------------------------
Jeremy Segrott 

Yr Adran Ddaearyddiaeth, Prifysgol Cymru Abertawe, 
Parc Singleton, ABERTAWE, SA2 8PP, CYMRU.

Ffon: +44 (0)1792 295228, extension 4141     
Facs: +44 (0)1792 295955

http://www.swan.ac.uk/geog/php/jrs
----------------------------------------------------------
Department of Geography, University of Wales, Swansea,
Singleton Park, SWANSEA, SA2 8PP, WALES.

Tel: +44 (0)1792 295228, extension 4141     
Fax: +44 (0)1792 295955

http://www.swan.ac.uk/geog/php/jrs


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