 |
 |
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 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%