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Dear Sally Jones, c/o WWEWS bilingual training as children or later, is certainly a treasure. Research has proven that switching between languages forces a more intuitive and more analytic way of conceptualising. I am sure there are some who might like it to be possible for at least some Welsh people to never use English, for some children at least to grow up monolingual Welsh. That would lose the Welsh treasure, a bilingual country which trains its citizens to use their brains more comprehensively. The well known English habit of refusing to learn another language is widespread. There is a major justification in that English is the language of international technology, science and largely, business. But that is only one justification. The criticisms are just as powerful. The English (and I speak from mixed heritage) are known for being uncouth, simpletons, in international circles. They can hardly be otherwise when they miss so much of what is going on. They miss both data in terms of explicit content, and also the implicit, nuances of culture. As above the English miss out on a major source of sheer brain power. They also lack manners because they overlook cultural differences. The root reason for English using English is entirely political, not just 'an accident of history' that provides a technological, scientific and business world using English. The supposed 'accident' is an Empire, one which took over others' territories and resources, crushed their cultures, and imposed English law with English language. It has been a marker of upper status to be able to insist that others speak the hegemonic language. It is therefore not surprising, and further, unavoidable, that Welsh defenders of Welsh must engage with politics. A certain amount of that will not be pretty but we can take comfort from the old adage about making omelettes. Wales has a treasure in its remarkable language, with its outstanding literatures which pioneered so much in the mediaeval period, and led the way in cultural renaissance out of colonial suppression. But its partner treasure is its bilingual modern society, combining native and incomer, old and new, two different language paradigms that fertilise intelligence when held in one person. Bilingual societies are always complex and precious. Most are immigrant, not ancetral indigenous. This one, in salvaging and rebuilding its native heritage right in the heart of the most ruthless colonial power in modern history, is an extraordinary phenomenon. It reflects the striking pragmatism, determination, ingenious politics and sheer grace, of this rare nation. ** *Shan Morgain* *Research site <www.mabinogistudy.com> <http://www.mabinogistudy.com>* Incl. 'The Mabinogi Bibliography' annotated, searchable; 1,800 entries. *NLW nominated to the UK Web Archive* as 'an important part of Wales documentary heritage' (2017) *Adran y Cymraeg, Swansea University* *, Wales*. *Academia* <https://swansea.academia.edu/ShanMorgain> ASWWE (Association for Welsh Writing in English) GENCAS (Centre for Research into Gender and Culture) MEMO (Centre for Mediaeval and Early Modern Research) RIAH (Research Institute for Arts and Humanities SMF (Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship) SURF (Swansea University Research Forum) Tel. 01633 853 693 Casnewydd/ Newport. .........................................................................................