The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
| Population | 508,098 speakers (1991 census). Out of 575,102 speakers in 1971, it included 32,700 monolinguals, 542,402 bilinguals (1971 census). Population total all countries 580,000. |
| Region | Northern, western, and southern Wales. Also spoken in Argentina, Canada. |
| Alternate names | CYMRAEG |
| Dialects | NORTHERN WELSH, SOUTHERN WELSH, PATAGONIAN WELSH. |
| Classification | Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic. |
| Comments | 44,600 between 5 and 9 years old and speak Welsh, 47,100 between 10 and 14 years old (1991). 19% of the Welsh population speak the language, and 33% able to understand it (1998). Literature being produced. The Royal National Eisteddfod meets annually. 88% of those questioned believe they should be proud of Welsh, and that it should be treated equally with English. There is an increase in the number of parents choosing a Welsh-medium education for their children. Official language. Dictionary. Grammar. VSO. 525 Welsh primary and secondary schools provide Welsh-medium education to over 82,000 children (1999). Compulsory in most Welsh schools. Magazines, radio programs, TV. Bible 1588-1988. |
