Patagonian Welsh
| Patagonian Welsh | |
|---|---|
| Cymraeg y Wladfa | |
| Native to | Argentina |
| Region | Chubut |
Native speakers | L1: 5,000 (2001–08)[1] to 12,500 (2004)[2] L2: 25,000 (1998)[3] |
| Latin (Welsh alphabet) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
Patagonian Welsh is the dialect of Welsh which is spoken in the region of Patagonia in South America. The language is spoken principally in Y Wladfa with sporadic speakers throughout Argentina and Chile by Welsh Argentinians and Welsh Chileans. The Welsh people first arrived in Patagonia in 1865, the reason for their migration was to protect their native Welsh culture and language, something they thought was at threat in their native Wales. In 2004, the Welsh speakers in Argentina asked permission from the Welsh government to access Welsh TV programmes to encourage the learning of the language and for the language to possibly grow.[4] Patagonian Welsh is the third main variety of Welsh, the other two being North and South Wales Welsh.
References
- ^ "Wales and Argentina". Wales.com website. Welsh Assembly Government. 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Western Mail, 27 Dec 2004
- ^ "Languages of Argentina" - Ethnologue.com
- ^ http://clanjames.com/patagonian_welsh.htm