Actress tells man who attacked Welsh language as ‘moribund’ to ‘just shut up’
A Welsh-speaking actress has told a man who described the language as “moribund” to “just shut up basically”.
Sian Reese-Williams, who plays the starring role in international Welsh-English hit, Hidden (Craith), was reacting to comments that writer Jonathan Meades had made in The Critic magazine.
In an article littered with derogatory comments about the language, Meades branded it “moribund”.
He also claimed that it is a “tool not only of communication but of identity and exclusivity, thus of self-harm and curtailment”.
Asked what she thought about his comments by The Telegraph, Sian Reese-Williams said: “Why does it matter to you? Just go and live your life, relax, and stop it. Just shut up basically.
“It’s completely without any basis whatsoever – we’ve got a thriving Welsh-language TV drama industry here. And being bilingual is pretty cool.”
Sian Reese-Williams added that following the success of other non-English language shows on Netflix, she hoped that more Welsh language shows could appear in the future.
“Hopefully the purely English versions will be done away with in time. It was a really necessary thing, in terms of financing and distribution,” she said. “But Scandi noir has opened the door to subtitled dramas.
“It would be wonderful now to have just bilingual or Welsh versions which are shown round the world. Ten years ago it wouldn’t have happened, but look at it now – we’ve got Squid Game.
“And Netflix is making something in the Navajo language. So there’s an appetite now for things outside of the five main languages that you’d usually see in TV and film. And why can’t Welsh be part of that?”
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I’ve lived in England. Your average well educated English person knows more about China or Spain than they fo about Wales. When are we going to wake up and realuse that England, and especially Westminster just don’t give a toss about Wales.
They don’t, you are right, all they do is attack Wales, we suffer racism, and even the so called Welsh Tories attack us. Must be fear, or why else would you attack another nation constantly?
Our wealth of history and their ignorance typical of little englanders
They have a deep psychological hate and loathing of the fact we were here first , and it is our culture that built Stonehenge and spoke the language that is now Cymraeg. It is easier to deny this than admit their past.
No one hates the English on here but a ring of castles around our nation (amongst a multitude of other reasons) shows us there is no getting around the fact the English have not treated Wales very well at all. So it’s hardly surprising that we are not showering them with compliments is it ! The time for quietly taking this abuse is over.
That’s not my experience of living in England a lot of people I know in England are of Welsh heritage and are supporters of Welsh Rugby. The link between the Welsh migration to England is obvious in the thousands of houses possibly tens of thousands named after English cities. I mean is there a village on Wales without house called Manchester House and was Lerpwl not the greatest Welsh speaking city at one time.
Rhiw
I live in London and totally agree with you
Llongyfarchiadau Siân, sylwadau arbennig o dda, yn enwedig parthed gwneud dramâu yn uniaith Gymraeg.
We need more of this, “faces” who will call out the ignorance of the abusive english talking heads and media. If they were talking about Jews, Indians or (at the moment) Ukrainians they would be castigated on the spot.
if not castrated
Welsh is the first language in wales 🏴 kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s it’s time for a new wales o
parties Grayham. How many times? THE PLURAL IS PARTIES
As said many times before. Xenophobia and hatred towards the Welsh language & Wales is the last accepted prejudice.
The only divisive language is English
Your head’s obviously still in the 1970s.
Keep the little Englander the other side of Offa’s dyke
I fail to follow your logic. Please explain..
Didn’t you read the anglotwat Meades’ article? MeMe’s quoting it – only included one quotation mark but that should have been a clue
You’ve just provided proof that you’re living in the past.
Sian Reese-Williams said: “Why does it matter to you? Just go and live your life, relax, and stop it. Just shut up basically.” Excellent, very well said
Well done Sian for promoting the Welsh language worldwide.
You all need to grow up, much more important things out there than this.
Cytuno. Cau dy geg Mr Meades. 🏴
Lot of respect, my a**e!