Telegraph criticised for saying the Welsh language is being ‘re-introduced’

The Telegraph has been criticised after saying that the Welsh language is being “re-introduced”.

The newspaper ran an online poll asking readers whether the “re-introduction” of the Welsh language was “hindering the independence movement”.

It was posted as part of a thread noting the fact that the YesCymru movement had grown 750% in the last 12 months, and asking readers if they would back Welsh independence.

The re-introduction of the Welsh language is hindering the independence movement

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 4, 2021

But Welsh speakers reacted with annoyance by noting that the language wasn’t being re-introduced as it had been spoken in Wales continuously for centuries.

“Re-introduction’?” journalist Garmon Ceiro asked. “It’s not a bloody captive panda.”

“Are you sure you don’t mean beavers?” comedian Tudur Owen tweeted. “Nope, they actually mean us. Holy shit!”

“Re-introduction?!” author Manon Steffan Ros asked. “It never went away!”

“It’s like they want the union to break up,” Richard Facey said. “Keep it up chaps.”

“If you want a lesson about why we should never place great emphasis on winning the estimation of the London press for what we do, this is it,” Non Gwenhwyfar wrote in Welsh.

“I’m confused,” journalist Elliw Gwawr wrote in Welsh. “Where have we been this whole time?”