The Distribution of Younger Welsh Speakers in Anglicised Areas of South East Wales

Abstract

Net gains in Welsh speakers as a result of education in South-east Wales are examined to see if there is any basis for connecting them with disadvantage to education in English-medium schools. The question whether the gains cannot be sustained after the time of full time schooling is examined. Very consistent gender differences occur in all age groups. Explanation by elucidating the social construction of the Welsh speaker has to contend with the connection of the gender differences with a wider pattern of gender gaps in school subject performance. Comparison of education statistics and Census results locates the self categorisations underlying Census counts as indicating more young speakers than pupils at Welsh Medium Schools but substantially fewer than learners of Welsh as a second language.