Sospan ...... it was not my intention to cause offence .... in this age where Government reaches into every corner of civic life I felt that your post could be interpreted as meaning there had been a centuries-long policy to kill or suppress the Welsh Language.
Strange as it may seem to us now the Government had no role or place in education until 1870 and by 1890 was actually giving extra funding to schools in Wales who showed success in teaching Welsh Grammar. The Treacherous Blue Books resulted from an inquiry (instigated by a Welsh MP for Coventry) and did not form part of Government policy .... This was a time of astoundingly dogmatic Religious and Social certitude and the language you quote was also regularly levelled at the rural and working classes of England.
Very different times with different standards as you say.
I certainly recognise the 'Welsh as first language and bilingualism' in my own family ....and have never subscribed to the 'they started speaking Welsh when I walked in the shop/pub' thing .... I think that stems from ignorance of the extent of everyday use of Welsh as a first language in parts of Wales.
