The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026
Where Duolingo falls down: how I learned to speak Welsh with my mother
Once violently defended from extinction, Welsh is still a part of daily life. By learning my family’s language, I hoped to join their conversation My maternal grandmother died 20 years ago. The funeral was held in a small Methodist chapel in the lush Conwy valley of north Wales. Her entire life – she had almost reached 100 – was spent in these hills. The drizzle that morning had slicked the trees and turned the slate of the chapel black. Our family, gathered under umbrellas, entered in order of
