Welsh recognized as minority language in the EU

Welsh speakers by region.

Nice. Not only do I like this news because it means a language I like is gaining ground, but it also shows again that languages don't necessarily have to lose strength to giants like English, even those like Welsh that are particularly weak in being part of a union that has English as the de facto official language.

So what's the biggest flaw in the cannibalistic language theory? Namely that it's based on the idea that knowing a single language is the norm, when the reality is that knowing two or three languages is really just as comfortable depending on the environment you were born in. That's the reason why small languages are perfectly capable of flourishing and coming back to life, even in the United Kingdom. Sure there's government support, but don't think for a minute that major languages don't receive a ton of government support too to promote themselves in their respective countries and abroad.

Some details:

Census data shows it is slowly gaining ground: 21 percent of the 3 million Welsh nationals can speak Welsh, up from 18.7 percent in 1991. It became an official tongue in Wales in 1993 — 450 years after British rulers gave it the boot in favor of English.

and:

At future EU ministerial meetings, Welsh speakers may now speak in their language if they bring interpreters.

...

The move by the 27-nation bloc enabled Welsh Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones, representing Britain, to address colleagues at an EU culture ministers meeting in his native language.

"Welsh is one of Europe's oldest languages and I am delighted that my ministerial colleagues from across the union will hear it as a living and dynamic language of business," Jones said before the meeting.

Any chance of finding some videos online later on of this in action?


Edit: Here's another article from the BBC on the speech, the first usage of Welsh in the Council of Ministers:

Wales' Culture Minister Alun Ffred Jones is leading the UK delegation in Brussels and spoke in Welsh in the Council of Ministers.

His first words in Welsh to the Council of Ministers were: "Diolch madam llywydd (thank you madam chair) ..."

The extra costs of translation are being borne by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Welsh will not be added to the list of the EU's 23 official languages, but it will mean speeches can be given in Welsh and translated.

and:

But campaigning continues for co-official status in other EU institutions so that people can correspond in Welsh and receive replies in the language.