2.The Welsh

The Welsh are a Celtic people.Before they were conquered by the English in the 13th century，the different Welsh tribes were continually fighting one another.The conquest united them.Today the small but passionate Welsh Nationalist Party would like the Welsh to have their own parliament，instead of electiong members to represent them in the UK parliament at Westminster in London.Since 1959there has been a Secretary of State for Wales.There have been Welsh Ministers in the Cabinet and one of the most famous Prime Ministers of 20th century，Lolyd George，was a Welshman.

It could be worth mentioning that as part of the ongoing devolution of Britain，since 1999Wales has had what is known as a National Assembly based in Cardiff，the capital city of Wales.The National Assembly is a kind of proxy government that has a degree of control in Wales but is still ultimately answerable and accountable to the main government in London.All road signs in Wales，as well as all government-produced information leaflets，official documents，etc.are now bi-lingual，which means they are printed both Welsh and English.

Now less than three million Welsh people live in Wales，although there are many others living and working in England and abroad.But a Welshman can usually be recognized by his accent，as well as by his name，even when he has lived most of his life away from Wales and cannot speak a word of Welsh.Today about 26%of the population of Wales can speak Welsh，and about 1% speaks only Welsh.Welsh is an ancient Celtic language，more different from English than English is from French or German.In 1535Welsh was forbidden as an official language，but in 1965it was given equality with English for all official use in Wales.Nowadays some nationalists demand that only Welsh should be used in the law courts in Wales，and on the road signs.To those who speak it，and even to those who do not，the Welsh language symbolized the whole of Welsh history and culture.In recent years there has been increasing interest in encouraging the use of Celtic language，especially in schools and by radio and television.Welsh literature dates back to the 6th century AD.Much early Welsh poetry is heroic or elegiac，and concerns pre-Christian heroes and their exploits.Welsh literature had a profound influence in medieval Europe，as it is the source both of Arthurian legend² and that of the Holy Grail.From 15th century onwards classical Welsh literature declined，and now it has little influence.

The Welsh are very musical，and many of their singers have become world famous.An annual national cultural festivel of music，literature and drama is held alternately in North and South Wales during the first week in August.It is called the“Eisteddfod”，which developed from the gathering of the bards held in the 12th century.The Eisteddfod is now conducted entirely in Welsh and is open to the public.There are also some other Eisteddfods held in different places in Wales.In general，the Welsh are emotional，cheerful people，proud of their past，and welcoming to friends，but suspicious of“foreigners”，particularly the English.