The "Welsh Not"
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
February 3, 2019 9:41am CST
Some of you on here may have heard about this. I am sure there's every possibility that some were even taught about this in schools. The "Welsh Not" was a piece of wood, often a ruler, with the inscription of "WN" on it. This device was used as a means of punishment for those speaking Welsh.
Some of you on the lot may remember the ruler punishments in school. Where a teacher had every right to slap your hand with a ruler for acting out. This was much worse.
Any pupil caught speaking the Welsh language was given this ruler. They were encouraged to tattle on their fellow classmates for speaking the Welsh language as whomever was caught with the "WN" ruler / piece of wood at the end of the day? They would be subjected to a flogging at the end of the day, week, or lesson depending on the school.
This practice continued until the 1940's when it was finally done away with. The impact this had on the Welsh Language is substantial.
I find it interesting to note that the "Welsh Not' was also known as the Cwstom, which is a Welsh word.
More can be found here :
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search The Welsh Not (also Welsh Knot, Welsh Note, Welsh Stick, Welsh Lead or Cwstom) was an item used in Welsh schools in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to stigmatise and punish children
7 people like this
6 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Feb 19
I am sure the "Welsh Not" only happened in Wales. There is a Welsh speaking community in Argentina, I think it's Argentina atleast. However, they still speak Welsh fluently there and so I don't think the practice made it all the way to them.
I don't remember being punished with a ruler. Of course I went to school in the 90's and early 00's. We had to sit at desks in detention rooms when we were bad.
I do wonder if Catholic Schools still practice the ruler punishment.
Oh! A lady that I used to work with, her son was punished with a ruler. This happened in the early 2000's I believe. She was so mad that she took him completely out of public school.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502177)
• Italy
3 Feb 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum The nuns never touched me, but I remember that some were punished with the ruler and this was something I hated. I moved to a public school when I was 14.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck I am glad you were never punished by those nuns. I am sure it was terrifying for the students. I've never been to a private school, but as a child, I always thought it would be an interesting experience. As I got older, I realized that things were sometimes more difficult in private schools.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Feb 19
I agree. There was a lot of ignorance and fear in the past. People who were afraid of others that were not like them. That still happens today, sadly.
Have you heard of the US Governor who is being ridiculed for his racist past?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Feb 19
@Nevena83 Yes, it's recent news. It's really horrible as well. He put out a statement saying that he apologized for anyone who found it offensive, that it didn't represent who he is now. Then he put out another statement saying that wasn't even him in the photo.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
3 Feb 19
People are so stupid trying to force others to conform. In my dad's day it was trying to change lefties to righties. It must have caused so much confusion and frustration for the children..however, it is a right handed world!
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Feb 19
I was thinking about this today. I was wondering if some of the ambidextrous people came from the generations that were forced to conform.
It's sickening how much fear and ignorance there is in this world.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Feb 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum ......Yes. So unfair to try to get rid of a language.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
4 Feb 19
@celticeagle Out of ignorance and fear. Or maybe out of protection against those who were ignorant and fearful.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
4 Feb 19
How terrified the children must have been.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
3 Feb 19
That's horrible!!! And now I wonder if someone in my family actually was flogged. That's pretty much all I know. I just had an ancestor show up in my DNA test who was Welsh. Haven't been able to track him down as of yet.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
3 Feb 19
It is very possible. I have ancestors who lived near Wales but not in Wales. I know that one of my ancestors was the priest for Charles I and Charles II.
Who is this ancestor to you? Great Great Great Grandfather?
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
4 Feb 19
Welsh is now a compulsory subject up to GCSE exams {taken at 16} in Welsh schools, so times have definitely changed! It's still widely spoken in north Wales.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
5 Feb 19
@Poppylicious I used to know some Irish swear words, I don't think I've come across any Welsh swear words. I think I liked a facebook page for Cornish Words once. I know I have one for Scots Gaelic words. The celtic languages fascinate me, but I'm not studious enough to learn them.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
5 Feb 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Definitely Cornish. I remember having a postcard with lots of Cornish words on it when I was little. I doubt it's actually spoken by anyone anymore though. My nephews used to teach me Welsh swear words when they were little. In the south of Wales where they live there are a lot of English. I know the word for stop, but only because it's written on all the roads!
