Is it time to move on from the term ‘Cymry Cymraeg’? 

First things first; we are CYMRU, so forget the English 'outsider / Welsh' insult, which should now only be used for the genuine 'outsiders' in this country, the ones who dislike crucial elements such as our own native language - just because it doesn't suit them. The children of past generations who had the language physically beaten out of them have been replaced by children who now have the choice (through their parents) to learn the language very easily in their early education years. They (through their parents) have a choice not to, but then do not have a right to go on a pathetic rant against those who do. I've lived and worked with my own native language, which has helped bring other languages that I also now work in. English is just a mongrel mix Esperanto of other languages that has its uses, but monoglots having a dislike towards bilinguals is as bad as those who didn't go to university saying others should be denied that choice.

In short, the answer is no. Cymry Cymraeg is short for Cymry Cymraeg eu hiaith ie Welsh-speaking Welsh people. Welsh non-Welsh speakers are Cymry di- Gymraeg. So not ‘not Welsh’ at all, but Welsh people without the language, but still ‘Welsh’. The term ‘dysgwr’ should not be perjorative - after all all Welsh speakers were learners once, just some learnt it as their first language. Whether a Cymro/aes di-Gymraeg feels less Welsh is a different issue, and really up to them to deal with. Some try learning - others seem to become so hung up, embarrassed, disappointed in themselves about it that it turns into some sort of self-hate that grows to a hatred of the language. But that would not disappear by not calling a Welsh person that speaks Welsh a Cymro or Cymraes Cymraeg/Gymraeg.

More snowflakery from those seeking any excuse to take offence. Mostly vicarious. The term is innocuously descriptive.

There's nothing wrong with the term Cymry Cymraeg. It just states the obvious. There are those speakers of Cymraeg and non-speakers. Doesn't make you any less. Yes, one has an advantage, the other, disadvantage, and why Cymraeg should be taught first in our schools and English as a second language. Also, the term Welsh itself should be consigned to dumpster of history, as said many times regarding this subject. Imagine a black person being told they must forever be known as a slave and referred to by the N-word. See, we call ourselves Slave every day when we describe ourselves as Welsh. Think about it. May I suggest we break the habit. I'd rather be a Cymry i.e fellow compatriot than a slave. We called ourselves Cymry over 1400 years ago when the Germanic Saxons made incursions into our Island, although it's a term much older. The Romans Latinised the Brythonic word "Combrogi" to Cambria which meant, yes you've guessed it, fellow compatriots. It gained more precedence later where the ethic slight Wēalas meaning slave was first coined. I, you, we , are no foreigner or slave in our own land.

I don't think there is anything wrong with "Cymru Cymraeg", although "Y Fro Gymraeg" is to me putting Welsh in a box smaller than that of Wales itself, so perhaps self-defeating of efforts to make Cymraeg widely used across Wales.

Although it may not be intended as such, this is actually a slightly offensive article because it purports to defend itself against divisions in Welsh society which in practice are of no consequence beyond looking for a job in certain sectors. There's no need to state emphatically that a di-Gymraeg Welsh person is no less Welsh than the Cymry Cymraeg, because everybody already knows and acknowledges this obvious fact. Cymru is a bilingual country with no prescribed gradations of Welshness. The anti-Welsh lobby would love this article.

Yet to meet a non-French-speaking Frenchman (or Frenchwoman for that matter)! And 'Knowledge' of the language is a prerequisite of French citizenship. I for one detest the words 'Wales' & 'Welsh', so perhaps those that live here but do not speak our language can use those terms. I for one am a 'Cymro' born in 'Cymru' and so one of the 'Cymry'. My wife and daughter identify as 'Cymraes' and we speak 'Cymraeg'. Dim problem!

Gosh I feel I need more context Joshua. This article is clearly written from your own perspective. A perspective which differs from mine as I left school many years ago, when Welsh was only just being introduced as a subject, so I don't have first hand knowledge of the culture and use of the language in schools now. I'm not mixed race so I don't have personal experiences of being regarded as 'more' or 'less' true Welsh based on whether I can or cannot speak the language. Although I can understand there might be some truth to that having had conversations with various non-Welsh OR English as-a-first-language people in Cardiff. You and I probably don't follow the same media outlets so I'm unsure who uses the term correctly or incorrectly or what they might be implying by doing so. I also don't know where you're from in Wales which I think plays an important part in language, attitudes and exposure. In this respect I think that Wales is more diverse than people might acknowledge. Generational diversity is also quite unique in Wales when it comes to our language. If not unique then highly unusual. The chances are that we have all had different experiences with it, and that's why I believe, and as far as I'm aware, there is generally speaking an enormous amount of understanding and grace amongst the Welsh when it comes to this subject. I would also say that when I was in school the Welsh language really was close to going the same way as Latin and the amount of Welsh speakers around today amazes me and makes me feel so proud (despite the fact that I wouldn't yet class myself as one of them). A lot can be accomplished in a couple of decades so don't dismiss that 2050 target just yet. Still, it's good that young people are thinking about our mother tongue and contemplating the complexities surrounding it. Again. Thats a sign of how far we've come. I would just take media outlets with a grain of salt. They make money from creating drama where there might not be any. I dont think Welsh people who can't speak the language are at risk of being shunned by society in their old age. Real societies don't behave like that. Media, radical extremists, politicians and other agenda pushers like to hush nuance, but people have their own experiences to draw from and the aggressive attacks on the Welsh language over the years and the consequential differences in our own abilities is not likely to be forgotten anytime soon.

No, we are not "all Welsh learners". Knowing "bonjour", "merci" and "croissant" doesn't make me a French learner. You're a Welsh learner when you commit to learning Welsh with a view to using it, at least conversationally. Cymry Cymraeg is not a slight, unless you want it to be. If you're ashamed, embarrassed or disappointed that you can't speak Welsh, simply make a start with one of the free apps available.

In such discussions, I am influenced by the sadness felt by me of my Welsh mother not speaking any of her native language and, more lamentably, not wishing to learn any Welsh. This though was clearly influenced by my Welsh speaking grandparents: my mother’s parents. Vividly I recall the near anger they’d display when, as a child, I’d ask one or other of them to teach me some words. I’m still learning. French and Spanish have, as a mine engineer (and cycling fan), become far more useful to my working life and daily needs. I believe that Cymru could learn much from how the Québécois has been saved from extinction. Québec, it’s politicians and it’s people, have got behind their status of being the only French speaking nation in North America. Backing and promoting their ‘Queberness’, has brought for them an ever increasing confidence in their own cultural narrative. With this more political and economic control. Key to Québec’s success is its embracing every new resident, making it easy to learn French, and eventually Québécois.

There is only one level of Welshness full stop

Are you saying this because Joshua is black? If so you sir are a racist and a disgrace. Joshua has written a well argued article explaining what a lot of people feel however most on here who are so obsessed with forcing the language on everyone dismiss it out of hand. This does not help in them achieving there ultimate goal ie independence as it turns people away as Joshua says.

Wales is a bi-lingual nation where 73% are not bi-lingual. English is an international and globally used business language. Its time to stop treating it as some kind of anti Welsh infiltration attempt by an invading force. Embrace Cymraeg yes. But don't teach our youngsters to despise the English language that gives our young people the ability and opportunity to thrive anywhere across the globe. We need more Welsh travelling abroad and both using / showing off their Welsh language and culture with pride but also doing what the Irish do and succeeding in business and bringing investment back to their nation of birth.

It should be noted that the census data on Welsh speaker numbers only counts those living IN Wales; having lived in England then Scotland during the last two census surveys, I've not been given a chance to be counted as Welsh speaking in either of them & I've met dozens of Welsh speakers who might not have been counted too, so the Million Welsh Speakers by 2050 is actually closer than the numbers tell us.