Learn to Speak Welsh

If you want to learn a language that sounds a lot like Elvish from the Lord of the Rings movie, than Welsh is probably your best bet. In fact, Welsh served as the one of the main inspirations for the Elvish language. Welsh is only spoken by approximately half a million people (all of whom also speak English), the language is not necessarily the most practical language to learn. In fact, only about 14% of households in Wales speak the language on a daily basis. That aside, Welsh sounds pretty damn cool and those with Welsh blood can get in touch with their roots by learning the language (or just really impress a bartender at a Welsh pub). For huge Lord of the Rings fans, you can also use your newly found Welsh language skills to work on you Elvish (it might totally help you pick up chicks at the next LOTR conference).

Welsh is a Celtic language, and while there is not a huge population that speaks the language, it has been protected and English and Welsh are treated equally in the public sector within Wales and the language is compulsory in schools in Wales for students until the age of 16, which in recent years has given rise to the number of people able to speak the language. Welsh vocabulary draws mainly from original Brythonic words as well as Latin, modern English and Middle English. Although not mutually intelligible with English, Welsh is not an overly complicated or difficult language to learn for native English speakers. However, there are a number of sounds that occur in Welsh that are nonexistent in English and are rare in other European languages.

Setting out to learn Welsh may prove to be somewhat of a difficult task. Because the language is so limitedly spoken, it is near impossible to find any sort of language course at a community college or other institution. However, Rosetta Stone does offer a program in Welsh, and this can be a great way to learn the basics of grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure and pronunciation. Of course, the best way to learn any language is through total immersion. While this may be difficult as people who speak Welsh also speak English fluently, there are places in Wales where you could hear Welsh being spoken on a fairly consistent basis. As the language as been pushed recently by the government in an effort to preserve it, there is also a good chance you'd be able to find someone in Wales willing to teach you the language and maybe even a course to help you get started.