How a minority language relates to place attachment and nature connection: The case of Welsh

Abstract: Linked to awareness of a history of suppression in Wales, locals’ place attachment is intertwined with a deep sense of appreciation towards Welsh language and culture. However, direct links between the ability to speak Welsh, strength of place attachment, and connection to the natural environment have not been systematically explored previously. We conducted a nationally representative study (n = 2082) to examine relationships between Welsh language variables, nature connectedness, place attachment, and perceptions of language-environment connections. Results revealed that Welsh-English (bilingual) speakers have a stronger self-assessed connection to nature in general (15.7% increase) and show higher place attachment than (monolingual) English speakers in Wales (17.1% increase). Participants from South-East Wales showed significantly lower nature connectedness than those in both Mid & South-West Wales (8.9% decrease) and North Wales (11.9% decrease). Moreover, Welsh speakers tend to see a link between language and environment while English speakers do not, with the difference amounting to 38%. Our results highlight language as an essential factor that feeds into the ways in which people connect with nature – an important finding for those promoting sustainable behaviours in Wales and beyond, calling for considerate and inclusive linguistic practices as decisive for any engagement with the public.