Translating the Untranslatable: A Story of One Word

Exploring Cynefin Through RVE: Uncovering Welsh Identity, Language, and Spiritual Heritage in the Curriculum for Wales

The Untranslatable word: Introducing Cynefin

The story behind the Welsh Biblical translations, though relatively little known is woven through the valleys, mountains, villages, chapels, monasteries and cathedrals of Wales. It is an account of how a group of Welsh scholars amid the politically tumultuous times of 16th-century Europe and the Reformation, remained committed to their faith, the Welsh language and the right of all Welsh people to hear God’s word in their own language. The narrative connects the past to the present, and their work offers a meaningful context to appreciate the significance of the one untranslatable word in the Curriculum for Wales- Cynefin.

The word Cynefin does not have a direct equivalent in English. Like many Welsh words it holds multiple layers of meaning, exemplifying the poetic beauty of the Welsh language. The creative approach to the pedagogy of Curriculum for Wales encourages learners to develop and respond to their growing sense of Cynefin. For some, this might involve a relationship with the natural environment or an understanding of Cynefin as connected to community or an evolving concept of a ‘Welshness’ that celebrates diversity. For example, some learners keep a visual diary of their growing understanding of Cynefin, recording what matters most to them each year as they progress through school. The landscape, heritage and stories of the people and places that shape their sense of self and community help to foster an understanding of Cynefin and highlight the importance of developing a connection to Wales and the wider world.

Cynefin in the Curriculum for Wales: A multi-faceted concept

The Curriculum for Wales encourages an approach to curriculum design that is meaningful and relevant to each unique learning environment or setting. Connecting learners through genuine and authentic learning experiences is essential. The Religion, Values, and Ethics (RVE) sub-lenses support deeper engagement with Cynefin as learners: ‘recognise continuity and change in identity and belonging, and how these are experienced personally and collectively’.

The Welsh sense of Cynefin is described in the Curriculum Framework as ‘not just a place in a physical or geographical sense, it is the historical, social and cultural place which has shaped and continues to shape the community which inhabits it’. Through enquiry into the Welsh Biblical landscape, learners can explore and seek an understanding of ‘what matters’, asking: Why are some places, spaces, environments, and landscapes especially important to different people, and for what reason?

Biblical Landscapes and Welsh spiritual heritage

Wales has a vibrant and deeply academic, linguistic Christian heritage, with written documentation dating back to the 9th century, as evidenced by surviving early manuscripts and religious texts written in Welsh and Latin. The Reformation ended the monastic cultural environment. Welsh place names reflect this early history; for example, the use of ‘Llan’ in many areas is associated with early Christian sites such as Llanbadarn Fawr, which refers to the sacred place founded by Padarn in the 6th century. The translator William Salesbury worked diligently to preserve and ensure the safety of surviving books and manuscripts from destruction during the dissolution of the monasteries. These salvaged works influenced the early translations. William Morgan’s 1588 Bible translated into Welsh from the Hebrew and Greek, beautifully reflects the richness of Welsh bardic poetry, making it a truly significant work.

Why Cynefin still matters today

Through RVE, learners in Wales today can develop an understanding and critical appreciation of what ‘sense of place’ means and the value of their unique contribution to the world. The lasting influence of the Welsh Bible is that learners in Wales are empowered to understand the important link between language and spiritual identity, and seek answers to critical questions such as ‘What does Cynefin mean to me?’