Welsh Goes From Strength to Strength - Language Activists Gain Ground on Multiple Fronts

The most widely spoken of the Celtic languages, Welsh is arguably the most secure with the brightest future. The Welsh language is integral to Wales’ culture and society. It is the only language that is de jure official in any part of the United Kingdom (with English being de facto official). It is estimated that 25% of the Welsh population now speak the language, with roughly 15% speaking Welsh daily as their first language of choice.”  Brown UCCF (Welsh Language Society)

Language Controversy at Welsh National Library: In the forefront of spurring the growing strength of the Welsh language are the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith) who have long been calling for the abolition of the concept of “Welsh as a Second Language”, and have instead called for reforms to ensure that every pupil is given the opportunity through the education system to be educated in the medium of both Welsh and English.  Always alert to signs that the Celtic tongue is threatened by governmental or private industry actions, in March the Society accused Lord Elis-Thomas, Welsh Deputy Culture, Tourism and Sport Minister, of acting "disgracefully" for not insisting that the replacement for the outgoing Chief Executive of The National Library of Wales be fluent in Welsh. The Minister put forward the feeble argument that by excluding non-Welsh speakers from consideration would narrow the pool of qualifies applicants. The Society shot back: “"If the library appoints a non-Welsh speaker, he/she will not be able to communicate with staff in their chosen language, and therefore will be working against the Welsh language measure 2010, bringing the library into disrepute and damaging the library's good name." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-47631254

Flintshire to Boost Number of Welsh Speakers:Local Authorities also play a prominent role in advancing the interests of the Welsh language. Flintshire Council has increased its target to boost the number of Welsh speakers in Flintshire after being told it needed to be more ambitious. A consultation was recently held in which intentions were set out to increase the number of people who can speak the language in the county by around 650 to 20,000.That number has now been lifted to a rise of approximately 2,500 over the next five years after some people who responded said the outlined goal was not challenging enough. Flintshire Council said the majority of responses (85 per cent) were supportive of the aims of its Welsh Language Promotion Strategy, which takes into account an increase in children attending Welsh medium education. Flintshire showed the largest decline in Welsh speakers in the most recent pre-census survey by the Welsh Office of National Statistics which showed a drop in Welsh speakers by about 6.2%. The 2011 census showed 20% of Flintshire’s population of 153,000 with some knowledge of Welsh. http://www.deeside.com/flintshire-council-wants-to-boost-number-of-welsh-speakers-by-around-2500/

Funding Boost for Welsh Medium Daycare: In a major boost for the future of the Welsh language the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan, announced a £60m capital investment programme in the childcare sector. Of the projects approved, nearly 47 per cent of the grants being awarded, which equates to £33m, is being allocated to Welsh medium childcare settings. It is hoped this will help the Welsh Government achieve its aim of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 as set out in its ‘Cymraeg 2050’ strategy. Minister for the Welsh Language, Eluned Morgan, said: “Expanding Welsh-medium provision in the early years as an access point for Welsh-medium education is a vital part of the vision set out in Cymraeg 2050. I’m delighted that the Welsh Government are making a significant investment in the sector. “This will allow existing Welsh-medium settings to expand the range services they can offer as well as provide facilities for new settings, enabling greater numbers of children to start their Welsh language journey.” https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1605865/wales-expand-welsh-speaking-nurseries

Property Developers Threaten Welsh Language Stronghold: The damage to the Celtic language of Wales wrought by property development in Welsh speaking areas continues to be a principal concern of language activists and is again in the forefront of news on the Welsh language.  Property development plans in Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, the village is a Welsh language stronghold as half its inhabitants able to speak the language, are under fire. Between 2001 and 2011, there was a drop of 9% in the number of Welsh speakers in the area. It is feared that an influx of new residents will accelerate the decline in Welsh speakers. One councillor who spoke against the plans at the meeting is Joe Welch, chair of the planning committee at Denbighshire Council: “More consideration should be given to the Welsh language to ensure that this majority is kept, and of course one of the best ways of getting more Welsh speakers is through education.” The impact of property development on the Welsh language is an explosive issue.  The debate has been heating up for years.  In 2013 the question was addressed by Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws who stated; "The current situation where large housing estates are built without clear guidelines on how to measure their impact on the Welsh language is unsustainable."  At the time, Commissioner Huws called for "proactive and positive" action.  Huws continued, "Hundreds of communities fear for the future of the language in their communities today because housing developments are undermining any attempt to sustain the Welsh language in those areas  https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/field-heart-concerns-over-welsh-15827086

Statement by the Welsh Language Commissioner on the scrapping of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) Welsh Language Bill which would have diluted the power of the Welsh Language Watchdog: The website “Celtic Languages News” describes the reversal by the Welsh government as welcomed by campaigners who claimed it would have weakened protection for the language. Welsh Language Minister Eluned Morgan said: "It is clear there is no appetite to change the whole system." The Welsh Government said its target of having a million Welsh speakers by 2050 was unaffected by the announcement. The commissioner promotes the Welsh language, protects the rights of people to use it, and polices the standards required of public sector bodies in their use of Welsh. Ministers had proposed deciding for themselves which standards should apply to those organisations and any others. Osian Rhys, chair of Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said it was "excellent news" – Celtic Languages News.  The Official Announcement:  “The Welsh Language Commissioner, Meri Huws, said: "I welcome the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language’s announcement today that she will not introduce a Welsh Language Bill. "Our research shows that the Welsh language standards have made a difference to the experience of Welsh speakers, with our regulatory work contributing to the work of promoting the language. It is very positive that we can now continue placing standards on more sectors, and move forward with a system that works. "We needed clarity on the way forward, and today we have had that.  Now, the new Commissioner will have the opportunity to make his mark, and build on the work we have achieved over the past seven years." http://www.comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru/english/news/Pages/The-Welsh-Language-Commissioner-welcomes-the-announcement-there-will-not-be-Welsh-Language-Bill.aspx

Government Ruling That Would Weaken Welsh Medium Nursery Schools is Reversed: In January a Welsh Government White Paper recommended requiring Welsh Medium nursery schools to introduce partial instruction in English. Appalled Welsh Language activists lashed out. Parents, teachers and language campaigners were angered. The White Paper stated that it was the “duty on all schools and Funded Nursery Settings to teach English as a compulsory element of the new curriculum for Wales”. In reaction, Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Mudiad Meithrin Chief Executive stated that the new guidelines “fly in the face" of international norms on learning minority languages. Parents say children from non-Welsh speaking homes and areas, need Welsh-only immersion for the two hours a day at nursery and those from Welsh speaking homes need to be able to learn in their language only at that age. They add that the current system of learning English from age seven at Welsh medium school works. Due to withering criticism the government has reversed its position and dropped the new guideline. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/anger-welsh-language-nurseries-told-15748395

Train Operator Targeted for Disrespect to the Welsh Language: In January language activists protested at the rail stations in Machynlleth and Aberystwyth after receiving a ‘large number’ of complaints about the new train provider, Transport for Wales. Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society) said that they had received complaints including some about the English-only ticket website, English-only announcements on the trains, a new ticket app in English only and self-service machines that don’t function properly in Welsh.  A government spokesman said the company that runs the new franchise, should have been complying with the Welsh language Standards from the first day they took over the service back in October last year. David Williams from Cymdeithas yr Iaith said: “The failings of the new train company are so bad in respect of Welsh-language provision that it is almost unprecedented for a public service. We’re aware of a large number of wide-ranging complaints about services that are not available in Welsh or treating the Welsh language less favourably than English. Due to the seriousness of the situation, we have asked the Welsh Language Commissioner to use her extensive powers to undertake a general investigation. It is a great disappointment that the Welsh Government, Transport Wales and the company that is under contract to them have failed to ensure that these services are in place, despite having sufficient time to do so before the new contract started. They should have made plans to ensure these services were provided properly.” In addition, Cymdeithas yr Iaith held a protest at Bangor station in January over their concerns about the lack of Welsh language services on the national rail network. The group were targeting stations across Wales, including Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea and Aberystwyth, after receiving a number of complaints about the new train franchise Transport for Wales. http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=127061&headline=Station%20protests%20over%20lack%20of%20Welsh%20services&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2019