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The Welsh language scene has lately been a hive of dynamism and should be held up as an example to the other Celtic language movements as providing possible future pathways of development for the other languages.
Many of these developments have taken place within the field of media and technology and have been an inspiration to see. The advances signal a renewed spurt of confidence among the Welsh people and the use of their native language, even among non Welsh speakers. Gains are being made despite some major obstacles and inadequate resources when compared to the seemingly privileged situation of other lesser used languages of Europe, such as Euskera (in the Spanish state) and Friesian.
Some of the developments that have taken place and are planned for the near future in Wales have been:
Internet TV
In April an internet television channel was launched called Siaradog. It is broadcast once a week and shows interviews and music and is hosted by Welsh rapper Aneirin Karadog. The show is16 minute long, but looks likely to herald a new wave of similar programmes in the future.
Welsh Language Daily Newspaper
An official launch date of 3 March 2008 has now been set for the first daily newspaper in Welsh to be issued. After some public grant funding difficulties the Y Byd (The World) newspaper has succeeded in raising 445 000 Euros worth of public shares.
Currently only Eire has its own daily newspaper (Lá Nua) among the six Celtic countries and the Celtic languages are among the few languages in the EU without their own daily. (The launch of a daily newspaper in the Breton language failed some years ago). In Wales the reason for this, according to the Chairman of Y Byd publishers, is a lack of investment and confidence.
Y Byd will be available in printed format and also online.
Language Control Centre
June saw the launch of a new computer application that will allow users to chooser either Welsh or English as an interface language for Windows XP and Office 2003 at home or in the workplace.
The new application is free to download from the Bwrdd Yr Iaith Gymraeg/Welsh Language Board website at (voir le site)
Bwrdd Yr Iaith Gymraeg is asking for users to provide feedback by writing to post [at] ...
Dime Goch
A new and novel internet idea that encourages both Welsh and non-Welsh speakers who want to encourage companies to offer their services in the Welsh language, has been launched called Dime Goch.
The website asks supporters to subscribe from one pound a month to an email list of people who are willing to apply pressure on giant companies by stating they will definitely switch suppliers if services are provided in Welsh.
The Welsh language internet community consumer revolution has begun! See (voir le site) for further details.
Predictive texting in Welsh
This is a free downloadable programme to allow Welsh speakers to use 'predictive texting' in Welsh on their mobile phones. The company called 'Tecstico' was a design idea thought up by a Welsh university student and initially launched at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in 2006.
Internet Chat rooms, Forums and Young people
The Internet was claimed last week, by one of the worlds leading linguists to be a saviour of the Welsh language. Professor David Crystal of Bangor University said that the Welsh language (along with Breton) is now considered to be 'cool' to use by young people, because of its presence on the internet.
Professor Crystal said:
"It doesn't matter how much activism you engage in on behalf of a language if you don't attract the teenagers, the parents of the next generation of children.
"And what turns teenagers on more than the internet these days? If you can get a language out there, the youngsters are much more likely to think it's cool."
Professor Crystal's comments follow in the wake of the Bwrdd Yr Iaith Gymraeg/Welsh Language Board strategy document for IT and the Welsh language. The Strategy aims to provide a framework for Welsh language Information Technology (IT) work in the future and hopes to lead the way in innovative IT development.
The documents relating to the strategy can be found by clicking on the following link:
Final Remarks
Of course not one of the language situations in the Celtic countries is the same and comparisons are indeed not always useful or helpful. In addition, the Welsh language is probably the most strongly supported of all the Celtic languages. It is nevertheless beneficial at times to make cursory glances at recent language developments in the different countries, if only to provide inspiration and share ideas for future possible action
(Report compiled for Celtic News by Celtic League Secretary General, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
24/05/07
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