#Cymraeg2050 – Lessons from abroad

A conference to consider the Welsh Government’s vision of a million Welsh speakers in an international context was held in Cardiff’s Millennium Centre today (4 October 2016).

The conference aimed to provide a platform for experts, practitioners and stakeholders to exchange knowledge on the different facets of language planning and multilingualism in Europe.

The keynote address was delivered by Patxi Bazterrikka, Vice-Minister for the Basque Language, who talked about the work by the Basque Autonomous Community over the last decades which has fostered an increase in Basque speakers over the last 20 years.

Assisted by initiatives that encourage the learning and speaking of Basque (Euskara), the language has remained relevant and important to the Basque community, both in Europe and worldwide.

Professor Rob Dunbar, Chair of Celtic Languages, Literatures, History & Antiquities at the University of Edinburgh also spoke on Regulation and Language Rights: the Canadian perspective.

A native of Canada, he has been involved in Gaelic language development for almost twenty years and was involved in the development of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and the creation of BBC Alba, Scotland’s Gaelic digital television service.

Closer to home, there was a panel discussion with Menna Jones (Antur Waunfawr), Laura McAllister (FAW Trust); and Iwan Roberts (Hacio) on how we can normalise the Welsh language in various contexts.

The event is part of the Welsh Government’s consultation on its Welsh language strategy, launched by the First Minister and Minister for Welsh Language at this year’s Eisteddfod, which aims to grow the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050.

The consultation will run until the end of October and identifies six key areas for discussion:

• Planning
• Make the language a normal part of everyday life
• Education
• People
• Support
• Rights

Alun Davies, Minister for Life Long Learning and Welsh Language, who also addressed delegates on the Government’s work, said:

“Euskara has proven itself as a master of reinvention, a language of resilience, a dual representative of personal choice and communal solidarity. Like Welsh, it represents more than the right to speak its words; it represents the right of people to choose their own identity and ultimately write their own history. It is the essence of “being Basque.”

“In Wales we do have the will and tools necessary to encourage the Welsh language to thrive, evolve and keep up with the modern world and we need to put them to their best use.

“Monolingualism is a thing of the past; everyone is looking towards speaking at least mother tongue plus one, in Wales we are fortunate to live in a bilingual society, we have to make the most of this advantage that we have.”