National Conference on the Future of the Welsh Language

A national conference was held at Aberystwyth on July 4 which focused on the future of the Welsh Language.  The conference was held in the historic county of Ceredigion (Cardigan) which was a fitting venue as there are concerns about the decline of the percentage of Welsh speakers in Ceredigion based on the most recent census data. More than 160 people attended the conference with focus groups meeting across Wales leading up to the conference and over 2500 participated on-line.   

The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeitha Yr Laith Gymraeg) urged the Welsh governemnt to abolish the teaching of Welsh as a second languge and move to a system in which a third of the curriculum is taught in Welsh.  The Language Society also charged that the Government's policies aimed at strengthening and protecting the language are not working.

The Welsh Governments's First Minister, Carwyn Jones, addressed the conference and made the following statement:  "Today is the beginning of a process to secure the future of the Welsh language.  We will now consider the ideas and options presented to us and work with all those who have an interest in the language to ensure it is not only a living language but a strong language."   

http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/welshlanguage/2013/130704gf/?lang=en

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/33180/

http://cymdeithas.org/node/4318