Radical action needed to protect Welsh language, claim campaigners

Campaigners want "radical measures" to preserve and revive the Welsh language in rural heartlands.

The future of the language is a hot topic at Wales' cultural festival the National Eisteddfod, which is currently taking place in Llantwd, Pembrokeshire.

While some debate the cost of a pint or the latest recitation results, others warn time is running out to protect the traditional communities.

The Welsh government said it will continue to aim for the "ambitious target" of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050 as it prepares to announce its next steps to promote the language.

In opposition, Plaid Cymru questioned how much progress the Welsh Labour government made after Welsh speakers fell to 538,000 people in 2021.

Now, Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Welsh Language Anna Brychan has said the new Plaid government will launch a consultation on what to.

According to Ffred Ffransis, from Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the medium's future is at a turning point.

"We're losing our Welsh-speaking communities," he said.

"Once a language becomes something just under the surface, confined to certain sectors, not being [the] main medium of social intercourse in naturally Welsh-speaking communities, it means we've lost a great deal."

He is anxious to see the Plaid Cymru government enact change as soon as possible before minds start to focus on the next Senedd election in 2030.

"They've got [a] three-year window before we're into the next election campaign to change things around, to turn the tide in favour of the Welsh language and in favour of regenerating our communities," he said.

"It means radical measures. They've got to decide now very quickly if they are up for the challenge."

Brychan said the Plaid Cymru minority government is prepared to act, but campaigners at the Eisteddfod will have to wait a few more months before any plans are announced.

"We are going to be launching our consultation in the autumn on what we do next," she said, "but we already do significantly invest in events like this for example".

She said the target of almost doubling the number of Welsh speakers to a million by 2050 would still be "at the heart" of the strategy while admitting it would be difficult to achieve.

"We recognise it is very ambitious," she said, "but we see no reason not to be ambitious about the future of the Welsh language."

Having been elected on the promise to tackle the cost of living and long NHS waiting lists, she insists the language can be a focus too.

"We are prioritising on those things," she said, "but the will of the Welsh people to recognise the opportunity and ownership of Welsh, how much it is part of how we see ourselves in the world is a priority for us as well."

"It doesn't militate against our focus on other areas that are very important for us and for the people in Wales too."

The last census revealed the number of Welsh speakers has fallen, but the number of adult learners has risen.

Kierion Lloyd, a finalist at the Eisteddfod's Learner of the Year competition, said adult learners can help increase numbers.

"I know around the census, the questions weren't particularly clear and I know a lot of learners said they didn't feel comfortable saying they did speak Welsh even though they can."

Another finalist, Paige Morgan, does not count towards the official figure because she lives in the US.

She said: "I really am hopeful. What I want to do is help other people and inspire them.

"I never expected to become bilingual as a middle-aged woman, so don't listen to anyone who says that isn't possible because they are wrong."