‘The Welsh language is in crisis’, that was Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s response to the 2011 census results released today (Tuesday, 11 December).
According to the 2011 Census, 562,000 (19.01%) of people in Wales over 3 years old were able to speak Welsh compared with 582,368 (20.76%) in 2001, a fall of 1.75%. In the Welsh Government’s 2003 language strategy, there was a target to increase the number of speakers by 5% to 26% of the population. The percentage of Welsh speakers in all the counties of west Wales fell, with the largest drop in Carmarthenshire, although there was a small increase in Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Monmouthshire.
The pressure group said they would be launching a ‘living manifesto’ this week in response to the census results, before holding a rally in Caernarfon this Saturday (December 15) to focus on the fate of the language at a community level.
Robin Farrar, newly-elected Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg commented:
“The Welsh language faces a crisis. This news reflects very badly on the Welsh Government who set a target of increasing the number of Welsh speakers by 5% over the decade. Over the last 10 years, they have failed to support the Welsh language in the way they should. The fall in all the counties in the West is a matter of great concern. The people of Wales are very supportive of our unique language, but the Government isn’t matching their ambition.
“We believe that the vast majority of people wish to live in a country where we can all live our lives in Welsh; we also understand that ensuring the strength of Welsh language communities is the only way of realising that vision. There needs to be a series of clear and bold policies from the Welsh Government in every field, but especially in the education, planning and housing, and the workplace in order to reverse the decline. There is no point in sitting back and accepting this: with hard campaigning and political will, we can change our fate.”
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will hold the first in a series of rallies this Saturday (December 15th) in and launch a campaign “Dwi eisiau byw yn Gymraeg” (I want to live in Welsh), with rallies in Merthyr Tudful, Aberystwyth and Carmarthenshire to follow. Robin Farrar added:
“The future of the Welsh language depends on the existence and strength of areas where there is a high concentration of Welsh speakers. We must get to grips urgently with a number of factors in order to reverse the decline in several counties where the language has traditionally been strong, particularly, outward and inward migration patterns, ensuring Welsh-language jobs and the education system.”
“Since devolution, the Welsh Government has shown a lack of determination to support the Welsh language, especially in light of the decrease in the western counties. An economic revival, at a community level, is needed in the traditionally Welsh-speaking areas, if we are to reverse the decline and ensure a sustainable future for the Welsh-language in all parts of Wales.”