Language group to change 'radically' in its 50th year, Chair

Welsh language communities' fate risk being forgotten during the British events this year, according to the Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg. As the language group celebrates its 50th birthday this year, Bethan Williams, the society's chair, will address members in a newly created forum - the Cyngor - with a challenge for them to change today (Saturday 7th January).

The society was founded following Saunders Lewis' lecture "Tynged yr Iaith" (Fate of the Language), broadcast on 13th February, 1962. Although Mr Lewis came from a right-wing political viewpoint, that view was rejected by the founders of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, which is a socialist movement.

Bethan Williams said that the society would focus a lot more on the future of Welsh speaking communities in its next phase of campaigning, saying:

"In a year of British events, there's a risk that the future of our communities will be forgotten. But we cannot afford for the future of the language on a community level to disappear given that it's such an urgent situation."

"Some people say that the struggle for the Welsh language is over, but we don't want to see it just as a marginal language, or as a language of education only. Last year, we broadcast a lecture "Tynged yr Iaith 2", we said there would be some type of future for the language thanks to people's efforts over the last half century. Now, as we step forward to the next period in our campaigning we are turning our sights to our communities, and ensuring that Welsh is a living language, used day-to-day. The question our new lecture asks is: will the language be a minority culture or briod iaith of our nation? Answering that challenge is our role over the years to come."

She will argue that the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg's structure could change in a radical way during the year and that the movement needs to be far more open and inclusive in the future, Ms Williams will add:

"It's time for Cymdeithas to accept that we must discuss the future of our organisation, and make further efforts to ensure that we are working in the most effective way possible. We must be open and ready for change for the benefit of our unique language, wherever that takes us as a movement. We're not willing to work superficially like quangos, who tick boxes, so the renewal process must be completely open and inclusive. We need to reach out to everyone who worries about the future of the language, not any clique, nor can we just follow an old formula because we're comfortable with it."

"We need, as a movement, to discuss openly with our members, supporters and everyone who worries about the future of the language and its communities how we can strengthen them. Much has changes in Wales over recent decades, and we must be ready to change as well. Our organisation has never been afraid of challenging the status quo."