Members of the Welsh Language Society will call on politicians "to let the Welsh language live" as they gather in Cardiff Bay today (Wednesday, 10th February) as powers over the language are handed to the Assembly.While the society is unhappy with the government's limited plans, they will mark the historical importance of the power shift. Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) has been campaigning since 1999 for a new law to deliver official status, language rights and a commissioner with powers to promote equality.Speaking ahead of the rally, Bethan Williams, Chair of the Language Act group of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:"Our politicians should understand that with these new powers come the responsibility to make a law which will strengthen Welsh, a language which is a unique inheritance for everyone who lives in our country.

"The long-winded process of making law in Wales has failed to deliver the change the language needs. After all, in the next ten years there is a real risk that it could die out as a genuine community language if radical steps aren't taken. But the One Wales government has promised to establish rights for everyone to see, hear and use Welsh, so we expect them to deliver on that promise. The vast majority of people in Wales agree with the changes we propose to let the language thrive.""Cymdeithas has been campaigning for more than 10 years for a new Language Act; we have a once in a generation chance to get this right. So, let's have a law that includes steps to help the language thrive in all sectors of life such as education, housing, planning and the workplace."The campaigners will also present evidence collected from across Wales to the Welsh Language Board showing that many big firms are failing to deliver proper bilingual services to customers.Bethan Williams added:"The Language Board lets big companies get away with providing just a superficial service in Welsh, but that's not right. Their attitude is frankly insulting and treats it as a second-class language.""Given that the government has failed to act on our behalf to secure rights which cover the big high street firms, we must not act for the people of Wales."Cymdeithas campaigners will present the language board with a proclamation which states that members will now begin campaigning against businesses which refuse to provide Welsh language services.