Monthly Archives: November 2014

REORGANISATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WELSH LANGUAGE

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Local authorities should use the reorganisation of local government to expand the use of Welsh as the language of work.  This is claimed by Dyfodol i’r Iaith, as local authorities in Wales present their plans for merger this month to the Minister for Local Government.

Heini Gruffudd, Chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith said, “The reorganisation presents a golden opportunity to expand Welsh as the language of work. Gwynedd has set an example of how to do this, and councils should now merge according to their linguistic makeup.”

“This means that it is appropriate for Ynys Môn, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to be part of an arrangement which will make Welsh the language of most workers of the new local authorities in their area,  extending from the coast of south Wales to the north Wales coast.”

“This would give thousands of Welsh workers the chance to use the language daily, and this would have a positive effect on the use of Welsh by everyone who deals with these councils.”

He added, “Expanding the use of Welsh should be one of the main priorities in the reorganisation.”

DYFODOL SUPPORTS ESTABLISHING A WELSH LANGUAGE AUTHORITY

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There is a need to establish a language authority that will lead the work of promoting the Welsh language.  This is claimed by Dyfodol i’r Iaith following a call by Gareth Jones to establish such a body.

Heini Gruffudd, Chairman of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said “Since the summer we have been calling for such a body. It has been more and more apparent that there is a need for a new arrangement that will on the one hand safeguard the Welsh language, as the environment is protected, but an arrangement that will on the other hand map a flourishing future for the language.”

“In spite of the Government’s good, it has become obvious that piecemeal decisions are made without coordination. Policies are needed across government departments, which connect with one another and which promote Welsh creatively.”

“The Welsh Language Commissioner’s work, – although valuable – and the good will of civil servants have not established a system that makes a difference for Welsh.  A language authority, run by experts in language planning, and with more powers than the old Welsh Language Board, is essential.”

“We are looking forward to convincing political parties that this is a matter of urgency for the Welsh Assembly and the language.”

LIDL LANGUAGE POLICY SIMILAR TO MIDDLE AGES PENAL LAWS

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The Welsh language pressure group, Dyfodol i’r Iaith, has condemned Lidl UK’s policy of banning staff from speaking languages other than English with each other.

Dyfodol has compared the ban on the use of Welsh as similar to some of the anti-Welsh penal laws of the Middle Ages.

Heini Gruffudd, Chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith said:

“We’ve written to the company today to inform them that their policy of banning people in Wales from speaking Welsh is illegal.

“Welsh is an official language in Wales. There is no way that a private company can ban the use of a country’s official language.

“The ban on Welsh reminds me of some of the anti-Welsh penal laws of the middle ages. It cannot be justified in a civilized society.”

“This case clearly shows the need for the Language Law and the powers of the Language Commissioner to extend to the private sector.”

The row began when LidlUK banned staff from Poland from speaking Polish with Polish customers.

Heini Gruffudd said:

“We would also like to express our support for Poles living in Wales. We passionately believe that members of ethnic minorities living in Wales have the right to use their own language with one another.”

Lidl have now lifted this ban on the use of Welsh in their stores.