Category Archives: Cyfryngau

DYFODOL EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF RADIO CYMRU 2

Reply

Dyfodol i’r Iaith has warmly welcomed Radio Cymru’s announcement of the intention to establish an alternative Welsh channel to be broadcast between 7 and 10 each morning. This latest development answers Dyfodol’s call to extend the BBC’s provision of Welsh-language radio programmes. The organisation believes that this will set a firm foundation for consolidating the audience for the current provision of Welsh-language brodcasting, while also attracting a new audience, particularly younger listeners.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“This is excellent news for Welsh language brodcasting, and a development Dyfodol has long campaigned for.

We wish every success to the new venture, and look forward to a creative variety of new programmes, which, along with the channel’s current output, will appeal to the widest diversity of Welsh speakers and learners.”

CALL FOR IMMEDIATE S4C AUTHORITY MEETING TO CANCEL ENGLISH SUBTITLES CAMPAIGN

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith have criticised S4C’s five-day experiment to set default English subtitles on some of its most popular programmes, and the organisation has called for an emergency meeting of the channel’s Authority to cancel this flawed campaign.

While accepting the importance of Welsh and English subtitles for some viewers, the organisation is very worried that the English language is being imposed upon one of the Welsh language’s key domains. It has also become clear that automatic English subtitles significantly undermine the viewing experience for Welsh speakers and learners.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“It has become clear that this experiment has been a failure from the start. The many comments on social websites, particularly by young people, the audience of the future, is ample proof of this. Another pressing concern is that some announcements following the programmes have been in English, thus changing the channel’s language and undermining its very raison d’être. Those who enjoy and expect the Welsh language are being disappointed, and learners are denied the experience of being immersed in the language.

We would call upon S4C to reconsider this flawed experiment and reinstate and encourage the viewer’s choice in relation to subtitles.”

Five Aims Acheived

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Five important steps have been taken to promote the Welsh language this year, according to Dyfodol i’r Iaith, the Welsh language lobby group.  Dyfodol i’r Iaith has held discussions in many fields, and this is starting to bear fruit, according to the Chair, Heini Gruffudd.

The five successes are:

  • Establishing  a National Entity for Welsh for Adults
  • Plans to establish four Welsh Centres in four towns in Wales
  • The possibility of two Welsh medium radio channels
  • Care Council for Wales’ resource  on using Welsh in social care
  • Carmarthenshire’s education policy, as part of a far reaching language policy for the county.

Heini Gruffudd, Chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said “We have had a positive response from politicians and by many committees and bodies during the year, and it’s good to see that many of our suggestions are now being accepted.”

“All of the five steps involve extending the use of spoken Welsh and creating fair condition for acquiring new Welsh speakers.”

“It is crucial that those responsible for putting the five steps into practice do so effectively and with conviction, so that good operating models are established.”

During the next month we will concentrate on ensuring that Welsh is given proper recognition by the Planning Bill which is under consideration by the Government.”