Sustaining the Welsh language and promoting its use requires a complex set of policies and interventions. Some interventions work universally across Wales, but some areas need intensive and prolonged interventions that support the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the community or area.
The Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee heard through its inquiry – Cymraeg for all? – how important it is to create meaningful opportunities for engagement so that those who learn the language can use it. This is particularly true for areas and communities with lower densities of Welsh speakers. It also heard that changing Welsh language behaviour and confidence requires “intentional planning” and investment in the “physical, social, cultural and digital spaces where the Welsh language can become a natural part of the everyday”.
The Committee’s report and recommendations set out some practical steps for the Welsh Government to action to ensure that Cymraeg is “not only learned, but lived”.
Developing a bilingual ethos
It is often stated that ‘Cymraeg belongs to us all’, regardless of ability to use it. The Census 2021 shows that just under a fifth of the Welsh population can speak Welsh, but a recent YouGov Poll shows that two-thirds (67%) of the population are in favour of efforts to increase its use, with 63% of those who can’t speak Welsh supportive of the current direction.
But for a language to thrive, it requires more than just support - it requires people to regularly use their Welsh language skills. The barriers to greater use are varied. It is a well-known for instance that many lack confidence, and that opportunities for its use are limited in some areas – this is something the Committee heard via its engagement with citizens. This is why the Committee concluded that increasing Welsh language use is:
not solely a matter of policy or provision, it is a social and cultural process that depends on creating meaningful opportunities for engagement.
Engagement with Cymraeg comes in many forms, and doesn’t necessarily require a fully immersive Welsh language experience. It could be introduced as part of the ethos of an activity or event. Developing bilingual spaces are just as important as the immersive experience, and the Committee was keen to see events and festival organisers along with grass-root clubs use more Welsh.
Absence of legacy planning risks loss of momentum
The power of a Welsh language festival or event in a local community or area cannot be underestimated however, particularly in areas with fewer Welsh speakers. The Committee sees them as “vital enablers for promoting and normalising Welsh”. For a short period of time, a Welsh language festival can temporarily increase the “language density” in that area, offering powerful experiences that can shift perceptions, build confidence, and give an individual that ‘nudge’ to start their own language journey. As the Committee noted, in areas with fewer Welsh speakers, these events and festivals could be the “first contact point” for many with Cymraeg outside of formal education.
Despite evidence of purposeful planning in the build-up to large Welsh language festivals, little consideration is seemingly given to post-festival legacy planning. The Committee was concerned that the:
absence of dedicated legacy planning and additional resourcing risks wasting opportunities gained, and placing unsustainable strain on the mentrau iaith and community partners.
The National Centre for Learning Welsh proves how a little bit of planning and investment can maintain momentum in an area after a national festival. Its Eisteddfod Scheme, prompted by the National Eisteddfod’s visit to Pontypridd, welcomes and support new speakers in host areas, making resources available to boost activity before and after the festival’s visit. The Committee was keen for the Welsh Government, in partnership with local authorities and key stakeholders, to “develop a clear framework to guide post-festival legacy planning” in future. This would require a dedicated fund to support the coordination of legacy initiatives.
Welsh beyond the classroom
Creating access points to engage with the language was a core theme in the Committee’s report. This is particularly important for children and young people whose only interaction with the language may start and end at the school gates. Two key areas identified as part of the Committee’s inquiry are the ‘workplace’ and ‘grass-root sport’. The Welsh Government already allocates over £2.5 million annually to the National Centre for Learning Welsh to deliver the ‘Work Welsh’ programme. This supports the development of Welsh language skills across sectors. Some 2,000+ employers (public and private) have “taken advantage of the Centre’s scheme”. The Committee was keen, within this context, to see greater emphasis on incentivising private businesses to adopt Welsh policies which could extend Cymraeg’s reach within Welsh workplaces.
Grass-root sport and leisure clubs provide an opportunity to develop informal Welsh language use further, particularly among young people. Research conducted by the Welsh Language Commissioner on language use by children and young people found that over half of young people participate in sporting activities regularly— significantly higher than any other activity. The Committee called for targeted funding to enable “grass-roots clubs to develop innovative ways to introduce Welsh language opportunities”.
AI – an opportunity or threat to Cymraeg?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has enormous potential to change the way Cymraeg is used, seen and even heard, keeping the language relevant in a fast moving digital landscape. We know that AI has the ability to process and understand Cymraeg, provide responses and create content in Welsh. But the Committee heard that AI also carries risks for Cymraeg too. As the Committee Chair noted in her Foreword:
We cannot assume that artificial intelligence is a benign panacea for the challenges facing the language. Whilst there might be benefits if technology is harnessed appropriately, we must acknowledge that the widespread use of English inherent within artificial intelligence could pose a threat to Cymraeg if left unaddressed.
The work of Canolfan Bedwyr and other partners in this field has been vital, with the former instrumental in laying the foundational digital infrastructure, developing large language models that can compete with models in English. The fact the data is available on open licence allows companies far and wide to use and modify software with Cymraeg built in. The big challenge is convincing ‘big tech’, the likes of Apple and Amazon, to use the data in their systems. The Welsh Government has shown it is possible to influence and build relationships with companies like Microsoft, but other global tech companies have proven tougher nuts to crack.
Cymraeg in 2026 and beyond
The Welsh Language Commissioner recently published her statutory 5-year report on the position of the Welsh language. The Commissioner notes that Cymraeg as a “natural community language is weakening”, and that young people are increasingly living their lives “in a context where English is the language of play and entertainment”.
The Committee’s inquiry sought to highlight practical steps that build on existing structures, focussing on interventions that may have high impact for small levels of additional investment. While it is the current Welsh Government who will respond to the Committee’s recommendations, with the end of the Senedd term fast approaching, the decision to action them, or not, will likely fall to the next administration.
You can watch the debate on the Culture Committee’s report on Wednesday 25 March on Senedd TV.
Article by Osian Bowyer, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
