[lg policy] Re: Cymdeithas considers action against Plaid Cymru, over language policy

[Dave Sayers]

This is a rather one-sided article. WalesOnline is the website of the Western Mail, which earlier
this summer courted controversy for slamming this same proposal for translations, so maybe they're
trying to soothe some soars? See the following BBC article which reported on the controversy at the
time:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-18159802

That BBC article also gives a much clearer sense of the political wranglings behind this issue.
Suffice it to say, this isn't without controversy or prior debate. The comments below the BBC
article (arranged most recent first) also give a flavour of the civic debate around these concerns
-- albeit perhaps an unusually heated representation, this being the internet...

Dave

--
Dr. Dave Sayers
Honorary Research Fellow, Arts & Humanities, Swansea University
and Visiting Lecturer (2012-2013), Dept English, Åbo Akademi University
dave.sayers at cantab.net
http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers



On 09/10/2012 19:00, lgpolicy-list-request at groups.sas.upenn.edu wrote:
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2012 11:12:26 -0400
> From: Harold Schiffman <hfsclpp at gmail.com>
> Subject: [lg policy] Cymdeithas considers action against Plaid Cymru
> 	over	language policy
> To: lp <lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu>
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAB7VSRDQRGrdcfRoVdWHphCCX8s3_RYUko0H2MY6oadJfvuNHg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
> 
> Cymdeithas Yr Iaith is threatening action against Plaid Cymru
> 
> Language group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg is considering taking
> direct action against Plaid Cymru over the party’s attitude to the
> National Assembly’s language policy, the group has announced today.
> 
> Last week the majority of Plaid Cymru AMs voted against an amendment
> to the Official Languages Bill which would have obliged the Assembly
> to translate transcripts of all its meetings into Welsh.
> 
> They also voted against publishing the Assembly’s Record of
> Proceedings in Welsh at the same time as the English version, although
> the Assembly operated that policy until 2009.
> 
> Cymdeithas’ ruling board, the Senedd, has authorised peaceful direct
> action against Plaid, but implementing the decision will be postponed
> until there is a response from the party.
> 
> Sian Howys, rights spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, the
> Welsh Language Society, said: “We call on Plaid Cymru AMs to take the
> opportunity to rectify the injustice of last week by ensuring the
> Assembly’s language scheme implements the Welsh language’s full
> national status.
> 
> "That’s the way to show the clear leadership on the Welsh language’s
> status and bilingual democracy that Plaid Cymru should have shown
> during the vote on the Official Languages Bill.
> 
> “The result of that vote endangers one of the main cornerstones of the
> 2011 Welsh Language law – that the Welsh language has official status
> in Wales.”
> 
> Sioned Haf, vice-chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg added: “We have
> taken this decision to demonstrate the seriousness of our
> disappointment and disbelief that Plaid Cymru has turned its back on
> one of its main principles; namely ensuring equality for the Welsh
> language.
> 
> "We have been severely disappointed that Plaid Cymru didn’t take this
> opportunity to ensure that our main democratic body gave a clear
> message that the meaning of official status is to treat the Welsh and
> English languages as equals.
> 
> “We are very concerned about the standard and quality of the debate on
> the Bill. The lack of backbone shown by Plaid Cymru on this matter
> also raises questions about the ability of the party to respond to the
> substantial challenge which faces the Welsh language in our
> communities. A challenge which will become even clearer when the
> Census results are published.”
> 
> A Plaid Cymru spokeswoman said: “Plaid Cymru is of the view that
> organisations that aim to use and promote the Welsh language should
> unite in their support of the language rather than seek to undermine
> each other.”
> 
> Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2012/10/08/cymdeithas-consider-action-against-plaid-cymru-over-language-policy-91466-31991993/#ixzz28oaexBAk
> 
> 
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