<div dir="ltr"><span class="gmail-article-timestamp gmail-formatTimeStampEs6"></span>
<h1 class="gmail-headline gmail-semi-loud">Plans to double number of Welsh speakers by 2050 unveiled</h1>
<div class="gmail-author-details">
<div class="gmail-author-name-container">
<span class="gmail-author-name">
<a href="http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/author/profile/75651.Ian_Craig/" class="gmail-author-name-link">Ian Craig</a>
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-article-row-container">
<div class="gmail-article-row-container-left">
<article class="gmail-v2">
<div id="gmail-articlePage">
<div class="gmail-article-hero gmail-light-background">
<img src="http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/resources/images/3168400.jpg?display=1&htype=0&type=responsive-gallery" alt="The Welsh flag.">
<p class="gmail-hero-caption"><span class="gmail-x-small">The Welsh flag.</span></p>
</div>
<div class="gmail-article-credits gmail-clearfix">
</div>
<div class="gmail-social-circles-component gmail-top-socialbar">
</div></div></article></div></div>
<a href="http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/my/account/emailthispage/" class="email-link">
</a><div class="gmail-social-circles-component gmail-top-socialbar">
<a href="http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15400756.Plans_to_double_number_of_Welsh_speakers_by_2050_unveiled/#comments-anchor" class="gmail-small gmail-comments-button"> <span>29 <span class="gmail-comment-number-text">comments</span></span></a>
</div>
<div class="gmail-article-body">
<div>
<div class="gmail-p402_hide"><p>
AMBITIOUS plans to almost double the number of people able to speak Welsh have been unveiled.
</p>
<p>
According to the 2011 census 562,000 people in Wales can speak Welsh, 19 per cent of the country’s total population.
</p>
<p>
But now the Welsh Government has revealed plans to increase this to one million by 2050.
</p>
<p>
Although the one million target has been on the cards for some time,
the new strategy due to be announced today, Tuesday, sets out how the
Welsh Government plans to meet this goal.
</p>
<p>
Plans include increasing Welsh-language teaching across the board,
from nursery to post-16 education, reviewing legislation supporting the
language and leading by example by promoting use of the Welsh within the
Welsh Government workforce.
</p>
<p>
The Welsh Government has also said it will work to develop “favourable
conditions” for the language by supporting economic development across
the country, increasing the use of it online and developing a new
programme to increase understanding of bilingualism.
</p>
<p>
The strategy, dubbed Cymraeg 2050, also includes plans to double the
number of people who are able to use more than just a few words of Welsh
from to 20 per cent.
</p>
<p>
Announcing the plan, first minister Carwyn Jones, said: “Welsh is one
of our treasures, and is part of what defines us as a nation, whether we
speak the language or not.
</p><div class="gmail-teads-inread" style="margin:0px 0px 18px;height:381px;max-width:640px"><div><div class="gmail-teads-ui-components-label">ADVERTISING</div></div></div>
<p>
“Reaching a million speakers is a deliberately ambitious target to so that the Welsh language thrives for future generations.
</p>
<p>
“There are challenges ahead, but we can undoubtedly face those in the
knowledge that we are building from a position of strength.”
</p>
<p>
He added, for the strategy to succeed, the whole nation must “take ownership” of the language.
</p>
<p>
“Politicians can’t impose that, but politicians can lead,” he said.
</p>
<p>
“By raising our expectations and adopting an ambitious vision, we have
the potential to change the future outlook for the language.”
</p>
<p>
Blaenau Gwent AM and Welsh language minister Alun Davies said: “I am
confident it will put us on the right path towards facilitating an
increase not only in the number of speakers but also in the use of the
language within our communities, workplaces and families.
</p>
<p>
“We know that language policy needs to be rooted in consensus and democratic strength.
</p>
<p>
“Together, by renewing our energy, adapting to an ever changing
landscape, we can enable the Welsh language to grow, a living language
for all that unites us as a nation.”
</p>
<p>
To view the strategy, which will be formally unveiled at 11am today, visit gov.wales
</p><p><a href="http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15400756.Plans_to_double_number_of_Welsh_speakers_by_2050_unveiled/">http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15400756.Plans_to_double_number_of_Welsh_speakers_by_2050_unveiled/</a><br></p></div></div></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
</div>