[lg policy] Leighton Andrews: We must not be scared to speak less than perfect Welsh

[Harold Schiffman]

Leighton Andrews: We must not be scared to speak less than perfect Welsh

    By Leighton Andrews
    Feb 16 2012


The introduction of a banding system was unveiled this year by
Education Minister Leighton Andrews


Ahead of announcing a new strategy for the Welsh language, Education
Minister Leighton Andrews argues it is time to ensure a presence for
Welsh on all platforms, in every aspect of our day-to-day lives. I WAS
delighted when the First Minister gave me responsibility for the Welsh
Language portfolio in May 2011. As an active Welsh learner, my
engagement with the language in a meaningful way goes back to my days
as a student in Bangor in the 1970s.

The language is important to all of us in Wales, and opinion surveys
regularly show the majority of Welsh people are committed to and
supportive of the language. We must always strive to protect a
political consensus around measures to develop and strengthen the
language. Next month therefore I will publish a new strategy for the
language that deliberately builds on the draft strategy published by
the One Wales Government.

The future development and survival of the language depends on the
commitment of the people of Wales, and must be owned by all of us.
Its protection cannot depend on those who are professionally employed
in its development or promotion. We must also ensure that we are
encouraging people to use the language skills that they have – and not
to contribute to a climate in which they feel that less than perfect
Welsh language skills are a barrier to participation.

This year will see the 30th anniversary of S4C’s first broadcast. That
anniversary should remind us that the promotion and protection of the
language has always depended on political support and grassroots
campaigning.

The most damaging thing to happen to the Welsh Language in the last
two years was the decision by the UK Government to abandon the funding
formula for S4C, set down in statute, without any effective public
debate.

The budgetary loss to the Welsh language in the five years to 2014-15
will be at least £60m. The failure of the S4C Authority to maximise
the cross-party public pressure that existed in Wales in defence of
what was a statutory obligation on the UK Government demonstrated an
institution whose pre-devolution mentality failed to understand the
realities of post-devolution Wales.

While broadcasting is not devolved, and it is not the policy of the
present Welsh Government to seek the devolution of broadcasting, it is
clear that in terms of language policy at least, the Welsh Government
will need to take a closer view of the impact of broadcasting policy
on the Welsh language.

We believe that the new leadership of the S4C Authority and of the
channel itself will be responsive to these concerns.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2012/02/16/education-minister-leighton-andrews-supports-welsh-language-91466-30338471/#ixzz1mYfII4Sc



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