Government Survey Shows Wide Support for the Welsh Language

Statistics released by the Welsh Government (link) demonstrate deep broad support for increased efforts to strengthen and protect the Celtic Language of Wales. However, the survey also showed profound skepticism over the seriousness and effectiveness of the government's efforts to protect the Welsh Language against the English language onslaught.
Commenting on the survey results, Welsh Language Society spokesman, Tasman Davies, stated: “The Welsh language society welcomed the findings, saying that it was “great news that there’s so much support for the Welsh language.  The results have a clear message for anyone in authority – which is that they should be brave and determined in promoting the Welsh language. We as a movement feel have called for the right for a Welsh medium education for all, the right to use the Welsh language in the private sector, and the devolution of broadcasting to Wales in order to expand and normalise broadcasting in Welsh. It’s time that politicians realised that the public support this and want to see them take implement this. It’s also clear that many adults want to learn Welsh so we need much more investment in this field.”
 In the survey of 11,000 adults, the following results were posted to the Government of Wales Statistical First Release webpage:

• 86% of people felt the language was something to be proud of, (97% of Welsh speakers and 84% of non-Welsh speakers); the proportion of Welsh speakers ‘strongly agreeing’ was markedly higher.
• 67% thought that more effort needed to be put into supporting the language (86% of Welsh speakers and 63% of non-Welsh speakers).
• 62% of those who didn’t speak Welsh said they would like to speak it; and of those who already had some skills in the Welsh language, 85% said they would like to speak it better.
• People were least likely to agree with the statement ‘The Welsh language will be stronger in 10 years’ time’: 40% agreed with the statement (49% of Welsh speakers and 38% of non-Welsh speakers).

To strengthern the Welsh Tongue, the Welsh Language Society have long been calling for the abolition of the concept of “Welsh as a Second Language” pushing the alternative that every pupil be given the opportunity to be educated in the medium of both Welsh and English. The notion of Welsh medium education enjoys wide support amongst the electorate in Wales. A poll released in late 2014 sponsored by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) showed 63% of the people surveyed agreed that schools “should teach all pupils to communicate effectively in Welsh” thus ensuring graduates enjoy a command of the Welsh tongue upon graduation.  Studies have shown that bilingually schooled students academically outperform monolingually schooled students.