A "revolution is required" to safeguard the future of the Welsh language, according to a significant new report from the Welsh language commissioner. The comprehensive five-year assessment, published on Tuesday, reveals that while the number of Cymraeg speakers has remained relatively stable over decades, it has not increased in line with substantial population growth, rendering the language more vulnerable.
Transformative Intervention Needed
Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones emphasised that "bold and transformative" intervention is essential if the Welsh government is to achieve its ambitious target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. "It's a statutory requirement of this position to publish a report every five years, but I felt strongly I didn't want to just publish a look at census information, I wanted to use this as an opportunity," Gruffudd Jones stated. "It's a report on the state of the language today, but it's also a chance to build on the good work that's been done in the past few years and protect the language in future."
Discrepancies in Speaker Data
The report incorporates various metrics for measuring language use, which yield differing results. The Welsh government's Welsh Language Use survey indicates there are approximately 829,000 speakers, whereas the 2021 census recorded only 538,000. These disparities are believed to stem from differences in data collection methodologies, highlighting the complexity of accurately assessing linguistic vitality.
Three Key Areas for Strengthening Welsh
Gruffudd Jones's report identifies three primary areas requiring urgent attention to bolster Cymraeg: the education system, safeguarding communities with high concentrations of Welsh speakers, and increasing the language's use in workplace environments. Teacher recruitment and retention present a significant challenge in Wales, particularly within Welsh-medium education, mirroring broader issues across the United Kingdom.
Legislative Advances and Political Threats
Last summer, the Senedd passed the landmark Welsh Language and Education Act, which aims to boost the number of Welsh-speaking teachers through incentives such as bursaries. However, political uncertainties cloud the horizon. Ahead of May's Senedd elections, polls suggest the nationalist Plaid Cymru may form the next government, but Reform UK also stands a chance of winning, which could have profound implications for Welsh language policy.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has pledged to scrap the million Cymraeg speakers target and repeal the Welsh Language and Education Act. Campaigners warn that such moves would threaten the provision of Welsh-medium schooling, where demand already outstrips supply in many regions.
Achievable Goals with Priority Action
Despite these challenges, Gruffudd Jones remains cautiously optimistic. "If you look at smaller languages around the world, with everything dominated by English and Spanish, Welsh is doing surprisingly well. I'm not saying that's enough, but I feel positively about it, and the new Welsh Language Act takes a lot of steps in the right direction," she remarked. "The goal of a million speakers is perfectly achievable as long as we act in some of the priority areas."
The report underscores the necessity for sustained, coordinated efforts across education, community support, and workplace integration to ensure the Welsh language not only survives but thrives in the coming decades.
