News Centre

Regulation and promotion of Celtic languages

22 May 2009

Man reading a book

A University workshop is set to assess the potential impact of current Government proposals concerning the Welsh language.

The Wales Assembly Government is currently drafting an Assembly Measure on the Welsh Language which may include the introduction of a Language Commissioner for Wales. With the Westminster ratification process on the Measure due to take until the end of 2010, an opportunity exists for discussion on how this development may impact upon the legal and social status of other Celtic languages.

The School of Welsh and the Cardiff Humanities Research Institute are holding a half day workshop bringing together four of the leading academics involved in the promotion and regulation of official languages in the UK and Ireland.

Presentations will be given by Professor Colin Williams, Cardiff University’s School of Welsh, Dr John Walsh, Department of Irish at National University of Ireland, Galway, Dr R Dunbar, Department of Celtic Studies, University of Aberdeen, and Dr Wilson McLeod, Celtic and Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh.

The presentations will cover a language policy perspective on language legislation in Ireland, the place for a Language Commissioner for Wales, language legislation and the non-state sector, and the norms, structures and assumptions of Celtic language legislation.

There will also be an open forum to discuss issues arising from the presentations. This will be chaired by Dr Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost, School of Welsh.

The workshop takes place on 27 May 2009 in the Humanities Building. Welsh-English translation facilities will be available. Please contact the School of Welsh on cymraeg@cf.ac.uk or 029 2087 4843 for information on how to register.