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The Welsh Language Society (Welsh: Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) is a pressure group in Wales campaigning for the future of the Welsh language.
The Society was established on 4 August 1962 in Pontardawe in South Wales. It was at least partly inspired by the Annual BBC Wales Radio Lecture given that year by Saunders Lewis and entitled Tynged yr iaith (The fate of the language). Cymdeithas yr Iaith believes in non-violent direct action and in the course of their campaigns over a thousand people have appeared before the courts for their part in various campaigns, many receiving prison sentences. These campaigns have resulted in many gains for the language, including two Welsh language acts, bilingual road signs, and the establishing of S4C, the Welsh language television channel.
"Cymdeithas" is a voluntary movement entirely dependent on its members and supporters to run its campaigns. Two full-time members of staff are employed at their head office in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.
According to the census of 1991, 18.7% of the people of Wales spoke Welsh.National Statistics Online. Welsh Language: Welsh speakers increase to 21% (summary of certain census data). This percentage varies according to locality: 67.3% of the people of Gwynedd speak Welsh, whereas only 2.3% do so in Monmouthshire. However other studies have put the figure for the percentage of people in Wales with a small degree of fluency around 24%. No figures are available for the numbers of speakers outside Wales. Welsh is also spoken in the former Welsh settlement of Patagonia, Argentina, where the language is still spoken in some communities.BBC. Capeli, tai te a gauchos: Y Cymry ym Mhatagonia
2001 Census
The numbers of Welsh speakers rose for the first time in the 2001 census to 21% of the population, due in part to the popularity of Welsh-medium education and the numbers of adults learning the language. However, Welsh is still declining as a community language with only 3% of Welsh children brought up in homes where both parents are Welsh-speaking.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg today
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg are campaigning for the language in many fields: education, media and culture, planning, local authorities. At present they are calling for a new Welsh Language Act which covers the many fields ignored by previous legislation passed in 1993: e.g. telecommunications, the private sector. They have on occasions littered windows of shops that do not have Welsh or bilingual signs.
Welsh as the official language of Wales
Welsh is not at present the official language of Wales, in the opinion of Cymdeithas yr Iaith. The Welsh Language Act of 1993 declared that Welsh should be treated on an equal basis with English. However Cymdeithas yr Iaith argue that this falls short of what is needed, and they are calling for Welsh and English to be declared official languages in Wales. The lack of official status means that the Welsh language misses out on many crucial European grants.
Is Welsh used widely?
Welsh is used in every field: education at all levels, businesses, local authorities, media, publishing, health and the voluntary sector. Both Welsh and English are spoken in the National Assembly for Wales: however Cymdeithas is pressing for more politicians to use Welsh in the chamber. However, a majority of people living in Wales do not use Welsh as a first language, even if many are at least partially bilingual.
References
External links
Welsh self-government | Welsh language | Organisations based in Wales
"Welsh Language Society"