Image: The Heading new
Image: Welsh turkey fights back !
RCT COUNCIL IDEA FOR SIXTH FORMERS...
"MIGHT" HURT WELSH LANGUAGE PROVISION
The Welsh language schools in Rhondda Cynon Taff,
with their record of achievement at all levels,
are now facing a new challenge...
An "unintended" result of the latest plan being
mooted, to close sixth forms and send students
to tertiary colleges to study & prepare for
college and university, could, if not organised
properly... be catastrophic for Welsh provision.
Welsh medium secondary schools say the courses
their scholars may want to study, might not
be made available through the medium of Welsh.
According to the suggested scheme, in these
tertiary colleges, if A-level teachers find
themselves with a minority of students who
want to be taught in their country's own
language, the students will not be taught
in the medium of the Welsh language.
Together with the closure of school sixth forms,
it could mean that a lot of highly skilled Welsh
language teachers... simply lose their jobs.
And this could be a permanent problem for many,
if - during a time of increased financial cuts -
Welsh medium classes are seen as less "viable"
as an option, because it is being successfully
argued, by some, that the higher costs for the
council really does prohibit their provision.
So I suppose it's once again time for lovers of
the Welsh language and their successful schools
within RCT, to make it clear that the provision
of Welsh language instruction at sixth form level
is not to be destroyed by its enemies under the
guise of "new", or "cuts". Perhaps it's time to
make your views clear. Ymlaen !
Image: Welsh phone by Orange
Mobile phone for Welsh-speakers
The first Welsh mobile phone, with both menus
and predictive text in the language, is launched.
The Samsung S5600, provided via the Orange
network, is available from September.
The National Eisteddfod also sees the unveiling
of an iPhone application, or app, for Welsh learners.
Professor Chris Price, a Welsh learner and
the head of computer science at Aberystwyth
University, helped design the Learn Welsh app.
Both are unveiled at the eisteddfod in Bala.
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones joins Orange
and Samsung to unveil the Welsh phone at the eisteddfod.
Sian Doyle, Orange's head of retail: "Orange is
really proud to be the first network to introduce
this truly innovative service to Welsh speakers.
There are many apps for learning other languages
available to iPhone users... I felt it was high
time that help of this kind was made available
for those learning Welsh."
Professor Chris Price:
"This initiative is part of a broader commitment by Orange
to provide Welsh speakers with more choice."
More than 44,000 Welsh words are available on the phone.
Meanwhile, the Learn Welsh Welsh phrase book
is available to download from Apple's iTunes.
Based on Prof Price's own experience of learning Welsh,
the phrase book is divided into 12 themed sections
that include greetings, common phrases,
food and drink and travel.
Prof Price has also recorded each phrase, a
feature which he hopes helps pronunciation.
Another innovative feature is a practice mode,
which offers learners the opportunity of
testing themselves as they learn.
"There are many apps for learning other languages
available to iPhone users, amongst them 27 for
French, 23 for Italian and even ones for Irish,
and Tagalog, which is spoken in the Philippines," says Prof Price.
"I felt it was high time that help of this kind
was made available for those learning Welsh."
Image: Welsh Logo 1
News website in Welsh launched
An independent Welsh language news and current affairs website
is being launched by Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones.
Golwg360 will feature a rolling news service
and will give businesses, public bodies and individuals
the chance to set up their own micro-sites.
It is being run by Golwg Newydd, the sister company of Golwg
which publishes a weekly Welsh language magazine.
The assembly government is giving the site
£200,000 annually for three years.
The money was originally earmarked for
developing the Welsh language press.
The two companies are employing
nine new members of staff
including four full-time journalists
and others on freelance contracts.
The magazine is also being developed further
with extra pages and new columns and features.
Among the organisations and individuals who have
already taken up their own pages on Golwg360
are the Scarlets rugby region, S4C and many Welsh artists.
A full news service is available right away,
and other features are to be added regularly,
based on audience feedback.
Golwg Newydd's chair, Gwynfryn Evans:
"This is an important development for Golwg
and the Welsh press and, hopefully, for the
Welsh language itself,"
"During an economic crisis, it's great to
see an historic new service being launched."
Alun Ffred Jones says the launch is a "very
exciting day for Welsh-language journalism"
and is "an important investment for the future".
"The assembly government supports the strengthening
of journalism provision through the medium of Welsh," he says.
Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, director of the Welsh Books Council,
administrator of the grant for the assembly government,
says there has been fierce competition for the tender.
"It was an application by Golwg which was successful,
and that was because they offered an attractive
and comprehensive package, which consisted of
an online news service (and much more) as well as
plans to refresh the print magazine, Golwg," he says.
Golwg has offices in Lampeter, Caernarfon and Cardiff.
***********************************************8
CALLING ALL WELSH SPEAKING WRITERS!
A piece of a play hiding away?
An idea for a play? Contact us!
http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/
news/newsdetail.asp?newsID=3014
Image: light in the darkness
WELSH LAWS ON WELSH LANGUAGE TO BE "MADE IN WALES"?
The Welsh Assembly Government's attempt to
have the power to make laws about Cymraeg
is published, after taking a year longer
than planned to draw up.
This Legislative Competence Order (LCO) is
one of the key elements of the One Wales agreement
between coalition parties Plaid and Labour.
Lord Elis-Thomas, the assembly presiding officer, says it is
a "hugely significant day" for the language and will,
when approved, mean laws on the Welsh language
are made in Wales in the future.
Before it can be approved it "must" be scrutinised
by the Welsh assembly government, and the London parliament.
Then, of course, it has to have "Royal approval".
Assembly presiding officer Lord Elis Thomas says
the bid for powers on the language is hugely important.
Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy says he expects
it to be passed, with "ammendments".
Dw'in dysgu cymraeg... ar y Tescoes !
Shoppers at branches of Tesco will now be able
to use self-service checkouts in Welsh.
Tesco says a programme that was started in the summer
to convert the automatic tills is now ready.
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones:
"It is important that we give Welsh an opportunity
to grow and adapt to the modern environment."
The announcement coincides with the European Day of Languages.
Tescos run 74 stores in Wales and most provide self-service checkouts.
Customers are now able to hear instructions
in a sweet lilting Welsh female voice ( ! )
Mr Jones: "I am happy to see private sector businesses
increasing the use of Welsh in their stores and
responding to the need for user-friendly Welsh language services."
"I would like to see more businesses and organisations
promoting their services bilingually and
allowing Welsh speakers and Welsh learners
to be able to shop, learn, work and play
in their own language."
Felix Gummer, Tesco's corporate affairs manager for Wales
says the change allows the supermarket to
"serve communities in the best possible way".
"In response to customer demand and multilingualism in Wales
all our new stores signs have been fully bilingual for some time,
but today is a further step forward as we have listened to
the views of customers for more services to be in Welsh."
The change is warmly welcomed by Cymdeithas yr
Iaith Gymraeg, the Welsh Language Society.
Dafydd Lewis: "We've been in discussions with Tesco
and large similar companies and this is one of
the things we've been asking them to develop.
This is a first step towards developing a full language policy.
"What we really want is a language act that will mean
ALL companies in the private sector developing a
Welsh language policy without having to have
any pressure put on them."
The European Day of Languages was started in 2001
by the Council of Europe, with the aim of promoting
language learning and widening the range of languages learnt.
Image: dan y cownter
Dan Y Cownter 3 yn fyw!!
Dan Y Counter 3 Launches!!
O heddiw ymlaen bydd modd i unrhyw un sydd eisiau
darganfod mwy am y sin cerddorol Gymraeg wneud
hynny yn rhad a ddim trwy glicio ar wefan newydd sbon...
Mae Dan Y Cownter 3 yn lawrlwythiad rhad ac am
ddim sy'n cynnwys deg o draciau gan ddeg o
artistiaid Cymraeg ifanc gwahanol iawn - mae yna
rywbeth at ddant pawb ar www.danycownter.com.
Nawr yn ei thrydedd flwyddyn, mae Dan y Cownter
yn bartneriaeth rhwng Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg a
Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig. Pwrpas yr albwm
aml gyfrannog ar-lein hon yw adlewyrchu bwrlwm a
chyfoeth cerddoriaeth gyfoes Gymraeg a denu mwy
o bobl i ymddiddori yn y maes - trwy'r we.
Dewiswyd y 10 trac gan y DJ Huw Stephens o Radio
Cymru a Radio 1 a grwpiau o bobl ifanc mewn
gwahanol ardaloedd ar draws Cymru.
Dywedodd Huw Stephens : "Unwaith eto mae Dan y
Cownter yn gasgliad cyffrous sy'n adlewyrchu rhai
o gerddorion talentog a phrysur y sin. Fi'n sicr
bydd llawer yn cael boddhad allan o'r caneuon yma,
a gobeithio byddant yn creu argraff ar lawer o ffans newydd."
Mae Dan y Cownter 3 yn cynnwys traciau gan
Derwyddon Dr Gonzo, Cate Le Bon, MC Mabon,
Messner, Mr Huw, Eitha Tal Ffranco, Fflur Dafydd,
Mattoidz, Wrightoid a'r Diwygiad, ac felly'n
cynnwys amrywiaeth eang o gerddoriaeth - acwstig,
jazz, indie, roc a hip-hop. Mae'r wefan hefyd yn
cynnwys llawer iawn o wybodaeth am y sin gerddoriaeth Gymraeg.
www.danycownter.com
------------------------------------------------
From today anyone wanting to find out more about
the Welsh language music scene can do so free of
charge with the click of a mouse....
Dan y Cownter 3 is a free download that includes
ten tracks from ten very different Welsh acts -
there's something for all tastes at
www.danycownter.com.
Now in its third year, the Day Y Cownter Project
is a partnership between the Welsh Language Board
and Welsh Music Foundation. The download site
aims to introduce more young people to the very
vibrant Welsh language music scene in a way that
they are used to finding out about music -
through the internet.
The tracks featured were chosen by the Radio 1
and Radio Cymru DJ Huw Stephens and youth groups
from all around Wales.
Huw Stephens said: "Once again, Dan y Cownter is
an exciting collection that reflects some of the
most talented and busy musicians from the scene
in Wales. I'm sure that lots of people will
enjoy these songs, and I hope that they will
create an impression on many new fans."
Dan y Cownter 3 includes tracks from Derwyddon
Dr Gonzo, Cate Le Bon, MC Mabon, Messner, Mr
Huw, Eitha Tal Ffranco, Fflur Dafydd, Mattoidz,
Wrightoid and Y Diwygiad, and offers a wide
variety of music - from acoustic, jazz, indie,
rock and hip-hop. The website also includes a
huge amount of information on all aspects of the
Welsh language music scene.
www.danycownter.com
Image: a helping hand
Braille dictionary massive help for Cymraeg
A 22 volume Welsh/English Braille dictionary is
now here to help Welsh users of Braille.
A Royal National Institute of Blind People production,
compiled by volunteers and specialist staff,
the dictionary is creating enormous interest.
70% of the funding comes from The Welsh Language Board.
RNIB Cymru says its partnership with the Board
enables more Welsh texts in accessible formats,
including large print, audio and Braille.
Ruth Marks, director of RNIB Cymru, says
the charity is giving away 20 copies,
initially on a loan basis.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to make the
Welsh language accessible to learners across Wales," she says.
***************************************
Klebran is the first-ever online
spelling and grammar-checker for Welsh.
*************************************
TO ACCESS, PRESS THE LINK BELOW
Image:
http://www.Perthyn.com
is an exiting new social network like Myspace,
facebook, Bebo and others, but in the Welsh language.
It's a place for Welsh speakers around the world
to meet, create profiles, share photos, share
videos, chat, etc. It is the only Welsh social
network in the world. We have been going about
6 months now and have over 1000 members.
Most of our members are based in Wales, but we
are trying to drive it to Welsh societies around
the world. If you could let your members know
about the website in one of your meetings, it
would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Luke Williams
Ynperthyn@aol.com
Image:
Welsh language pop Archive.
Help save Welsh language vinyl records before they deteriorate.
Send in your old vinyl to the new Archive!
The archive is being created at Bangor University
to preserve Welsh pop history and development.
Co-ordinator Craig Owen Jones says it needs to be established quickly
as old vinyl and tapes don't keep very well.
Organisers are appealing for old recordings,
posters, discs or memorabilia.
The Welsh Pop Archive aims to provide an online catalogue
of magazines, fanzines, memorabilia, singles and LPs,
cassettes, CD's, videos and tv programmes.
"I feel that this music is important socially,
historically, politically and musically,"
says project director Dr Pwyll ap Sion.
Image: Defence....
After 25th Anniversary in 2007,
2008 sees S4C expand children's programmes
S4C will show more than six hours a day
for nursery-age children on its digital channel and website.
From June, Welsh programmes for pre-school children
will be shown every weekday morning
from 0700 GMT until 1330 GMT.
Currently the channel screens around one hour a day.
S4C, which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary,
is due to become a stand-alone Welsh-language channel
with no programmes being rebroadcast from Channel 4.
Image: Welsh Flag
Michael Foot, now sadly passed on,
said just before his death, that his BIGGEST REGRET
was not learning Welsh - don't leave it TOO late.
Image:
Here's a video you could enjoy !
if you press the link below....
It was taken from a wonderful new venture run by Suw,
who proposes a Cymraeg resource with all video, film, blogs in Welsh at one link point:
Below is the proposed link:
And here is the original email Suw sent out.
Very good article about how the internet can
support minority/dying languages.
I've been saying for years - literally about 7 or 8 years - that the
internet must be seen as a crucial tool in the fight to keep Welsh
alive and vibrant. But back in 2000, people like Bwrdd looked at me as
if I was nuts. The old guard couldn't see the point of the internet,
and I'd wager that they still can't. I know I'm cutting edge - I adopt
services before they are even open to the public, because I work in
this area and I know the people involved. But even so, it should be
blindingly clear to anyone with half a wit that the internet is an
important part of the Welsh language's future.
So I propose a project that everyone here can take part in,
regardless of your ability in Welsh,
and regardless of what you do
or where you live.
Why don't we catalogue all the content that's available in Welsh?
Everything. From video on YouTube to bands' MySpace pages to blogs to
groups in Flickr or on Yahoo/Google?
We have the wiki -
http://www.eu.socialtext.net/cmc/index.cgi?clwb_malu_cachu - which is
really, really easy to use.
I've made a Videos page -
http://www.eu.socialtext.net/cmc/index.cgi?videos_in_welsh - so we can
gather all the videos on the different video hosting services in one
spot. I think it's useful to add a short description of what the video
is about and who put it up, so people can see what's about without
having to click on every link.
There are some 850 of us here - if we all find one link and put it up,
that turns into a really big resource! And, because the wiki is
editable by anyone, we can keep it fresh, something that's really hard
with a webpage.
So let's get cracking!
Hwyl
Suw
suw.charman@gmail.com
And here's a link to that article Suw mentions first:
Internet is good for minority languages:- article.
Image: in there somewhere
THE CYMDEITHAS MADOG FILM LIBRARY
The "North America Welsh Video Library"
is based in Virginia -
It's a great collection of Welsh Movies, Childrens' Programmes,
Documentaries and Concerts in English/Welsh and with Subtitles,
from Richard Burton's first ever movie to
a documentary about the Welsh in the American Civil War.
For a full list of the Library collection please contact:
Bob Roser
1203 Harbour Drive
Stafford, VA 22554
roscym@adelphia.net
Image:
Language Control Centre
June saw the launch of a new computer application
that will allow users to chooser either Welsh or English
as an interface language for Windows XP and
Office 2003 at home or in the workplace.
The new application is free to download from the Bwrdd Yr Iaith
Gymraeg/Welsh
Language Board website
Bwrdd Yr Iaith Gymraeg is asking for users
to provide feedback by writing to
post@welsh-language-board.org.uk
Image:
Dime Goch
A new and novel internet idea that encourages
both Welsh and non-Welsh speakers who want to
encourage companies to offer their services in
the Welsh language, has been launched, called Dime Goch.
The website asks supporters to subscribe
from one pound a month to an email list of people
who are willing to apply pressure on giant companies
by stating they will definitely switch suppliers
if services are provided in Welsh.
The Welsh language internet community consumer revolution has begun!
See the link below for further details.
Image:
Predictive texting in Welsh
This is a free downloadable programme
to allow Welsh speakers to use 'predictive texting'
in Welsh on their mobile phones.
The company called 'Tecstico' was a design
idea thought up by a Welsh university student
and initially launched at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in 2006.
Image:
Internet Chat rooms, Forums and Young people
The Internet is claimed, by one of the worlds
leading linguists to be a saviour of the Welsh language.
Professor David Crystal of Bangor University
says the Welsh language (along with Breton)
is now considered to be 'cool' to use by young people,
because of its presence on the internet.
Professor Crystal:
"It doesn't matter how much activism you engage in
on behalf of a language if you don't attract the teenagers;
the parents of the next generation of children.
"And what turns teenagers on more than
the internet these days?
If you can get a language out there,
the youngsters are much more likely
to think it's cool."
Professor Crystal's comments follow
in the wake of the Bwrdd Yr Iaith
Gymraeg/Welsh Language Board strategy
document for IT and the Welsh language.
The Strategy aims to provide a framework
for Welsh language Information Technology
(IT) work in the future and hopes to lead
the way in innovative IT development.
The documents relating to the strategy
can be found by clicking on the following link:
Documents on Welsh Language Development.
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