Response from Mentrau Iaith Cymru
In response to the initial results of the slight reduction in the total numbers able to speak Welsh, from 562,000 in 2011 to 538 000 last year, Dewi Snelson, Mentrau Iaith Cymru chair, warned against over-reaction before the full picture comes to light.
“Whilst any reduction in the total is naturally disappointing, further analysis is required in order to see where the decline has taken place,” he said. “It is important to remember that the total number have varied slightly from census to census over the past few decades, and that this should not be used as a sole criterion in assessing the vitality of the language.
“What the Census figures do not really tell us is about how widely the language is used. The survival and growth of the Welsh language depends on getting more people to use it as well as the number claiming to be able to speak Welsh.
“From our perspective as Mentrau Iaith, our principal mission in all parts of Wales is to increase the use of the Welsh language. The Mentrau are making a vital contribution, but we need more support if we are to make a real difference. That is why we will be continuing to lobby the Welsh Government for more resources and funding for our work.
“One of the main causal factors in the sharp drop in the number of Welsh speakers after around 16-18 years-old is the lack of social and community use of the language outside the education system. This is at its most dramatic in those areas where the language is weakest in the community or in terms of networks. That is why there is a need to invest in the Mentrau so as to increase opportunities to speak Welsh across the length and breadth of Wales. We have not seen an increase in our funding since the results of the last census were announced – and it is therefore inevitable that our core capacity to hold events is that much weaker.
“In the meantime, the totals and percentages able to speak Welsh in different areas throughout Wales provide us with vital information for planning our work and that is why we are studying them carefully at the moment.”
Arwel Roberts, Chair of Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych: “Over the coming weeks and months we will be interpreting and understanding these results – and especially their significance for us here in Denbighshire. We look forward to continuing to work with partners to ensure that there are more opportunities for Denbighshire residents to learn, use and enjoy our language. The Welsh language belongs to us all”