The word on the street

16/08/07

One in five able to speak Welsh

One in five people in Wales now speak Welsh according to figures released at the National Eisteddfod recently. However more needs to be done if Welsh is to enjoy the same business status as English says Tracey Williams, founder of Job Trac Cymru, a recruitment firm for Welsh speakers and employment website Safle Swyddi.

In recent years the number of people who are able to speak Welsh have increased dramatically. In South Wales, where approximately 70% of Wales’ inhabitants live, around 20% are able to speak Welsh. In North Wales, particularly on the Isle of Anglesey, Welsh is definitely the currency of daily life with almost two-thirds able to speak the language.

The benefits of bilingualism (or multilingualism) are well documented.

In addition to being able to enjoy a number of different cultures, polyglots are empowered to ensure that the language of their ancestors will not die out as a result of other people’s choices.

There are also the economic advantages to consider.

In Wales today, employers are looking for people who can speak and work in both English and Welsh. This is partly reinforced by the Welsh Language Act of 1993 which stipulates that Welsh speakers should be able to have access to all public services in Welsh.

In making Welsh the business language of choice, however, more still needs to be done if we are to prevent repeats of the recent Thomas Cook incident.

A good place to start is more employers choosing to recruit people who are able to speak both Welsh and English and advertisements placed on recruitment sites through the medium of Welsh.

After all, it is proven that those who understand more than one language are able to think more flexibly and creatively and can communicate with a wider variety of people. This can only be a good thing in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Further information contact, M & M Communications on 079 5869 0659 or buzz@mandmcomms.com