Two contrasting stories have appeared in the news over recent weeks highlighting the challenges facing the Welsh language. On a humorous note, Swansea’s council have run into problems here.

 

Milford Haven are consideringopting out of providing language resources as demand is seen as very low. 

The stated aim of the Welsh Assembly is to provide the resources for Wales to be a truly bilingual country, and see it as “integral to the identity of (the) nation”. This only works however if and when the provision of the state is met by the demands of the people and communities.

The challenge is I’m increasingly finding, is the ability of organisations to provide fluent second Language speakers to fulfil the role of translators. The progress in schools in providing Welsh education continues to bear fruit but it these skills are still in low supply in the present workforce.  There is a requirement for all public bodies to provide content in Welsh as well as English to support the aims of the government, but without staff who are capable of providing translation services this can become a costly exercise.

Whilst this challenge remains a major obstacle it is heartening to learn that we here at Microsoft are contrinuing to invest in the Local Language Program that provides  localisation packs free for download to licensed users of Windows in XP and now in Vista, as well as both Office 2003 and now in the latest version, Office 2007.