A post-Brexit language plan has to put Welsh-speaking communities first

I'll worry about that if Brexit happens. The priority for the language (and multiple other reasons) is to stop Brexit. The whole English nationalist mentality that goes with Brexit is detrimental to the Welsh language. If Brexit does happen, this will be reinforced.

The only bit I don't get in this one, is what has Brexit got to do with anything. I guess it's bound to have an affect one way or the other, but isn't this thinking one that stands on it's own, whatever happens with Brexit. Why divide opinions when it's Brexit neutral.

Why countering the EU's and UK's disdain for national sovereignty (and Brexit was a first step in that direction) is important for Welsh identity and language. The case for national sovereignty : http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/why-i-wrote-a-radical-democratic-defence-of-populism/20231#Brexit

We urgently need an economic region for Cymraeg. Our native language must be seen as economically viable beyond public sector government jobs, a language through which young people can be bankers, factory owners, business owners and venture capitalists. I fully endorse a plan to establish a large Welsh-speaking region across the west centred around economic growth. On one condition: it must not become an experiment used to promote left-wing economic ideologies. Welsh-speakers need jobs of economic strength in their language, and the establishment of financial institutions which operate through the medium of Cymraeg.

Look after local young people, give them jobs and a future and the welsh language will "mostly" look after itself. Dont look after young people as has been the case for 40 years plus in ceredigion and they will leave.

It was remarkable riding the Traws Cymru up to Bangor from Haverfordwest (Slow yes, a clear clear indicator of the state of our transport links yes. But the way the language changed around me from default English to default Welsh was a thing of beauty. It really showed how important those stronghold are.

First? No mate, both languages are equal. Strange how equal keeps being misinterpreted as giving priority to Welsh on this site.

An excellent contribution by Aled Gwyn: those of you who speak Welsh might well be interested to read his article on Cymru Rydd, of which this piece is largely a condensation. If it is not fatally anoraky to express excitement about anything to do with local government, may I say that I do find the concept of Arfor genuinely exciting. There's just one question about it that niggles a bit, and I'd be glad to hear any suggestions: what to do with Pembrokeshire, which, despite a Welsh-speaking north is not suitable for inclusion, but would be cut off by S. Carmarthenshire from the other counties with which it could sensibly combine in the proposed regional groupings. Any suggestions?

Many young Welsh speakers (be aware) have had to leave the Welsh speaking areas to find jobs.....only public sector working young people have stayed behind. Those with qualifications generally also leave the area. I keep meeting many Young Welshies in SE England while I worked there, but we are so scattered, I had little chance to practice my Cymraeg.....online chat helps though!...Meet a Welsh speaking group on a multiplayer racing game online! Da wir!

I think anarchist philosophy could be very suitable for the type of authority suggested for the Welsh-speaking areas. All right, I know that the word "anarchist" may be a turn off- but bear with me. I'm still looking for a word which can sum up this wonderful concept in more palatable terms for people! These areas are instinctively communitarian and co-operative in nature- this is true of the whole of Wales- but maybe the very nature of the Welsh language itself actually intensifies these features in Y Fro Gymraeg. I know there is this popular idea that Welsh is the preserve of the "Crachach"( posh and socially connected people) popularised by Labour politicians: but the truth of the matter is that Welsh is a tremendous leveller at a community level. There is just something very, very special about the bond between people speaking a minority language in a community, which goes way beyond "nationalism": it's almost akin to a spiritual bond in a way. There's just this intense connection between speakers. I'd like to see this new authority reflect this wonderfully democratic nature of Welsh itself. So, what about doing away with the ridiculoulsy hierachical nature of our modern councils? No blatant top down management, with senior officers doing very well thank you very much and the ordinary workers on much less. And no Cabinet system which encourages councillors to become indistinguishable from officers. Let's show the rest of Wales that the Welsh-speaking areas can devise a form of communitarian democracy, where the emphasis is on ensuring that Welsh is sustained and developed securely and not developing a career structure for a select few at the top! A flat-based organisation where the pay levels between top and bottom are no more than say 3:1, say £60,000 tops and £20,000 at the other end. Let's show our fellow countrymen that Welsh is not only a wonderful language, but that it's also a democratic language that reflects who we are as a people.

Perhaps we could ALL mobilise for a beach clean and litter pick in the areas mentioned and speak Welsh and talk Nationalism with each other instead of going round in circles on here?

The decline of the rural economy isn’t a recent phenomenon, it started with the industrial revolution. Like all change, leaving the EU and new trade relationships when (if) they happen, will create threats and opportunities. New Zealand and its rural/agricultural economy faced and overcame similar challenges when the UK joined the Common Market One take on devolution is that it transferred responsibilities from Westminster which had the resources to fix the economic decline of Wales but no political will or incentive to do so. My fear is that the creation of the Arfor region would lead to the onward transfer of responsibilities from Cardiff Bay to the new regional authorities without the necessary resources (cash) following. Cities and city regions are still considered to be the economic powerhouses of nations and young people in particular are drawn to their buzz. But we now live in a digital age and are on the threshold of a new AI driven industrial revolution. Could this lead to a new technology driven, dynamic, high quality of life, attractive rural economy? We need more research. Yes, there’s probably potential for more money to be made out tourism in Wales. Tourist tax, yes and any way of ensuring wealth created in the local community stays in the local community. But tourism is notorious for its negative effects on language and culture too. Good jobs and family businesses will help to keep more young people in the community where they were brought up. Networking is key. Why are people from outside local communities apparently so successful? Any strategy for the development of rural Wales has to ensure obstacles to local people competing for jobs or obtaining loan and mentoring to start businesses are removed- and of course tackle the thorny problem of the unconstrained housing and rental market! In terms of strategies to address the decline of Welsh as a community language, I think there needs to be more emphasis on interventions at the point of language use. For example, why might fewer people use Welsh language services or opportunities – at an ATM, enquiries at a council office, a library, in the pub- than might be expected from the number of Welsh speakers in the area? Understand the barriers, implement solutions, evaluate their effectiveness, discard unsentimentally anything that isn’t working and share good practice – and yes, there needs to be a drive to recruit new learners –more incentives and more support for learners and more support for organisations, for example, who wish to give time off to their staff to improve their Welsh.

Brexit will not impact either positively or negatively on campaigns to safeguard and expand the use of Welsh. Neither Westminster nor Brussels will lift a finger for us and we have to do it ourselves. The market economy has contributed to the erosion of the use of the language since the year dot, and an economic plan such as Arfor is potentially an excellent way to make capitalism work for the Welsh language by making Welsh a language of economic development, whether funded by the private or the public sector. Let's do it now! It could also help to make us less dependent on that other scourge of Welsh culture, namely, tourism, but even if Arfor succeeds, Wales will still be blighted by tourism for many years in the future unless we can find a way of gradually closing it down and giving a viable economic alternative to those Welsh people who live by it. Perhaps Arfor or a similar project could address itself to that trick problem. We have a government in Cardiff Bay. They need to address all this issue of a Welsh-language-based economy.

I like Arfor and how it describes the area. As a thought though - The origins of Cymru are telling - proto-celtic word could be Kom and mrogis - Kom =with, together and mrogis being region or country. Komrogi - regions together. I know there are other theories - brothers together etc, but maybe the precursors of Wales were debating these very same things.