Rhetoric and reality: critical review of language policy and legislation governing official minority language use in health and social care in Wales

A concerted attempt is being made by the Welsh Government to revitalize the Welsh language in Wales through language legislation and policy initiatives. This paper explores the political rhetoric and practical reality of these recent legislative developments, as they pertain to the health care sector. It offers a qualitative analysis of written evidence provided by key stakeholders during the consultation process on the new legally-binding requirements of Welsh Language Standards for health care providers in Wales. We argue that these meso-level service providers are critical linchpins within the health care system and that it is at the meso level that full tensions between the macro rhetoric and micro reality occur. This contribution highlights shortcomings and barriers to Welsh language service provision in health care in Wales and recommends the adoption of wide-ranging, holistic approaches to language planning that meet the language needs of patients outlined by the Welsh Government.Le gouvernement gallois mène présentement une action concertée en vue de revitaliser la langue galloise au pays de Galles grâce à des mesures législatives et à des initiatives stratégiques en matière linguistique. Cet article explore la rhétorique politique et la réalité pratique de ces récents développements législatifs en ce qui a trait aux soins de santé. Il propose une analyse qualitative des preuves écrites fournies par les principales parties prenantes lors du processus de consultation sur les nouvelles exigences juridiquement contraignantes des normes de conduite concernant l’emploi de la langue galloise, applicables aux prestataires de soins de santé. Nous soutenons que ces prestataires de services de niveau intermédiaire sont des pivots essentiels du système de santé et que c’est au niveau intermédiaire que les tensions entre macro-rhétorique et micro-réalité se produisent. Notre analyse met en évidence les lacunes et les obstacles à la prestation de services en gallois dans les soins de santé au pays de Galles et recommande l’adoption d’approches holistiques dans la planification linguistique qui répondent aux besoins linguistiques des patients décrits par le gouvernement.Gwelir ymgais gan Lywodraeth Cymru i adfywio’r Gymraeg yng Nghymru trwy bolisi iaith a deddfwriaeth. Mae’r papur hwn yn archwilio i’r rhethreg wleidyddol a’r realiti ymarferol y datblygiadau deddfwriaethol diweddar hyn, yn benodol yn y sector gofal iechyd. Mae’r papur hwn yn cynnig dadansoddiad o’r dystiolaeth ysgrifenedig a gasglwyd gan rhanddeiliaid yn ystod y broses ymgynghori i ofynion cyfreithiol Safonau’r Iaith Cymraeg ar gyfer darparwyr gofal iechyd yng Nghymru. Rydym yn dadlau fod y darparwyr gwasanaethau lefel meso hyn yn gyswllt hanfodol yn y system gofal iechyd a’i bod yn lleoliad ble mae tensiynau rhwng rhethreg lefel macro Llywodraeth Cymru a realiti lefel micro’r darparwyr gwasanaeth iechyd yn cael ei amlygu. Mae’r cyfraniad hwn yn tynnu sylw at ddiffygion a rhwystrau i ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau iaith Cymraeg mewn gofal iechyd yng Nghymru ac yn argymell mabwysiadu dulliau cyfannol eang o gynllunio iaith sy’n diwallu anghenion iaith cleifion a amlinellwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru

The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies

New language technologies are coming, thanks to the huge and competing private investment fuelling rapid progress; we can either understand and foresee their effects, or be taken by surprise and spend our time trying to catch up. This report scketches out some transformative new technologies that are likely to fundamentally change our use of language. Some of these may feel unrealistically futuristic or far-fetched, but a central purpose of this report - and the wider LITHME network - is to illustrate that these are mostly just the logical development and maturation of technologies currently in prototype. But will everyone benefit from all these shiny new gadgets? Throughout this report we emphasise a range of groups who will be disadvantaged and issues of inequality. Important issues of security and privacy will accompany new language technologies. A further caution is to re-emphasise the current limitations of AI. Looking ahead, we see many intriguing opportunities and new capabilit ...showmor

The Dawn of the Human-Machine Era: A forecast of new and emerging language technologies

New language technologies are coming, thanks to the huge and competing private investment fuelling rapid progress; we can either understand and foresee their effects, or be taken by surprise and spend our time trying to catch up. This report scketches out some transformative new technologies that are likely to fundamentally change our use of language. Some of these may feel unrealistically futuristic or far-fetched, but a central purpose of this report - and the wider LITHME network - is to illustrate that these are mostly just the logical development and maturation of technologies currently in prototype. But will everyone benefit from all these shiny new gadgets? Throughout this report we emphasise a range of groups who will be disadvantaged and issues of inequality. Important issues of security and privacy will accompany new language technologies. A further caution is to re-emphasise the current limitations of AI. Looking ahead, we see many intriguing opportunities and new capabilities, but a range of other uncertainties and inequalities. New devices will enable new ways to talk, to translate, to remember, and to learn. But advances in technology will reproduce existing inequalities among those who cannot afford these devices, among the world’s smaller languages, and especially for sign language. Debates over privacy and security will flare and crackle with every new immersive gadget. We will move together into this curious new world with a mix of excitement and apprehension - reacting, debating, sharing and disagreeing as we always do. Plug in, as the human-machine era dawns