A Review of the Work of Mentrau Iaith, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme
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A Review of the Work of Mentrau Iaith, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme Language, Policy and Planning Research Unit, School of Welsh, Cardiff UniversityUniversity,, and Sbectrwm Consultancy 1 A Review of the Work of Mentrau Iaith, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme D:\Dropbox\Prifysgol Caerdydd\2013 Adolygiad Mentrau Iaith, CGI, Aman Tawe\Adroddiad\20140114 AD S Review of the Mentrau Iaith, the Language Action Plans, and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme.docx 2 A Review of the Work of Mentrau Iaith, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme A Review of the Work of Mentrau IaitIaith,h, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme An independent review for the Welsh Government by Dr Jeremy Evas, Professor Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost, and Professor Colin H. Williams, Language, Policy and Plan- ning Research Unit, School of Welsh, Cardiff University, with Cefin Campbell, Sbectrwm Consultancy http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/welsh/ http://www.sbectrwm.com D:\Dropbox\Prifysgol Caerdydd\2013 Adolygiad Mentrau Iaith, CGI, Aman Tawe\Adroddiad\20140114 AD S Review of the Mentrau Iaith, the Language Action Plans, and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme.docx 3 A Review of the Work of Mentrau Iaith, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme 111 Table of Contents 1 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 3 2 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Meeting requirements............................................................................................... 6 2.3 Evaluating Language Planning at Micro Level ........................................................ 6 2.4 Possible Improvements to Language Promotion Structures .................................. 6 2.5 Resources and Training ............................................................................................ 7 2.6 Welsh Government Strategic Leadership ................................................................ 7 2.7 Collaborative Strength .............................................................................................. 7 3 List of Recommendations................................................................................................ 9 4 Introduction to the Field ................................................................................................ 11 4.1 The Review’s Scope ................................................................................................ 11 4.2 The Development of Mentrau Iaith: Context ......................................................... 12 4.3 Establishing the Language Action Plans: Context ................................................. 13 4.4 Establishing the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme: Context ................. 16 5 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 18 5.1 Desktop Research ................................................................................................... 20 5.2 A note on confidentiality ......................................................................................... 20 5.3 Themes .................................................................................................................... 20 6 Fieldwork Results: Mentrau Iaith .................................................................................. 22 6.1 Funding Matters ...................................................................................................... 22 6.1.1 Funding the Mentrau Iaith Today .................................................................... 22 6.1.2 Funding the Mentrau Iaith in Future ............................................................... 23 6.2 Structures of the Mentrau ...................................................................................... 24 6.2.1 Does every County in Wales need a Menter Iaith? ........................................ 24 6.2.2 Developing the role of the Mentrau Iaith ....................................................... 26 6.2.3 Developing the Role of Mentrau Iaith Cymru? ............................................... 27 6.2.4 Are the Mentrau doing work that others should be doing?........................... 30 6.3 Working in Partnership ........................................................................................... 31 6.3.1 Sharing Good Practice between Organisations ............................................. 31 6.3.2 Partnerships between the Mentrau ................................................................ 32 6.3.3 Partnerships and External Contacts ............................................................... 33 6.3.4 Are the Mentrau duplicating the work of others? .......................................... 34 6.3.5 Mentrau Iaith, Local Authorities and other bodies: strategic collaboration? 35 6.3.6 VIews of Partners: Mentrau and strategic collaboration ............................... 37 6.4 Working Strategically............................................................................................... 38 6.4.1 The role of the Mentrau Iaith: further development? .................................... 41 6.4.2 The Organisations Consider their Own Work ................................................. 42 6.4.3 Mainstreaming economic considerations ...................................................... 44 6.4.4 Strategic Fit ...................................................................................................... 46 6.5 Activities ................................................................................................................... 47 6.5.1 The suitability of the range of activities .......................................................... 47 6.5.2 Grassroots activities ........................................................................................ 48 6.6 Management/Administrative Aspects ................................................................... 50 6.6.1 Vision, work programme and data collection ................................................. 50 6.6.2 Measuring linguistic outcomes and impact ................................................... 51 6.6.3 Success of activities and their appropriate and robust management ......... 52 D:\Dropbox\Prifysgol Caerdydd\2013 Adolygiad Mentrau Iaith, CGI, Aman Tawe\Adroddiad\20140114 AD S Review of the Mentrau Iaith, the Language Action Plans, and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme.docx 4 A Review of the Work of Mentrau Iaith, Language Action Plans and the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme 6.6.4 Wider impact beyond core linguistic objectives ............................................. 53 6.6.5 Tailoring to local needs and audiences to reach. .......................................... 53 6.6.6 Innovation ......................................................................................................... 54 6.6.7 Training, support and promotions................................................................... 55 6.6.8 Constitutional Items ......................................................................................... 56 6.6.9 The role of Volunteers ...................................................................................... 56 6.6.10 The Role of Steering Committee Members .................................................... 57 7 Fieldwork Results: Language Action Plans ................................................................... 58 7.1 Welsh Government funding levels ......................................................................... 58 7.2 Is there a need for Language Action Plans in other areas of Wales? .................. 58 7.3 Developing the role of Language Action Plans further? ....................................... 58 7.4 An appropriate range of activities .......................................................................... 59 7.4.1 Does the LAP duplicate the work of others? .................................................. 59 7.5 LAP and partnership work ....................................................................................... 59 7.6 The effectiveness of the LAP in terms of measuring outcomes and impact? ..... 60 7.7 Would it be advantageous to merge the Mentrau and LAPs? .............................. 60 7.8 Structures to ensure effective working? ................................................................ 60 8 Fieldwork results: the Aman Tawe Language Promotion Scheme ............................. 62 8.1 What are the barriers to multi-agency partnership work? .................................... 64 8.2 Organisations’ operational philosophy .................................................................. 65 9 Themes for consideration .............................................................................................. 67 9.1 How to measure success of Community Language Intervention? ....................... 67 10 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 68 10.1 Strengthening Partnerships ................................................................................ 69 10.2 The way