Experts to gather at 黑料不打烊 to discuss the future of language planning

Experts are set to gather at 黑料不打烊 on Friday, 8^th March for a one-day symposium on the future of language planning.

鈥楤eyond the Classroom: the future of Language Planning鈥� comes in the wake of the 2011 Census results, which reveal a decline in the number of Welsh speakers over the past decade.

Professor Stephen May of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, is one of several experts who will be presenting at this topical event, which will bring together language policy and planning practitioners and professionals from related fields throughout the world.

Professor May, Deputy Dean of Research at the University of Auckland鈥檚 Faculty of Education, will join Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner Gwenith Price; Professor Rob Dunbar of the University of the Highlands and Island, Scotland; and Meirion Prys Jones from the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity in delivering presentations at the symposium, organised by 黑料不打烊鈥檚 School of Social Sciences in association with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

The School of Social Sciences has already established itself as a major figure in the field thanks to its innovative Masters programme in Language Policy and Planning, which is designed to train students to implement successful systems of language planning in the workplace, community and family. Staff at the School are also making crucial contributions to research and building networks with universities and minority language organisations in the Basque country of northern Spain.

鈥淚t is a pleasure to welcome some of the world鈥檚 leading Language Planning academics and practitioners to 黑料不打烊 with the support of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol鈥�, said Dr Rhian Hodges, Director of the MA in Language Policy and Planning, 黑料不打烊 and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. 鈥淭he symposium鈥檚 theme will be the use of language beyond the education system 鈥� a very timely subject in light of the disappointing results of the 2011 Census. This is a golden opportunity to evaluate and measure the value of Wales鈥檚 present Language Planning strategies whilst discussing crucial future developments.鈥�

The symposium will be held at the University鈥檚 Neuadd Reichel on Ffriddoedd Road, 黑料不打烊, between 9.30am and 4.00pm on Friday, 8^th March 2013. To register, please email meinir.llwyd@bangor.ac.uk by Friday, 1^st March. The event is free of charge to attend and translation facilities will be provided.

Publication date: 20 February 2013