Cymraeg

Croesawu arolwg ar y defnydd o’r iaith Gymraeg

Published

11 years ago

February 16, 2015

CROESAWODD Carwyn Jones, Prif Weinidog Cymru, a Meri Huws, Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, gyhoeddiad arolwg manwl o’r ffordd y mae pobl yn defnyddio’r

“Canlyniadau cadarnhaol ar gyfer yr iaith Gymraeg”: Meri Huws .

Gymraeg.

Mae Arolwg Defnydd Iaith 2013- 15 yn arolwg a gomisiynwyd ar y cyd sy’n rhoi darlun cynhwysfawr o’r defnydd y mae siaradwyr Cymraeg yn ei wneud o’r iaith.

Holwyd cwestiynau eang i oedolion a phlant sy’n siarad Cymraeg i weld pa mor dda y gallant siarad yr iaith, pa mor aml, ble a phryd y maent yn ei ddefnyddio ac â phwy. Mae’r adroddiad heddiw yn darparu’r canlyniadau o flwyddyn gyntaf yr arolwg (2013-14).

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r rheini sy’n rhugl yn siarad Cymraeg bob dydd ac yn defnyddio’r iaith yn rheolaidd i gael gafael ar wasanaethau ac yn y gweithle. Hefyd, mae mwy o bobl yn siarad ychydig o Gymraeg neu ychydig o eiriau yn unig. Ar yr un pryd, mae nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg rhugl yng Nghymru ychydig yn is yn gyffredinol o’i gymharu â’r arolwg blaenorol (ond nid i raddau arwyddocaol yn ystadegol).

Mae’r arolwg hwn yn edrych ar y defnydd a wneir o’r iaith. Ond canlyniadau Cyfrifiad 2011 yw’r ffynhonnell awdurdodol o wybodaeth o hyd am y tueddiadau yn nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg, am eu bod yn cynnig tueddiad hanesyddol hirdymor dibynadwy a data ar gyfer ardaloedd bach yng Nghymru.

Dywedodd Carwyn Jones, y Prif Weinidog: “Rwy’n falch iawn ein bod wedi cydweithio â Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg ar yr arolwg pwysig hwn – mae’n rhoi darlun amserol a defnyddiol iawn o’r defnydd a wneir o’r iaith ar draws Cymru. Mae llawer o bethau cadarnhaol yng nghanfyddiadau’r adroddiad ond mae yna heriau o’n blaenau hefyd. Mae’n adeg hollbwysig i’r iaith ac rydym, fel Llywodraeth, yn parhau’n benderfynol o fynd i’r afael â’r heriau hyn a sicrhau bod gan yr iaith ddyfodol ffyniannus a diogel. Mae annog pobl i ddefnyddio’r iaith yn eu bywydau bob dydd wrth wraidd Bwrw Mlaen, ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer dyfodol yr iaith. Bydd y Safonau newydd, a gaiff eu cyflwyno gerbron y Cynulliad ym mis Mawrth, hefyd yn garreg filltir bwysig gan greu hawliau cyfreithiol clir. Mae’n hanfodol bod pobl yn cael cyfle i ymarfer eu Cymraeg a magu hyder, a hynny mewn addysg, yn y gweithle neu’n gymdeithasol. Mae llawer iawn o waith da eisoes yn mynd rhagddo ar draws Cymru sy’n atgyfnerthu ein gweledigaeth o ganolbwyntio ar gynyddu’r defnydd o’r iaith a nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg. Drwy gydweithio gallwn adeiladu ar hyn a sicrhau iaith fyw ar gyfer y dyfodol.”

Dywedodd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, Meri Huws: “Roedd cydweithio â’r Llywodraeth ar gomisiynu’r gwaith ymchwil sylweddol hwn yn bwysig i mi. Mae’n rhoi sail dystiolaeth gadarn; a bydd yn fy ngalluogi i fel Comisiynydd, y Llywodraeth a’r llu o sefydliadau a mudiadau sy’n gweithio tuag at wneud y Gymraeg yn ganolog i fywyd yng Nghymru i gynllunio’n gwaith a’n blaenoriaethau. Gall data ac ymchwil arwain at ganlyniadau cadarnhaol i ddefnyddwyr y Gymraeg, fel y mae’r ymateb i’n hymholiad i faes gofal sylfaenol wedi ei brofi. Adroddiad interim yw hwn, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld cyhoeddi’r adroddiad llawn, yn seiliedig ar ragor o dystiolaeth, erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Un o swyddogaethau Comisiynydd y Gymraeg yw cynhyrchu adroddiad pum mlynedd ar sefyllfa’r Gymraeg. Bydd canfyddiadau’r arolwg hwn yn bwysig wrth i mi baratoi’r adroddiad hwnnw a bydd yn cyfoethogi’r ddealltwriaeth ynglŷn â safle’r iaith mewn gwahanol agweddau ar fywyd gan unigolion a chymunedau ar draws Cymru.”

Community

Comedy in the Pavilion: Elis James at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las

Published

7 days ago

April 11, 2026

Richard Lewis

COMEDIAN Elis James will take to the Pavilion stage at the National Eisteddfod for the first time this year, performing on Wednesday, August 5 as part of the festival programme. Entry to the gig is included in the Maes day ticket, and with strong roots in the area, his return promises an evening of laughter and a warm homecoming atmosphere.

Famous for making quick connections with people from across Wales on his podcast ‘Elis & John’ on BBC Sounds, Elis will no doubt receive a warm welcome at the National Eisteddfod, arguably one of the best places in the world to connect with fellow Welsh people. With his observational comedy, often inspired by his upbringing in west Wales, this is expected to be an evening full of humour, marking the halfway point of the Eisteddfod week.

Elis said: “I’m very excited. I’ve never done stand-up in the Pavilion before. Mam will be there, I’m sure other members of the family will be there too, but don’t worry, I’m one of those people who is funny under pressure!”

Betsan Moses, the Eisteddfod’s Chief Executive, added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Elis back home to the Garreg Las area.

“As a Welsh comedy giant, we’re looking forward to a night of humour in his company, reflecting the true spirit of the Eisteddfod.”

Elis was born in Haverfordwest and raised in Carmarthen. He’s a comedian, podcast presenter, actor and broadcaster. Since 2014, he’s presented a radio show with his friend and fellow comedian, John Robins, originally on Radio X before moving to BBC 5 Live in 2019.

Among the UK’s most popular comedians, Elis toured Wales with his show Derwydd in 2024, recording a performance at Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre. He has since returned to English‑language stand‑up after a ten‑year break.

Day Maes tickets, which include admission to the gig, are available on the Eisteddfod website.

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las will be held in Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire between August 1 and August 8.

Cymraeg

Everyday spaces key to future of Welsh language

Published

4 weeks ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

EVERYDAY use of the Welsh language must extend beyond classrooms into workplaces, communities and online spaces if it is to thrive, according to a new report.

The study, published by the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities, highlights the need for greater investment in the social, cultural and digital environments where people live their daily lives.

The report, Cymraeg in every community: strengthening the Welsh language, focuses on areas where fewer than 40% of people speak Welsh. It examines how the language can become a more natural part of everyday life in these communities.

The Commission says that while education remains vital, it cannot carry the responsibility alone. Young people must have opportunities to use Welsh outside school, particularly in activities they enjoy such as sport, youth groups and cultural events.

Among its recommendations is the creation of a dedicated fund to boost Welsh-language content online, including support for young people producing digital media in Welsh.

The report builds on earlier work published in August 2024, which focused on areas with higher numbers of Welsh speakers.

Commission co-chair Dr Simon Brooks said: “To ensure Welsh is a national language that belongs to us all, its future as a community language must be secured in every part of Wales. We urge the next Welsh Government to act on these recommendations with ambition.”

Co-chair Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones added that there is strong appetite to use Welsh, but a lack of spaces to do so.

She said: “More than half of Welsh speakers live in areas where fewer than 40% of people speak the language. Public policy must create the right conditions for Welsh to flourish in everyday settings, with real investment in the spaces where people spend their time.”

She also pointed to international examples, including the Basque Country, where communities have actively created environments for their language to be used naturally.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford, said the Welsh Government remained committed to its target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

He said: “Significant progress has already been made, with 17 recommendations from the Commission’s first report implemented during this Senedd term. This latest report provides a strong foundation to build on that momentum.”

Cymraeg

National Eisteddfod unveils legacy framework to boost Welsh language and communities

Published

4 weeks ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW national framework aimed at securing a lasting legacy from the National Eisteddfod has been published jointly by the festival’s organisers and the Welsh Government.

The plan sets out how the Eisteddfod’s impact will be strengthened before, during and after each annual event, bringing together partners from across education, community development, culture, the economy and the Welsh language sector.

While each Eisteddfod reflects the identity of its host community, the framework aims to ensure long-term benefits are consistently delivered nationwide, rather than limited to the festival period.

The legacy programme will cover a wide range of areas including education, inclusion, digital innovation, volunteering and economic development, with new national and local structures designed to coordinate delivery more effectively.

A national project board will oversee the strategy, setting direction and sharing best practice year-on-year. At a local level, a steering group will drive community-based work, helping turn the Eisteddfod into a catalyst for lasting change.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford said the festival’s impact goes far beyond a single week.

“The Eisteddfod is far more than a week-long festival. It is a multi-year project that leaves a lasting legacy for the Welsh language and culture in the area,” he said.

“By bringing together partners from across key sectors, this framework will help deliver real and lasting change for our communities and support our ambition of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

Nic Parry, President of the Eisteddfod Court and Chair of its Management Board, said the framework strengthens collaboration at both local and national level.