Cymraeg

Llenyddiaeth Cymru yn ymladd yn ôl

Published

9 years ago

July 7, 2017

BEIRNIADWYD Llywodraeth Cymru adroddiad sy’n edrych ar y cymorth a roddir i gyhoeddi yng Nghymru.

Comisiynwyd yr adolygiad eang ei gwmpas gan Ken Skates ym mis Medi 2015 a’i gadeirio gan yr Athro Medwin Hughes i ystyried prif amcanion Llywodraeth Cymru wrth gefnogi cyhoeddi a llenyddiaeth yng Nghymru ac i ystyried a oedd yr amcanion hynny’n parhau’n addas ar gyfer yr 21ain ganrif.

Ystyriwyd hefyd y gefnogaeth gyfredol ar gyfer cyhoeddi a llenyddiaeth yng Nghymru, y berthynas rhwng y cyrff sy’n gyfrifol am roi’r gefnogaeth, effaith datblygiadau digidol ar y diwydiant cyhoeddi a threfniadau gweinyddol cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i wasanaeth newyddion Cymraeg ar-lein.

Gan siarad yn y Senedd, croesawodd Ysgrifennydd yr Economi gyfraniad y cyrff partner a’r cyhoedd i’r adolygiad a dywedodd ei fod yn dangos y pwysigrwydd a roddir i draddodiad llenyddol cyfoethog Cymru a’i diwydiant cyhoeddi byrlymus.

Dywedodd Ken Skates: “Mae adroddiad yr adolygiad o gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cyhoeddi a llenyddiaeth yng Nghymru wedi cyrraedd. Mae’n crynhoi’r dystiolaeth a roddwyd gan gyrff partner, y diwydiant a’r cyhoedd.

“Mae’r panel yn cydnabod y myrdd arferion da a’r gefnogaeth effeithiol i gyhoeddi a llenyddiaeth y dylid eu cadw a’u datblygu at y dyfodol.

“Mae’n enwi’r meysydd lle mae angen i’r gefnogaeth esblygu i ddiwallu anghenion yr oes ddigidol a chafwyd hefyd dystiolaeth glir bod yna broblemau go iawn mewn rhai meysydd, o ran cynllunio strategol, pennu blaenoriaethau, llywodraethiant, rheoli risg, gwariant a sicrhau bod gweithgareddau’n llwydo i gyflawni’r canlyniadau sydd eu hangen arnom.

“Mae’r adroddiad rwy’n ei gyhoeddi heddiw yn cynnig cyfres o argymhellion. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru, a rhai eraill ar gyfer y diwydiant a’r prif gyrff cyflawni.

“O ystyried cryfder a grym y dystiolaeth a ddaeth i law, rwy’n bwriadu derbyn y prif argymhellion a bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn awr yn gweithio gyda’r cyrff perthnasol i’w rhoi ar waith.”

Yn ei adroddiad, mae’r panel yn cynnig dadl gref bod Llywodraeth Cymru’n parhau i roi cefnogaeth ariannol briodol i draddodiad llenyddol dwyieithog Cymru er mwyn iddo allu parhau i ffynnu yn y 21ain ganrif, i sicrhau ei effaith ryngwladol ac i helpu pobl ledled Cymru i’w fwynhau a chymryd rhan ynddo.

Mae’n dadlau dros ddiwydiant cyhoeddi cryf ac arloesol sy’n cynnal swyddi o ansawdd uchel, sy’n cystadlu ar y llwyfan ryngwladol ac sy’n caniatáu i lenorion proffesiynol o bob cefndir i ddatblygu gyrfa yng Nghymru.

Mae’r adroddiad yn cynnwys cyfres o argymhellion y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru’n ymateb yn ffurfiol iddynt maes o law.

Un o’r rheini yw y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru geisio cytundeb gyda Chyngor Llyfrau Cymru i ysgwyddo rhai o gyfrifoldebau Llenyddiaeth Cymru, gan gynnwys Llyfr y Flwyddyn (er mwyn cynyddu ei impact masnachol), bwrsariaethau, gwyliau llenyddol a Llenorion ar Daith a’r ddarpariaeth ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc.

Dywedodd Ysgrifennydd yr Economi: “Mae rhai o’r newidiadau sy’n cael eu hargymell yn fawr ond maen nhw’n ymateb i anghenion penodol mewn maes penodol. Nid ydynt yn fesur mewn unrhyw ffordd o waith da ehangach y Cyngor Celfyddydau na Llenyddiaeth Cymru gan gynnwys y ffordd wych y maen nhw’n cynnal digwyddiadau a gweithgareddau mawr sy’n gysylltiedig â’n blynyddoedd thematig. Bydd y rheini’n parhau heb eu newid.

“Rwyf wedi cael fy argyhoeddi bod angen cymryd y camau hyn i greu fframwaith o gymorth ar gyfer cyhoeddi a llenyddiaeth sy’n fwy effeithiol ac sy’n addas ar gyfer y dyfodol.”

Adroddiad Fodd bynnag, bu beirniadu ar gyfer diffyg amhleidioldeb a diffyg arbenigedd ymhlith aelodaeth y Pwyllgor.

Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor, yr Athro Medwin Hughes yn ar y Bwrdd o wasg Prifysgol Cymru. Honnir y golygai ei safbwynt ar y wasg Prifysgol Cymru nad oedd achos o wrthdaro buddiannau yn ei rôl ar y Pwyllgor. Tra roedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ceisio osgoi’r broblem honno drwy eithrio cyhoeddi academaidd o gylch gwaith y Pwyllgor, yn absenoldeb cyhoeddwr unig academaidd Cymru o’r adolygiad ystyrir mor anghyson.

Mae’r panel hefyd drwy gamgymeriad yn cyfuno grantiau ymlaen llaw awdur y Cyngor Llyfrau â bwrsariaethau llenyddiaeth Cymru.

Nid oes unrhyw ariannu dwbl, fel yr honna’r adroddiad.

Cafodd Llenyddiaeth Cymru gyfarfod gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a’i swyddogion i godi pryderon difrifol ynghylch yr Adolygiad i Gyhoeddi a Llenyddiaeth. Ymhlith rhain, mae pryderon ynghylch y dystiolaeth a gynhigiwyd yn yr adolygiad a’i berthynas â’r argymhellion.

Dywedodd Datganiad gan Llenyddiaeth Cymru: ‘Mae Llenyddiaeth Cymru yn falch o fod wedi cynnal, mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, nifer o brosiectau sylweddol sydd wedi ehangu’r cyswllt â llenyddiaeth yn ei holl ffurfiau. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys: Menter Datblygu Llenyddiaeth De Cymru, prosiectau cymunedol yng Nghanolfan Ysgrifennu Tŷ Newydd, Roald Dahl 100 Cymru, Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru, Bardd Plant Cymru, Awdur Ieuenctid Cymru, Y Lolfa Lên, Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Dylan Thomas, Her 100 Cerdd, a datblygiadau newydd mewn twristiaeth lenyddol.

‘Gan weithio’n agos ag ystod eang o awduron ac unigolion sy’n gweithio ym maes llenyddiaeth, mae Llenyddiaeth Cymru yn ymrwymedig i sbarduno a dathlu rhagoriaeth lenyddol, ymestyn y diffiniad o lenyddiaeth, ei ddemocrateiddio ac ehangu ei gyrhaeddiad.

‘Mae Llenyddiaeth Cymru yn rhan o drafodaethau parhaus â’r rhanddeiliaid allweddol er mwyn datblygu strategaethau a fydd yn fuddiol i’r sector drwyddi draw’.

Community

Number of Welsh speakers falls for second year running

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE NUMBER of Welsh speakers living in Wales has fallen for the second year in a row, according to the latest annual population survey.

Figures published on Wednesday (Apr 22) show that 844,300 people aged three and over were able to speak Welsh in the year ending December 31, 2025.

That represents 27.3% of the population.

The figure is down from 896,300, or 29.2%, in the year ending December 31, 2023.

Despite the recent fall, the overall trend since 2010 remains upward. In March 2010, the survey recorded 731,000 Welsh speakers in Wales, equivalent to 25.2% of the population.

The Welsh Government said the latest data showed that the number of Welsh speakers had “declined in general over the past two years”, but added that the longer-term picture since 2010 was still one of growth.

However, officials have also urged caution when interpreting the figures.

The Annual Population Survey has seen falling sample sizes in recent years, and the estimates have not been reweighted to the latest population estimates. As a result, the Office for Statistics Regulation has agreed that the figures should no longer be treated as accredited official statistics for the time being.

The Welsh Government says the census remains the key source for measuring the number of Welsh speakers in Wales.

According to census data, the number of Welsh speakers was 582,400 in 2001, 562,000 in 2011, and 538,300 in 2021.

Cardiff had the highest estimated number of Welsh speakers in the 2025 survey, with 96,800, followed by Gwynedd with 91,300 and Carmarthenshire with 88,100.

The lowest estimated numbers were in Blaenau Gwent, with 8,200, and Merthyr Tydfil, with 10,200.

Gwynedd had the highest estimated percentage of Welsh speakers, at 74.7%, followed by Anglesey at 63.5%.

The lowest percentages were recorded in Blaenau Gwent, at 12.1%, and Bridgend, at 15.5%.

Children and young people aged three to fifteen remain the age group most likely to speak Welsh, with 48.8%, or 237,900, reporting that they could do so.

But the percentage of children and young people able to speak Welsh has generally fallen since the start of 2019.

The survey also found that 14.5% of people aged three and over, around 448,800 people, said they spoke Welsh daily.

A further 4.9%, or 151,200 people, said they spoke Welsh weekly, while 6.5%, or 200,400 people, said they spoke it less often.

Around 43,500 people said they could speak Welsh but never did so.

The figures also showed that 31.5% of people could understand spoken Welsh, 24.9% could read Welsh, and 22.3% could write in Welsh.

Community

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

Published

2 weeks 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

1 month 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.”