Wales has plans in place to revive the Welsh language with one million speakers by 2050. [1] The government of Wales continues to encourage all businesses and organisations to provide Welsh translations wherever possible. This is of course a special focus for new businesses starting and based in Wales.
Language extinction is a concern for many languages. Throughout the world, many cultures look to preserve their past and history through language.
Maori is a great example of a language that has recovered from near extinction in New Zealand. Communities across New Zealand continued to teach and speak Maori. Their determination has resulted in an increase in bilingual New Zealanders and a being language saved.
Why Welsh must be valued
Welsh is a co-official language of the UK and therefore deserves to be held to the same level. This is why providing translation in it is incredibly important. Currently, the Welsh government is on its way to reaching its target with 874,700 people saying they are able to speak the Welsh language, an increase from 726,600 in 2008. [2]
Poor Welsh translation has not just led to embarrassment on behalf of companies. It has also led others to avoid the potential blunder by not translating at all. The less exposure the Welsh language receives, the further it sadly falls out of commonplace.
Another reason for the resistance in Welsh translation is due to the perceived lack of opportunities. With Wales being part of the UK and majorly English-speaking, some believe there is no point in translating.
However, this is not the case. While the Welsh population speaks English, it is its own country and has its own identity. Recognising this identity shows that you understand and have respect for the culture.
When it comes to selling to a Welsh audience, remember that 56.2% of consumers consider language more important than price. In fact, 74% of consumers consider purchasing again and staying loyal to a brand when aftersales care is written in their language.
Choosing the right translation service
Of course, cost still does come into play. DA Languages can provide competitively-priced translation without compromising on quality. We have worked with over 70 NHS trusts, local councils, and commercial businesses across the UK. We have Welsh translation experience for public sector bodies and private sector businesses who want to appeal and deliver in the languages.
DA Languages has over 20 years’ experience providing language services. We work with native speakers and local translators so there is the added benefit of local knowledge and cultural understanding.
Wales may not seem massively culturally-different from the rest of the UK but it has its own identity deserving of respect. After all, there are differences in language and dialect across England alone. The same definitely applied to Wales and its people. Our translators understand these differences and are therefore able to provide high quality and accurate Welsh translations that will not compromise on original messaging or intent.
As a language service provider, we don’t want to lose any languages to extinction and this is why we provide translations in over 450 languages. We want to ensure as many people as possible can access services and products in the language they understand.
Overall, the Welsh language is becoming more and more popular amongst the population of Wales with the number of speakers increasing year on year. Translating your materials, marketing, website and more into Welsh will see you reach a wider audience and help bring an important language back into the mainstream.
If you are interested in our translation services, get in touch and we will be happy to support you!
[1]https://inews.co.uk/news/education/well-million-speaking-welsh-2050-says-government-516172
[2]https://www.wolfestone.co.uk/blog/why-arent-businesses-taking-welsh-translation-seriously/
