It's almost half a century since Saunders Lewis, the well known dramatist and one of the founders of Plaid Cymru, made his influencial radio lecture 'Tynged yr Iaith' (Fate of the Language). Lewis, who was born and brought up in Wallasey, predicted the rapid demise of the Welsh language during the second half of the 20C, without 'revolutionary' changes, and sensed the precarious condition of the remaining Welsh speaking communities. This lecture was to be a major catalyst for the formation of 'Cymdeithas yr Iaith Cymraeg' (The Welsh Language Society), who started a campaign of non-violent direct action to try to get official status for the Welsh language, and later on for the establishment of Welsh langage radio and television stations.
This week 'Cymdeithas yr Iaith' broadcast 'Tynged yr Iaith 2', which seeks to set out their agenda for protecting the language over the coming decades, and in a rapidly changing world. Interestingly the lecture was broadcast live on the web, from 'Y Gell', a community project in the old police station in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and one which 'Cymdeithas' see as one which could inspire other Welsh speaking communities. Diddorol iawn....
