Why am I looking at this?
Growing up in a predominantly English-speaking area, my fluency in Welsh has always been a crucial part of my identity and connection to my cultural heritage.
In a world that’s becoming increasingly connected, the language we speak plays a big role in shaping community identity, belonging, and engagement. Language isn’t just a way to talk to each other; it’s a huge part of who we are and how we belong.
In Wales, the Welsh language is more than just a medium of communication —it’s a symbol of national pride, cultural identity and social belonging. It is a living language that thousands of people use every day.
However, English often dominates in many community spaces, raising questions about how language choice influences people’s sense of belonging and participation. This PhD offers a unique opportunity to explore how language shapes community engagement and personal identity, especially in bilingual settings.
What am I looking for, and how will I do it?
The main goal of this research is to understand why people choose to speak Welsh or English during bilingual community interactions. It looks into how these choices impact community engagement, identity, and how people respond to information shared during public consultations or group activities.
To get these answers, the research uses several methods:
- Surveys: These will gather general opinions about language use in community settings and highlight patterns in language preference.
- Observations: By watching how language is used in real-life situations—like community meetings and local events—the research will capture the subtleties of when and why people switch between Welsh and English, and how these choices affect group interactions and decision-making processes.
- Focus Groups: These discussions will offer deeper insights into how people feel about their language choices, both on a personal and community level.
- Mapping Activities: Using tools like U-Map and KOBO, I have been working with children and young people in creating a digital map of important community spots in Ynys Môn. This mapping, which I will apply to GwyrddNi’s geographic areas, aims to reflect the bilingual nature of the area and explore how language ties into cultural significance.
What I hope to achieve
I expect to reveal important insights into how the choice of language shapes community dynamics. The research will explore whether encouraging the use of Welsh can boost community involvement and how different ways of communicating in bilingual settings might affect how people participate and engage with community activities.
Over the next few months, I will be joining in a few of GwyrddNi’s activities to help me conduct my research – so keep an eye out for me! I will also be looking for people willing to take part in surveys, interviews or focus groups – and would really appreciate your input.
My research will also help GwyrddNi to get a clearer idea of the communities’ language abilities, and to work out how they can better support everyone in a bilingual environment. More widely, understanding why people prefer using one language over another, community leaders, policymakers, and educators can create more inclusive environments that honour and promote linguistic diversity.