Welsh poetry commissions announced by language Minister

A series of poems by Welsh poets that were specially commissioned were unveiled in November as part of a language festival and conference that aims to explore how Wales can make the most of its unique language heritage.

Nine poems were selected in response to an open brief to create prose in response to the subject of ‘what is language to you?’. The intention was to support creatives in these difficult times, and because poetry offers a wonderful space to consider language in all its facets.

Poet Hanan Issa was one of those chosen, whose poetry is inspired by her own mixed heritage connections and disconnection with Wales. Her poem, ‘The Land would Disappear’ captures the juxtapositions between being a mixed-race female living in Wales. Rufus Mufasa’s poem, ‘Addasu’, about lockdown learning and adapting to our new normal, is delivered though a fusion of both languages.

The poems are a celebration of language and bilingualism as part of Trwy Brism Iaith, a free online event, organised by the Learned Society of Wales. The three-day event consists of ten drop-in sessions, tackling issues such as:

• How can Wales achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050?
• Why are bilingual brains different according to neuroscience?
• How does language shape our sense of belonging?

The event kicks off today with a welcome from Eluned Morgan, Minister for Mental Health, Well-being and Welsh Language. She will be joined by an impressive line-up of speakers from academia, education and the arts include Professor Mererid Hopwood, Professor Antonella Sorace, novelist and academic Patrick McGuinness, American academic David Gramling and Professor Alison Phipps.

These, and other speakers from around the world will look at how language creates a sense of identity, belonging and cultural diversity. It will ask what practical policy steps are needed to avoid the risk of language extinction. It will point to the lessons learnt in Wales and the lessons Wales can learn from other countries. It will consider how Wales can meet its wellbeing goals to create a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

The Learned Society of Wales is the National Academy of Wales. Its mission is to promote excellence and scholarship, inspire learning and benefit the nation. The event was named because language research acts as a ‘prism’ that will enable us to see more of the spectrum of possibilities that bi-and multilingualism can offer. The conference was originally scheduled to take place in Spring 2020, but due to COVID-19 disruptions the symposium is now being held online.

A three-day pass will allow attendees to drop in and out of the festival to attend the lectures, panel discussions and debates that most interest them. Details of the programme are here. All sessions will also be broadcast on the Society’s channel on the AM platform.

Videos of all the selected poets reading their work to camera can be viewed at https://www.learnedsociety.wales/poems-unveiled-to-mark-start-of-language-conference/