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Language Policy and Planning (PGCert)
This Postgraduate Certificate combines academic studies with applied experience in the field. The aim of this pioneering certificate is to place efforts to create a bilingual Wales in their historical, political, social and international context.
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The Postgraduate Certificate in Language Planning takes advantage of the rich linguistic experience that is offered by the bilingual context of Wales, as well as the recognized expertise of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Despite its relevance to the Welsh linguistic and cultural context, this certificate has an international focus that can be of benefit to the situation nationally. It prepares students for various professions related to bilingualism/multilingualism and enables them to apply core principles together with knowledge, understanding and subject-based skills to their everyday occupational needs.
What you will learn
This certificate will appeal to graduates working in the field of language planning within Welsh public institutions or in third sector organisations in the community. It will be a firm basis for students in terms of understanding language-planning concepts and the development of the field as a professional concern over recent decades. The course will also offer individuals the chance to apply their learning to their experience and their own work.
Learning takes place through a combination of seminars and tutorials, reading, three assignments and portfolio based on fieldwork.
The certificate has two modules: Essentials of Language Planning (30 credits; compulsory) and Promoting the Welsh Language (30 credits; compulsory).
The Essentials of Language Planning module (30 credits; compulsory) introduces students to the roots of the discipline, key concepts and approaches as well as the development of public policy relating to the Welsh language over the decades. The module also refers to the situation of other constitutional, regional and small-state languages.
The module Promoting the Welsh Language (30 credits; compulsory) looks critically at the attempts to revive the Welsh language over the last 50 years – developments in policy and legislation, developments in public administration, and activities to strengthen the use of the Welsh language in everyday life.
For the Essentials of Language Planning module students are expected to submit two assignments of 4,500 words each – one on theoretical aspects of the module and the other on public policy aspects of the module.
Sample questions:
- Comparatively discuss the models of language revival promoted by Fishman, R. Cooper and Marxist approaches to language planning such as by G. Williams.
- How does the concept of language and power manifest itself in the development of the Welsh language since 1962?
For the module Promoting the Welsh Language a 4,500-word assignment must be presented on institutional or community aspects of the module together with a 4,500-word portfolio based on field trips.
Sample questions:
- Discuss the methods available to County Councils in Wales to promote the Welsh language within their remit.
- Is community development the function of language enterprises? Discuss.
In order to guarantee professional relevance, students will be given sufficient opportunity to apply the material presented to them to their own purposes, and to refer to their respective fields of work in the body of assignments.
Key Information
- Dr Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones
- Catrin Llwyd
The School’s admission arrangements are overseen by the Admissions Tutor.
Postgraduate students are usually expected to have received a first degree awarded by a university or recognised awarding body.
However, the School’s Admissions Policy also allows applications from students that perhaps do not comply with the academic requirements of the typical manner of admission. Thus, the School can consider applications from mature students with relevant experience and/or alternative qualifications to those outlined above.
This certificate prepares students for diverse professions related to bilingualism/multilingualism and enables them to apply the core principles together with knowledge, understanding and subject-based skills to their everyday occupational needs. It will also be of great interest to those working in the field already, such as Language Officers, Language Planners, Government Officials, Policy Designers, and Youth Workers.
- Subtitling (PG Cert)
- Simultaneous Translation (PG Cert) [Cyfieithu ar y Pryd (Tystysgrif Ȏl-raddedig)]
The aim of this certificate is the critical consideration of the theoretical aspects of the field of language planning with reference to relevant theories and analyses and practical examples drawn from Wales and overseas.
The main social and political developments are discussed from a language-planning perspective in Wales during the last fifty years, and the way in which public institutions in Wales promote the Welsh language is considered, what drives them, and which processes and principles pertain to them. Also considered is how the use of Welsh is promoted by Welsh-language individuals and communities, by state agencies and others.
This is the ideal course for anyone working in the field of language planning and who would like academic and professional recognition of their skills and knowledge, or for students looking forward to a career in this increasingly important field.
