The Royal Wedding
gair rhydd Monday April 11 2011 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 950
£84,925 This is the total amount of money Cardiff University spent on Welsh translations during the 2009/10 academic year Miranda Atty News Editor Cardiff University spent £84,925 on Welsh translation services for the 2009/10 academic year, according to a gair rhydd investigation. This figure represents around a £20,000 rise in costs when compared to the 2007/8 academic year, which was recorded at £61,455. All Welsh universities are mandated to have a Welsh Language scheme following the Welsh Language Act 1933, which declared that Welsh and English should be treated as equal in status. During the academic year 2009/10 there were 2,953 Welsh-speaking students, 88 Welsh-speaking administration staff and 81 Welsh-speaking academic staff at Cardiff. Both the University and the Students’ Union employ external translation agencies for translation purposes. The Students’ Union’s total translation costs for the 2009/10 academic year was £10,799.28. The Students’ Union employs local company Prsyg, who are on the Welsh Assembly Government’s recom-
mended supplier list of translation agencies. One Cardiff student commented on the costs: “I don’t like the fact that the University and the Union are spending a lot of money on things that could be spent elsewhere, and the fact that they are still getting it wrong does not justify the spending.” Owain Lewis, the recently elected Welsh Officer for the academic year 2011/12 told gair rhydd: “The costs do not reflect the quality of services provided, particularly for the Students’ Union. Every year there are endless mistakes in election banners. “The fact that all of the Union’s translations, and the majority of the University’s translations, are outsourced means that there is no consistent body providing services. “I would like to see the in-house translators reinstated for both the University and the Union. I can see that this might result in a further increase of spending, but at the moment, to spend this amount of money on services which are consistently flawed seems unreasonable.”
Another Cardiff student agreed: “At the end of the day, we’re a Welsh Russell Group University, and I think it’s disgusting that Welsh can’t be translated properly.” A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “Any increase in expenditure is due mainly to an increase in the volume of work being produced bilingually by the University and in some cases slight increases in the costs charged by translators. “The policy for translation is governed by the requirements of the University’s Welsh Language Scheme. This outlines what information has to be produced in Welsh and/or bilingually in order to comply with the Welsh Language Act 1993 and has been approved by the Welsh Language Board. “Some translation is undertaken in-house, but the majority is completed by external translator/translation companies, most of whom are members of the Association of Welsh Translators and Interpreters, which is funded by the Welsh Language Board. “The School of Welsh is an academic department, the role of
which is to deliver learning and teaching and undertake academic research. However advice and guidance is sought from the School. “Translation services are coordinated by the Welsh language services team which has a wider remit to promote and support an increase in the use of Welsh Language across the University.” A spokesperson for the Union explained that the Bilingual Policy, including translation, will be subject to review: “We are currently in the early stages of reviewing our Bilingual Policy, and are liaising with the University to ensure that we end up with something that works together, rather than two completely separate policies. “We are waiting for confirmation from the University on their current position, and are looking forward to consulting with students on our new policy going forward.” If anyone has any comments or suggestions, please contact the Welsh Officer, Owain Lewis, on undebmyfyrwycymraegcaerdydd@ hotmail.co.uk
Inside this week:
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Cardiff University holds back on announcing 2012 fee rise News page 3
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Opinion look into the issue of religious intolerance Opinion page 10
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The truth about eating disorders Features follow-up page 16
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Sport look ahead to the Champions League quarterfinals Sport page 29
Creativity Photos, Art and Words by Cardiff Students: Spring 2011