All News A–Z

#Bedwyr20 – Discussing the impact of Brexit on the Welsh language

As part of Canolfan Bedwyr’s #Bedwyr20 celebrations, Bangor University will host a symposium on 8 November to discuss the potential impact of Brexit on the Welsh language.

Publication date: 3 November 2016

#Bedwyr20 – Successful Symposium

As part of its twentieth anniversary celebrations, Canolfan Bedwyr recently organised a successful symposium on the theme of ‘Y Gymraeg a Brexit’ (The Welsh language and Brexit).

Publication date: 24 November 2016

#bedwyr20: Celebrating 20 years of Canolfan Bedwyr

In the first in a series of events to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, Canolfan Bedwyr , Bangor University’s centre for Welsh language services, research and technology, will be hosting an open afternoon on Tuesday 13 September.

Publication date: 8 September 2016

A Welsh Language Hackfest at Bangor University

ome 80 technology and Welsh language enthusiasts and developers will converge on Bangor University’s Management Centre this weekend for the fifth Hacio’r Iaith day event , sponsored by the University’s Canolfan Bedwyr and TILT project.

Publication date: 13 February 2014

A conference to make Welsh work

The First Minister of Wales and the Welsh Language Commissioner will be sharing a platform at a conference at Bangor University this week that will be looking at ways of encouraging the use of Welsh in the workplace.

Publication date: 9 November 2015

A groundbreaking way to exercise your Welsh

New options for using Welsh while exercising are to become available following a collaboration between Canolfan Bedwyr and a leading fitness equipment manufacturer.

Publication date: 23 May 2013

Academic Symposium and Technology and the Welsh language conference

We are happy to announce our Wales Symposium on Language Technologies https://symposiwm2020.bangor.ac.uk/en for 4 November this year. Also, keep the date 26 February 2021 for our next Technology and the Welsh language conference http://techiaith.cymru/conferences/conference-2021/?lang=en

Publication date: 21 August 2020

Almost half of all students studying a degree through the medium of Welsh, do so at Bangor University

Recent statistics have revealed that almost half of all students studying a degree through the medium of Welsh now do so at Bangor University. In addition, the largest number of lecturers teaching through the medium of Welsh is at Bangor University.

Publication date: 14 December 2018

Appiness is ... the Termiadur Addysg app on your phone or tablet!

The Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews, was the first to have the Termiadur Addysg app downloaded to his mobile phone at the Urdd Eisteddfod this year.

Publication date: 10 June 2012

Appointment to Welsh Government’s Working Group on Welsh in the Workplace

Dr Lowri Hughes from Bangor University’s Canolfan Bedwyr has been invited by the Minister for Public Services, Leighton Andrews, to join the Working Group on the Welsh language in Local Government Administration and Economic Development. The group is chaired by Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM.

Publication date: 29 February 2016

BBC Radio Cymru Resident Poet

Chaired poet and Director of Canolfan Bedwyr, Dr Llion Jones, has taken on a new role as resident poet for the BBC’s Welsh language radio station Radio Cymru , this month.

Publication date: 4 June 2014

Bangor University Internship

Publication date: 20 April 2021

Bangor University Machine Translation KTP graded as Outstanding by Innovate UK

Bangor University and Cymen Cyf have been awarded an A (Outstanding) rating for their recently completed Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). Cymen is a translation company located in Caernarfon, and is one of the largest private sector employers of graduates in Gwynedd. The KTP focused on developing domain-specific machine translation between English and Welsh, using Cymen’s large archive of translated documents as training data.

Publication date: 8 November 2019

Bangor University helps Mozilla with Welsh speech technology

Mozilla, the California-based international company responsible for the Firefox web browser, have just launched their international Common Voice project. After having started with English last year, three new languages are now being added, namely Welsh, German and French. Welsh succeeded in being amongst the first three thanks to the help of the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr , Bangor University.

Publication date: 7 June 2018

Bangor University wins Welsh Language Award

Bangor University has won a national award for the best use of Welsh in Human Resources. The Award, sponsored by Cymraeg Gwaith, was presented at the Wales Cymru HR Awards at a glittering black tie event, organised by the Wales HR Network.

Publication date: 5 April 2018

Bangor University's Language Scheme Sets the Standard

On Tuesday 7 May, Bangor University will reinforce its commitment to the Welsh language when the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Hughes, launches its revised Language Scheme.

Publication date: 3 May 2013

Bangor graduate scoops Pride of Britain Award

Congratulations to Bangor University graduate Llew Davies, who has just scooped a Pride if Britain Award.

Publication date: 5 October 2011

Bangor’s expertise sees John reclaim the joy of speech

Innovative specialisms at Bangor University have meant that a man who lost his voice following cancer treatments two years ago is now able to communicate in his own synthetic voice. The second episode of the DRYCH series on S4C on Sunday, 28 April, features the story of former University staff member, John Wyn Jones, from Beaumaris, and the efforts of the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr , Bangor University's Center for Welsh Language Services, Technology and Research, to create a synthetic voice for him.

Publication date: 24 April 2019

Canolfan Bedwyr in the Community

Staff members at Cylch Meithrin Seiont a Pheblig in Caernarfon received certificates recently, after they had completed a bespoke language improvement course designed and delivered by tutors from Bangor University’s Canolfan Bedwyr.

Publication date: 1 July 2016

Celebrating Success on St David’s Day

Bangor University will mark St David’s Day this year by celebrating the success of three teams who scored the highest possible marks in an independent survey of Welsh language services. The Central Switchboard team and the Reception team in Pontio scored 100% in a survey of phone and reception services by the Welsh Language Commissioner. As part of a ‘mystery shopper’ exercise, the Commissioner’s office contacted these teams three times. On each occasion they found that a comprehensive and courteous Welsh language service was offered. The Welsh Language Commissioner’s Assurance Report was a national survey and only a relatively small number of workplaces scored 100%.

Publication date: 28 February 2017

Celebrating staff and student success on Shwmae Su’mae Day 2019

With Shwmae Su’mae Day now an annual celebration in numerous institutions across Wales, members of University staff who have been following Welsh language courses received certificates for their efforts today (October 15). Shwmae Su’mae Day aims to promote the use of Welsh by encouraging everyone to start a conversation with a greeting in the language. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the numerous achievements of our staff and students who have either actively learned the language or increased their proficiency in Welsh.

Publication date: 15 October 2019

Celebrating the success of a pioneering Welsh-language course

A pioneering group of classroom assistants have been awarded certificates to mark their achievement on a brand new course to boost Welsh-language skills.

Publication date: 24 October 2016

Celebrating the successes of the Welsh Language Skills Certificate’s latest recipients

As part of the Shwmae Su'mae Week celebrations here at Bangor University, an event will be held to celebrate the work of Bangor Branch students from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. It will serve as an opportunity to showcase those students who have successfully obtained the Language Skills Certificate this year. Some of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Ambassadors who are studying at Bangor will also be there.

Publication date: 16 October 2018

Classroom assistants get Welsh-language boost

Fifteen classroom assistants are receiving Welsh-language skills training on a pioneering new course, which is being taught in north Wales for the first time.

Publication date: 21 January 2016

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol appoints student Ambassadors at Bangor University

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has recruited ambassadors with the aim of encouraging more prospective students to study part of their degree courses through Welsh.

Publication date: 22 January 2018

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol invests in Bangor’s expertise

Bangor University has welcomed the news that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (the new national institution for the development of Welsh medium education and scholarship at universities in Wales) has awarded nine academic posts and five PhD scholarships to Bangor University for the next academic year. The awards acknowledge the leading role that Bangor University is expected to take as the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol comes into existence in September 2011. Through this new investment, which is worth half a million pounds per annum over the next five years, the University will be able to develop its Welsh medium provision to a greater extent than ever before.

Publication date: 4 April 2011

Developing speech recognition technology for the Welsh language

Canolfan Bedwyr’s Language Technology Unit has been awarded a grant of £56,000 from the Welsh Government’s Technology & Welsh Language Fund and an investment from S4C’s digital fund to further develop speech recognition technology for the Welsh language.

Publication date: 1 January 2014

Dr Prysor Williams receives Award for his outstanding contribution to science through the medium of Welsh

In a special celebration of Welsh medium higher education, a young Academic from Bangor University was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the field of science through the medium of Welsh.

Publication date: 9 March 2017

Eisteddfod Amgen 2021

AI: pushing the bounderies

Publication date: 2 August 2021

Every Teacher is a Language Teacher

Introducing the Welsh language across the curriculum was the focus of a timely discussion organised by Bangor University at the stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Friday 8 June.

Publication date: 10 June 2012

First Minister first to volunteer for Welsh Speech Recognition resource

Carwyn Jones, Wales’ First Minister, was the first to respond to a new appeal by Bangor University for volunteers to record their voices to help create a new Welsh language Speech Recognition Resource.

Publication date: 7 July 2014

Free Welsh language software released to help with lockdown home schooling and working – and beyond

A software package to help Welsh language spellchecking and grammar checking has been released as a free download thanks to a partnership between Bangor University and the Welsh Government. The release aims to support Welsh-medium learners and their parents, home workers and small organisations during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – and beyond.

Publication date: 28 May 2020

Geiriadur Bangor (The Bangor Dictionary) steps into the breach

The BBC’s Welsh English dictionary is back in its new incarnation thanks to Bangor University’s centre for Welsh Language services and research, Canolfan Bedwyr.

Publication date: 27 November 2014

Innovative project by Bangor University increases the use of Welsh in the workplace

An innovative project established by Canolfan Bedwyr and Behaviour Change researchers at the University in order to increase the use of Welsh in the workplace received praise from the Welsh Language Commissioner recently.

Publication date: 12 November 2018

International Seminar on Terminology and Lexicography

On 4 September, we will be hosting an international seminar in Bangor University on the theme “Resources for Terminology and Lexicography: What we have and what we need”. We will have guest speakers from terminology centres and higher education institutions in Europe.

Publication date: 12 July 2017

Job Terminologist / Assistant Terminologist (Maternity cover)

Great opportunity to join Bangor University’s terminology team: temporary post to cover maternity leave - see https://jobs.bangor.ac.uk/details.php.en?id=QLYFK026203F3VBQB7V68LOTX&nPostingID=5390&nPostingTargetID=5736&mask=stdext&lg=UK

Publication date: 18 February 2021

KESS MRES SCHOLARSHIP

Another amazing opportunity to work towards an Kess MRes with the Language Technologies Unit and the Linguistics Department. More information http://kess2.ac.uk/buk2e067-2/.

Publication date: 1 June 2021

KESS MRes Scholarship - Welsh Ontology of Family Law

This is a second advertisment for an MRes scholarship for a Welsh Ontology of Family Law, for which the ability to speak Welsh is essential

Publication date: 15 October 2019

KESS MRes Scholarship - Welsh Ontology of Family Law

This is an advertisment for an MRes scholarship for a Welsh Ontology of Family Law, for which the ability to speak Welsh is essential

Publication date: 15 January 2019

Language Technologies Symposium, Bangor University, 18 September, 2020

It’s a pleasure to announce the first call for papers for our Language Technologies Symposium, Bangor University, 18 September, 2020. This is the first academic symposium in its field for researchers in Wales. A warm welcome all researchers, academics and students. http://symposiwm2020.bangor.ac.uk/en

Publication date: 31 October 2019

Language tutor rewarded for teaching excellence

Canolfan Bedwyr’s Head Language Tutor has received a prestigious award for excellence in teaching.

Publication date: 21 July 2015

Launch of a new book on Translation Studies in Welsh

A new volume of papers called Ysgrifau a Chanllawiau Cyfieithu (Writings and Guidelines for Translation) has just been published by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol , and will be launched at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University on Thursday the 22nd of January.

Publication date: 20 January 2016

Launch of an innovative book on Welsh Linguistics and Lexicography

A volume of writings on Welsh Linguistics and Lexicography written in Welsh will be launched at Bangor University by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol on the 21st of January.

Publication date: 12 January 2015

Macsen gets more talkative

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is getting more intelligent by the day. By now many people in Wales have devices such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Now that can answer spoken questions about the weather, news, and other useful facts. They can even respond to a voice asking them to turn on the light, switch on the power, or similar skills. Unfortunately, these only work if spoken to in English, but we are a step nearer getting a similar system in Welsh with our own digital personal assistant Macsen, due to work done at Bangor University, aided by a grant from the Welsh Government. To begin with Macsen could only respond to simple commands, but now it can answer questions, and go to the most popular articles in the Welsh Wikipedia to find relevant information. It can read out the first paragraph of an article, or the news headings, using a Welsh synthetic voice.

Publication date: 10 April 2018

Minister sees support for a living language at Canolfan Bedwyr

The Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews, heard about several innovative projects and developments that promote the use of Welsh when he visited Canolfan Bedwyr in Bangor University recently (17 November 2011).

Publication date: 18 November 2011

National Language Technologies Portal provides key software to develop technology in Welsh

Key software components described as the ‘building blocks’ needed to develop computer technology in Welsh are being released free of charge to companies and individuals, having been developed by Bangor University.

Publication date: 18 February 2015

New project to provide synthetic Welsh language voice for those in danger of losing their speech

The Language Technologies Unit (LTU) at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University, has won a grant of £20,000 to develop a programme that will record the voices of people who are in danger of losing their ability to speak because of throat cancer or other health issue, and produce a synthetic naturally sounding version of their own voice. At present this service is only available to English speakers, but this will for the first time allow patients to continue to speak Welsh with their own voice, rather than a generic, synthetic voice that sounds robotic or like someone else. The LTU will work with health authorities and speech therapists to offer the service throughout Wales.

Publication date: 14 November 2017

New research centre to help shape services for Children and Families in Wales

Building on research that has shown how programmes for infants, young families and teachers across Wales, support children’s social and emotional development, a new research centre should provide further answers that will continue to help the Welsh Assembly Government shape services for children and families in the future. The Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention (CEBEI) will be launched by Huw Lewis AM, Deputy Minister for Children on Wednesday 9 March at the Incredible Years Wales Annual Conference in Cardiff.

Publication date: 9 March 2011

New resources for Welsh communication infrastructure

Yn ystod 2015-2016 bu tîm Uned Technolegau Iaith Canolfan Bedwyr, Prifysgol Bangor, yn datblygu adnoddau newydd ar gyfer siarad Cymraeg gyda chyfrifiaduron.

Publication date: 18 March 2016

Nia celebrates career-changing language course

At the beginning of the summer, Nia Daly from Rhos on Sea was presented with a certificate – for successfully completing a Welsh language development course at Bangor University.

Publication date: 15 September 2015

Online Dictionary highlights contribution of University

The pioneering work of the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr will be highlighted as the Welsh Language Board launches an online version of Geiriadur yr Academi , the Welsh Academy English-Welsh Dictionary.

Publication date: 28 February 2012

PhD scholarship available

Bangor University is offering a PhD research scholarship in the field of Behaviour Change Psychology and Language Planning.

Publication date: 29 April 2015

Pioneering work in Welsh language e-publishing

The pioneering work of Canolfan Bedwyr staff in the area of Welsh language e-publishing will be featured on S4C’s arts and popular culture programme Pethe tonight (26 March 2012).

Publication date: 26 March 2012

Project gives Welsh-speaking throat cancer sufferers a voice

A Welsh Government-supported project to help Welsh speakers who are at risk of losing their voice to continue to communicate in their native language has received a visit from Minister for the Welsh Language, Eluned Morgan.

Publication date: 31 January 2018

Prominent Speakers at TILT Terminology and Translation Conference

On Thursday 12th June a one day conference for translation practitioners and students will be held at Bangor University in connection with the TILT training programme.

Publication date: 12 June 2014

Recognition for a Twittering Poet

An innovative volume of poetic tweets by Dr Llion Jones has been shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year award for 2013. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Barddas, Trydar mewn Trawiadau (Strict Metre Twittering), has been described as a ground-breaking collection of Welsh language tweets and possibly one of the first ever collections of twitter verse in any language. Over a period of three years, Llion Jones, Director of Canolfan Bedwyr and chaired poet, has been making creative use of the popular Twitter platform to tweet solely in ‘cynghanedd’ - a complex system of internal assonance, alliteration and rhyme unique to Welsh poetry. Within the constraints of the 140 characters allowed by Twitter , he has been twittering his view on the world through couplets and ‘englynion’.

Publication date: 13 May 2013

Research by Canolfan Bedwyr’s Language Technologies Unit informs European agenda

Research and expertise by Canolfan Bedwyr's Language Technologies Unit were referenced the European Parliament recently, as Plaid Cymru's European MP, Jill Evans, credited the work of the Unit as being at the forefront of minority language technology. The MEP presented findings of the recommendations made by the Digital Language Diversity Project (DLDP) in its report on ensuring linguistic equality in the fields of digital technology. Following the speech by Jill Evans MEP, the head of the Language Technologies Unit, Delyth Prys, and the Unit's Chief Software Engineer, Dewi Bryn Jones, were invited to speak at a conference on language technologies and digital equality within a multilingual Europe.

Publication date: 4 October 2018

RoboLlywydd and other Welsh Voices

Bangor University has created new tools for producing natural sounding synthetic voices in Welsh. They will be able to read aloud any Welsh text from a computer or mobile device. As part of the Macsen project, funded by the Welsh Government, a quick and easy method was devised for preparing prompts, recording individuals reading them aloud, and using information about Welsh sounds to build synthetic voices that sound very similar to the voice of the individual recorded. In the SeneddLab2017 event in Cardiff recently, the team for the L anguage Technologies Unit , Canolfan Bedwyr had an opportunity to test this method, building a new voice in one hour to give oral information about the Welsh National Assembly, calling it ‘RoboLlywydd’ (‘RoboPresident’).

Publication date: 11 April 2017

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists honour three researchers from Bangor University

In a special award ceremony hosted by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) at Nottingham during their annual conference this year, Delyth Prys, Dewi Bryn Jones a Stefan Ghazzali from the Language Technologies Unit , Canolfan Bedwyr, were presented with a Giving Voice Award. The three, through their Lleisiwr project, funded by the Welsh Government, had developed software to create personalized synthetic voices to help patients about to lose their own voices. The project enabled voice banking in Welsh and English so that a digital version of the voices could be built.

Publication date: 2 October 2019

Russians visit Bangor to find out about our language planning and Welsh language support

Academic researchers from Russia were recently welcomed to Canolfan Bedwyr , Bangor University’s Centre for Welsh Language Services, Technology and Research.

Publication date: 12 April 2017

Sharing Welsh language technologies with the world

On 25 January, academic researchers, local developers and representatives from some of the digital sector’s most prominent companies met to discuss and share best practice in the field of language technologies, at the Technology and Welsh Language Conference 2019. This is the third annual conference held by the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr , Bangor University’s Centre for Welsh Language Services, Research and Technology.

Publication date: 28 January 2019

Software Engineer Post

We're looking to hire an additional software engineer to join the Language Technologies Unit. This is a great opportunity to join an innovative team developing speech and language technology resources and components for Welsh. Further details may be had here .

Publication date: 8 April 2020

Strict Metre Twittering

To mark Twitter’s fifth birthday, an item on S4C’s Wedi 7 programme tonight (21.3.11) will feature the creative use that a member of University staff makes of the popular social networking service.

Publication date: 21 March 2011

Teachers and Lecturers' Language Skills Acknowledged

The efforts of teachers and lecturers in developing their Welsh language skills were acknowledged in a ceremony held at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University recently.

Publication date: 8 July 2015

The Census in plain Welsh

The influence of Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University will be felt in every home in Wales over the next few weeks as the 2011 Census forms are completed. Eleri Jones from the centre's Uned Cymraeg Clir (Plain Welsh Unit) has played a central role in the work of ensuring that the Welsh version is one which Welsh speakers can understand and use without difficulty. Following criticisms in the past that the Welsh version was difficult and stiff, officials at the Office of Statistics have striven to ensure that the 2011 questionnaire will not read as a translation. For the first time in the census’ history, the 2011 Welsh questionnaire has been developed simultaneously with the English version, with the support of a team of specialists, including the leader of Uned Cymraeg Clir Canolfan Bedwyr.

Publication date: 11 March 2011

University Welsh Language initiatives win Inspires Wales Award

Bangor University’s pioneering work in promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh in the workplace has been recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony. In a glittering event at Cardiff City Hall, sponsored by the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Western Mail, the University was awarded an ‘Inspire Wales Award’ following its success in the ‘Bilingual Workplace’ category.

Publication date: 14 June 2012

Welsh Common Voice Campaign’s 1st Anniversary

Today (Friday 7th June 2019) is the one year anniversary of the launch of the Welsh language Common Voice Platform ( http://voice.mozilla.cy ) which is international software developer, Mozilla’s Crowdsourcing platform for speech data in multiple languages, in order to create open source speech technology for these languages.

Publication date: 7 June 2019

Welsh Jobs Fair

On Thursday, 19 March Bangor University will for the first time be hosting a Welsh Jobs Fair.

Publication date: 18 March 2015

Welsh Language Partnership Council appointment

Dr Lowri Angharad Ahronson of Canolfan Bedwyr has been appointed to the Welsh Language Partnership Council. Leighton Andrews, Minister for Education and Skills, chairs the Council and the group is responsible for advising and making representations to Welsh Ministers in relation to the Welsh Language Strategy and the annual action plans under the strategy.

Publication date: 11 May 2012

Welsh Technology in Support of the Economy

Innovative Welsh language Technologies can provide an impetus to the north Wales economy – that was one of the main messages of a conference on Technology and Welsh Language held at Bangor University’s Pontio Arts & Innovation Centre recently (Friday 20 January).

Publication date: 24 January 2017

Welsh Translation Technology at the Eisteddfod

On Monday 5 August at the Bangor University Stand at the National Eisteddfod, Canolfan Bedwyr’s Language Technologies Unit will be providing an overview of its most recent develpopments, including its innovative translation system, 'CyfieithuCymru / TranslateWales'.

Publication date: 2 August 2013

Welsh dictionary at your fingertips! New Welsh dictionary app and Welsh keyboard launch on Snowdon’s summit 23 October 2012

From today, you’ll be able to carry and use a Welsh dictionary anywhere in the world. The new Ap Geiriaduron , or Welsh-English dictionary app is available on iPhone, iPad and Android, and will be used for the first time on the summit of Snowdon, to show how mobile and useful it can be for anyone, whether they are Welsh learners, parents, teachers or students.

Publication date: 22 October 2012

Welsh language educational terms on-line

The Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews, will launch the new Y Termiadur Addysg (Education Terminology Dictionary) web-site in Cardiff on 22 March 2012. The web-site www. termiaduraddysg.org includes a new enlarged version of the popular terminology text published in 2006, with additional features to aid searching for and learning standardized Welsh terms aimed at school children and students of further education colleges.

Publication date: 22 March 2012

Welsh learners presented with their certificates on Shwmae Su’mae Day

A number of University staff who have been undertaking Welsh language courses have received certificates for their efforts today as part of Shwmae Su'mae Day , a day that promotes the use of Welsh by encouraging everyone to start chatting with simple greetings in the language.

Publication date: 15 October 2018

Wikimedia collaborates with the Language Technologies Unit

A new collaboration between the Wikimedia Foundation and Bangor University has been announced that will enable both parties to share ideas and experiences from developing language technologies for multilingual situations. The collaboration will include integrating components of Bangor’s new TranslateWales.com software with the software that powers Wikipedia.

Publication date: 20 February 2014

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