Overview
Embedding the Welsh language in your research is essential for delivering services that work in both Welsh and English.
Research with Welsh-language users helps you to:
- involve users of services in Welsh
- understand their specific experiences better
- design and deliver services that meet their needs
- meet the Welsh language measure
Considering the Welsh from the beginning prevents problems in the future when language differences impact your service, saving you time and effort.
As a growing and evolving field in Wales, it’s an exciting space to explore and experiment with ways of working and collaborating, and develop best practice and guidance together.
Learn about:
Our vision for Welsh-language user research
We aspire to build capability in every organisation in Wales to do user research with Welsh-language users fully in Welsh.
The future we aspire to is one where all teams have researchers and other user-centred design practitioners fully proficient in Welsh, and consider the language throughout the entire lifecycle of their products and services.
And where it’s the responsibility of every team member to advocate for Welsh and its users, not only the Welsh-speaking team members.
We know that this is currently not possible for most teams, and some research is always better than no research.
Consider how you can best embed the Welsh language in your research as much as possible. Include extra time in your delivery plans, and make sure you have the skills and resources you need.
And aim to gradually build Welsh-language capability in your team and organisation.
Understanding Welsh-language users
Language is non-binary, complex, and contextual - and there’s no standard Welsh-language user.
Linguistic competence is nuanced and depends on many factors, including confidence.
We use ‘language user’ instead of ‘language speakers’ because it includes all users of the language in the context of products and services, regardless of their competence.
A Welsh-language user may speak fluent Welsh, but:
- prefer to use services in English
- not understand services translated into Welsh
- be disabled or use assistive technology
- use services bilingually, switching languages throughout their journey
Some users may expect a more sophisticated level of Welsh while others may use a mix of Welsh and English (Wenglish) in their everyday life.
A Welsh-language user may not speak fluent Welsh but understand others speaking it.
Or they may not speak or understand a conversation in Welsh, but understand written Cymraeg clir (clear Welsh).
They could prefer to speak Welsh on the helpline, but receive email or text alerts bilingually and access your website in English.
