Penblywdd hapus i ni!
The Welsh Language Team in Bangor welcome Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts

Penblywdd hapus i ni!

*** Scroll down for English version **

Rydym wedi gweld newidiadau mawr ers cyflwyno Deddf yr iaith Gymraeg yn 1993.

Roedd cyflwyno'r ddeddf yn golygu bod yn rhaid i'r sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru roi statws cyfartal i'r Gymraeg a'r Saesneg ym mhob agwedd o’u gwaith.

 Ers hynny, rydym wedi gweld nifer o ddatblygiadau sylweddol sydd wedi dylanwadu ar agweddau tuag at yr iaith – yn enwedig y refferendwm ar ddatganoli ym 1997 a sefydlu Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. Mae newidiadau i’r system addysg yng Nghymru, ynghyd a phroffil uwch i’r iaith ym myd diwylliant, chwaraeon a'r cyfryngau, wedi arwain at fwy o ymwybyddiaeth a chefnogaeth i’r iaith.

Yn hytrach na bod yn rhywbeth y maen nhw'n cael ei orfodi i'w wneud, mae sefydliadau bellach yn dechrau gweld bod defnyddio’r Gymraeg yn ffordd o gysylltu a nifer fawr o’u cymunedau a chwrdd a disgwyliadau eu dinasyddion neu gwsmeriaid.

 Er nad oedd deddf 1993 yn gosod dyletswydd gyfreithiol ar gwmn?au preifat, roedd busnesau yn cael eu hannog i gynnig gwasanaethau Cymraeg, lle bynnag yr oedd modd.

 Yn BT, rydym yn falch iawn o’r ffaith mai ni, pum mlynedd ar hugain yn ?l, oedd un o’r cwmn?au mawr cyntaf i gyflwyno polisi iaith Gymraeg yn wirfoddol. Fe wnaethon ni hyn ym 1994, blwyddyn ar ?l i’r ddeddf ddod i rym.

 Bellach, rydym yn cynnig ystod o wasanaethau a chefnogaeth i gwsmeriaid sy’n dymuno cysylltu a BT drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae hyn yn cynnwys darparu llinell gymorth Gymraeg, biliau cwsmeriaid ar gael yn Gymraeg neu’n Saesneg, a gwersi am ddim i staff sy’n dymuno dysgu'r iaith. Fel dysgwr, a gafodd wersi yn y gweithle gyntaf, rwy'n gwybod pa wahaniaeth y gall hyn ei wneud.

Keith, Dafydd and Bethan deliver the Welsh Language customer support line for BT

Mae llawer o gwmn?au eraill bellach yn cynnig gwasanaethau tebyg yn Gymraeg i'w cwsmeriaid. Maent yn gweld, am ychydig iawn o gost, y gallant ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg i sefyll allan a gwella eu henw da ac, yn y pen draw, cynyddu nifer y cwsmeriaid.

 Ewch i unrhyw siop neu swyddfa fawr yng Nghymru erbyn hyn ac mi welwch chi fod y Gymraeg yn fwy gweladwy – o’r arwyddion Cymraeg, i’r niferoedd cynyddol o staff sy’n gwisgo bathodynnau a llinynnau gwddf ‘Iaith Gwaith’ i nodi eu bod yn siaradwyr Cymraeg.

 Mae'r sefyllfa'n fuddiol i'r iaith ac i gwmn?au.

 Pan mae’r Gymraeg yn cael sylw yn y wasg, yn aml iawn mi fydd yn ymwneud a chwmniau neu sefydliadau yn gwneud smonach o bethau o ran yr iaith. Rydyn ni'n clywed yn achlysurol am ddiffyg arwyddion Cymraeg gan gwmni neu honiadau bod staff wedi cael eu hatal rhag siarad Cymraeg – ond anaml iawn y clywn ni am yr holl waith da y mae nifer fawr of gwmn?au yn ei wneud o ran yr iaith.

 Yn BT, mae gennym d?m ymroddedig o staff proffesiynol sy'n delio a galwadau cwsmeriaid yn Gymraeg. Mae'n werth nodi bod y galwadau hyn yn dod o bob cwr o'r DU, nid yn unig gan siaradwyr Cymraeg sy'n byw yng Nghymru. Mae gwasanaethau Cymraeg eraill ar gael i gwsmeriaid, ac mae hyn yn cael cefnogaeth gan bob rhan o’r cwmni.

 Felly, wrth i ni nodi 25 mlynedd ers i ni sefydlu’r polisi hwn, mae'n gyfle i ddiolch i'r holl bobl hynny sydd wedi darparu a datblygu'r gwasanaethau hyn dros y blynyddoedd.

 Mae hefyd yn gyfle i annog mwy o siaradwyr Cymraeg i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau hyn sy’n cael eu cynnig gan gwmn?au. Os oes gennych ffrindiau a theulu sy'n siaradwyr Cymraeg neu'n ddysgwyr, gofynnwch iddynt a ydyn nhw'n defnyddio'r llinellau cymorth hyn neu’n derbyn eu biliau yn Gymraeg.

 Os ydym am weld mwy o wasanaethau Cymraeg yn cael eu cynnig gan gwnn?au, mae gan bob un ohonom gyfrifoldeb i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau sydd eisoes ar gael.

*********************

Much has changed since the introduction of the Welsh Language Act back in 1993.

The introduction of the act meant that the public sector in Wales had to give the Welsh and English language equal status in all their activities.

Since then, we have seen a number of significant developments that have influenced attitudes towards the language – not least the referendum on devolution in 1997 and the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales. Changes to the Welsh education system and greater prominence for the language in culture, sport and the media has resulted in more awareness and support for it.

 Rather than being seen as something they had to do, organisations are increasingly seeing that using the Welsh language is a way of connecting with many of their communities and meeting citizens or customers’ expectations.

 While the 1993 act did not impose a legal duty on private firms, companies were encouraged to offer Welsh language services, wherever possible.

At BT, we’re proud that we were one of the first, large private companies in the UK to adopt a voluntary bilingual policy in relation to the Welsh language. We introduced this 25 years ago, one year after the introduction of the act.

We offer a range of services and support for customers who would rather deal with us in Welsh. This includes a Welsh language helpline, customer bills available in Welsh or English and free lessons for staff who would like to learn the language. As a learner myself, who first had lessons in the work place, I know how transformational this can be.

Many other companies operating in Wales are now taking a similar approach. They’re seeing that, for relatively little outlay, they can use the Welsh language to stand out and improve their reputation and, ultimately, increase customer numbers.

 You only have to walk around larger shops and offices in Wales now to see more Welsh signage and increasing numbers of staff wearing ‘Iaith Gwaith’ badges and lanyards to indicate that they speak Welsh. It’s a win-win for businesses and the language.

 While we’ll often see stories in the media about the small number of cases where companies get it wrong – such as poor or non-existent signage or claims of staff being directed not to speak Welsh – we rarely hear about the increasing good practice from firms.

At BT, we have a dedicated team of professional staff who handle customer calls in Welsh. It’s worth noting that these calls come from across the UK, not only from Welsh speakers living in Wales. Other Welsh language services are supported and promoted by many other colleagues working across the company.

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So as we mark 25 years since we first introduced this policy, it’s an opportunity to thank all those people who have provided and developed these Welsh language services over the years.

 It’s also an opportunity to encourage more Welsh speakers to use these services provided by companies. If you have friends and family who are Welsh speakers or learners, ask them whether they use these Welsh helplines and whether they get their bills in Welsh.

If we want to see more services offered in Welsh by companies, we all have a responsibility to use the services already on offer.

With thanks to AMs who joined us in marking this anniversary by taking one of our celebratory cupcakes! Diolch i chi, penblwydd hapus i ni!

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No alt text provided for this image


Richard Lewis

Chief Art of the Possible Officer

5 年

Ardderchog Nick Speed!

Ian Cartledge MSc

Business Development Manager at E.ON UK

5 年

Cariad Mawr

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