A campaign which has been boiling away in the background of Welsh culture for some time now seems to have gathered momentum in the last few weeks. As one of the largest book suppliers in the world, Amazon currently offers customers the option to download e-books in languages from across the world, including Galician, Basque and Catalan, but not Welsh. In recent weeks Welsh language publisher Y Lolfa have been campaigning to change this bizarre situation with an online petition which to date has gathered over 4500 signatures.
To some, the problem may seem like a relatively small one. 2011 census information shows that the proportion of fluent Welsh language speakers in Wales has declined over the past decade, yet a significant number of Welsh speakers still remain and Welsh language literature in particular continues to thrive in Wales in the twenty first century. What census data does not adequately reflect is the number of people, like myself, who are currently attempting to learn Welsh and would appreciate the opportunity to download Welsh language e-books to help with that process.
But there is a larger problem behind Amazon's current decision not to support Welsh language e-books. Welsh language literature and culture may be relatively small in comparison to that of larger nations, but the material which exists contributes greatly to an overall sense of Welsh culture and nationality. To overlook such a contribution is to overlook an important part of Welsh heritage and culture.
Y Lolfa's petition will close on Friday 12th July, after which the signatures gathered will hopefully be enough to persuade Amazon that now is the time to acknowledge Welsh language material in their e-books. The decision to sign the petition is, of course, entirely up to the individual. The recognition, or lack thereof, of Welsh e-books is, however, an important measure of how Welsh culture is represented as a whole on an international platform.
You can find the petition online at Y Lolfa's website.
To some, the problem may seem like a relatively small one. 2011 census information shows that the proportion of fluent Welsh language speakers in Wales has declined over the past decade, yet a significant number of Welsh speakers still remain and Welsh language literature in particular continues to thrive in Wales in the twenty first century. What census data does not adequately reflect is the number of people, like myself, who are currently attempting to learn Welsh and would appreciate the opportunity to download Welsh language e-books to help with that process.
But there is a larger problem behind Amazon's current decision not to support Welsh language e-books. Welsh language literature and culture may be relatively small in comparison to that of larger nations, but the material which exists contributes greatly to an overall sense of Welsh culture and nationality. To overlook such a contribution is to overlook an important part of Welsh heritage and culture.
Y Lolfa's petition will close on Friday 12th July, after which the signatures gathered will hopefully be enough to persuade Amazon that now is the time to acknowledge Welsh language material in their e-books. The decision to sign the petition is, of course, entirely up to the individual. The recognition, or lack thereof, of Welsh e-books is, however, an important measure of how Welsh culture is represented as a whole on an international platform.
You can find the petition online at Y Lolfa's website.