Research

Postgraduate Research

Current PhD students supervised by staff of the Research Unit:

• Sonia Benghida: ‘Language and Spatial Planning’ (jointly with Dr. Neil Harris, School of City and Regional Planning)
• Steve Eaves: ‘Cynllunio Ieithyddol: Hyfforddiant’ [Language Planning: Training]
• Ifor Gruffydd: ‘Strategaethau Cynllunio Ieithyddol’ [Strategies for Language Planning]
• David Hill: ‘Welsh Second Language Acquisiton and Social Networks’ (jointly with Prof. Nik Coupland, School of English, Communication and Philosophy)
• Seán Ó Conaill, ‘The Irish Language and the Law’
• Lucy Morrow, 'Social Policy, the Welsh Language and Migrants'
• Bill Roberts, 'Popular participation in public events and ceremonies in Cardiff'

Current Research Projects

‘Language Ombudsmen: A Comparative Perspective’

A Welsh Language Board supported pilot project, which auguments the British Academy supported research on Language Regulation (2009-10).

‘The Learning of Welsh as a Second Language’

The aim of this research project is to consider how improvements could be made to way in which the Welsh language is transferred to adults. The project began in May 2010 and will run for two years. The work has several interacting foci of interest:

• teaching and learning approaches/methodologies for the teaching of languages to adults;
• language learning theory;
• the nature of the teaching and learning resources needed to effectively transfer the Welsh language to adults; and also,
• the related restrictions and considerations which will influence the future development of the Welsh for Adults (WfA) curriculum.

The research is sponsored by the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, the Welsh Assembly Government.

 

Previous Research Projects

‘From Act to Action’ (2005-2008)

This is a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of language legislation in Finland, Ireland and Wales. It is sponsored by the European Union, through the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, and by selected Language Boards and administered by the Svenska Kulturfonden, Helsinki.

‘Cyfalaf Iaith’ (2006-2009)

An economic and spatial analysis of the impact of Welsh language media in selected locations. The work is sponsored by the Welsh Language Board via a PhD scholarship (Caroline Walters).

‘The Use of Irish in the Courts of Ireland’ (2006-2009)

This research is sponsored by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Ireland, by way of a PhD scholarship (Sean Ó Conaill).

‘Mapping Linguistic Diversity in Multicultural Societies’ (2006-7)

A European Science Foundation project co-ordinated by Guus Extra of Tilburg University, The Netherlands, and Monica Barni of the Università per Stranieri di Siena, Italy.