An initiative in honour of Dr Carl Clowes’ vision of a cultural home for the world’s 7000 languages

On March 9th 2026, a day of discussion and co-creation at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth will bring together around 50 Welsh and international practitioners to begin to co-design a practical framework for global Indigenous language revitalisation through the arts.

The event is organised in partnership between Aberystwyth Dinas Llên and Wales Arts International and honours the vision of the late Dr Carl Clowes, a prominent Welsh cultural advocate who founded the National Language Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn.

This video above is an extract from a film about Cian Ciaran’s classical composition Rhys a Meinir, a re-telling of a Welsh folk tale based in Nant Gwrtheyrn, the National Language Centre. The Centre was established by Dr Carl Clowes, whose vision for an even more ambitious Centre for 7000 Tongues – a global hub dedicated to sustaining the world’s Indigenous languages through creative practice, research, and international partnership. His vision for this is set out in the document below written in 2017.

7000 Tongues

A celebration of mankind’s greatest achievement

Wherever one travels in the world, one can hear languages spoken knowing little about the ideas they`re expressing or even less about their origins. For the vast majority of us that`s not surprising given that today there are thought to be some 7000 languages in existence worldwide. From Cambodia to Iceland or Lesotho to Siberia I’ve witnessed, and never fail to be amazed at, mankind`s capacity to communicate in so many different ways. This must surely be one of the most remarkable features of the world order in the 21st century, a treasure indeed.

But what is the origin of language – a subject that is frequently a matter of speculation? The earliest records of written language go back no more than 4,000 – 5,000 years. Theories abound as to its origin – was there a continuous evolution of language from earlier more primitive sounds – the ‘continuity’ theory or did we see a more precipitate development?

Whatever the origin, how does one define language? It has been described as a “system of conventional spoken, manual or written symbols by means of which human beings as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves”. In other words, it’s the song that moves you, the stories mam and dad told you, the power of a politician to persuade, the love you give to the family, the revolutionary who can sow seeds, the oratory of Martin Luther King or even the mundane football chant . That is, human life in its present form would be impossible without the use of language.

Of the world’s 7000 native languages, two-thirds of the world’s population account for 12 of them or, looked at through a different prism, 3% of the world’s population accounts for 96% of all the languages spoken today. Chinese has more native speakers than any other language 873 million, followed by Hindi 370m and Spanish 350m. English comes next with 340 million native speakers.

Not all continents are equally diverse in the number of spoken languages. Asia has the largest number with 2,301 followed closely by Africa with 2,138. There are about 1,300 languages in the Pacific region and 1,064 in South and North America. Europe, on the other hand, despite its many nation-states has just 286. Within the European Union there are 60 regional and minority languages spoken by 46 million people and an expectation that 15 of these languages will die out in the next two generations. We have witnessed close to home the last native Cornish speaker die in 1777 whilst the last Manx speaker died in 1974. This is not to disparage the huge efforts being made today to restore the fortunes of these Celtic tongues.

At the vulnerable end of the spectrum, the world’s 500 least common languages are spoken by no more than 1 million people in total and 2,000 languages have fewer than 1,000 native speakers. Most of these languages are in decline and UNESCO estimates that half of the world’s total will have disappeared by the end of this century. Linguistic extinction will hit some countries and regions harder than others. Globally, sub-Saharan Africa, the Amazon rain forest, Oceania, Australia and Southeast Asia are destined to lose the most and in the USA there are many endangered languages along the West coast as well as reservations of indigenous people in the mid-West. It’s thought that a similar number of languages to those that survive today have already been lost.

Does this loss really matter? It is often said that language is merely a means of communication but language is surely the main medium to cultivate the mind? A diversity of language consequently facilitates a rich diversity of culture. Is every language not embraced by a culture, part of a rich tapestry that we have inherited? Equally, does each one not represent an integral part of an eco-system where the physical, cultural and economic environments are all inter-related? How can an individual whose very identity is threatened feel confident? If one’s language and culture is constantly being eroded or even facing extinction, how can this equate to a healthy society whose citizens feel empowered? Successfully safeguarding one element of our environment without addressing the others would be nothing short of a Pyrrhic victory.

So, what are the factors that influence language survival or loss? Can we prevent the further loss of languages? The decline needs to be understood and addressed.

Status

The status of a language can have a huge impact on its outcome and very survival. Whilst native speakers of English, French and Spanish are not the most prevalent they are, nevertheless the world’s most widespread languages. This situation represents the imperial past of the nations from where they originated, nations that imposed their administrative and educational patterns on the colonies that they ruled. The status endowed on the imposed culture had clear consequences. English, however, is the world’s most commonly studied language today, reflecting the economic status of the Anglo-American culture and market. More people now learn English than French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, German and Chinese combined.

Notwithstanding the above, the future and status of a Lesser Used Language would appear to depend very much on how many people speak it at this point in time. Legislative or constitutional recognition is also a factor and this can vary from country to country. The role of supranational bodies can also be significant, witness “The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages” with 25 European states as signatories. This initiative from the Council of Europe, with support from the European Parliament, has furthered the status of Lesser Used Languages despite not all of the states having ratified the Charter.

And then there is the influence of modern communications and mass media on minority languages. Business needs communication but as business becomes more than ever a global activity so pressures to enhance communication increase. A paradox arises. Recent political events here and elsewhere probably reflect some of the concerns as communities reassert their identity in the light of an increasingly uniform culture that emerges.

Wales and the Welsh language presents a very good case history for all of the above influences. In the Act of Union between Wales and England in 1536, just 2% of its content referred to the Welsh language but it set the scene for centuries to come and its repercussions remain with us to this day. English was to be the only language of the courts in Wales and those speaking Welsh were to be denied public office. In reality, the mass of the population had Welsh as their only language but, as a consequence of the Act, the proportion of the population speaking English increased rapidly as they sought to accommodate and work within the new structure. In 1847, a notorious Parliamentary report – the Blue Books – castigated the Welsh language as being the basis for the high levels of lawlessness and poor morals in Wales. Not surprisingly, Welsh became regarded as a totally inappropriate medium of education. Pupils were actively discouraged from speaking Welsh in school by means of the hated ‘Welsh Not’ – a piece of wood hung around the neck of a child caught speaking Welsh and passed to the next child found ‘guilty’ of the same ‘offence’ until at the end of the lesson, the child carrying the dreaded symbol was beaten. Whilst speaking Welsh for the general population was never illegal, neither for centuries was it given any Governmental support or recognition. As a result, convention had practically the same force as legislation. Even so, Welsh remained the first language for the majority of the population of Wales, buoyed by the almost universal usage of the Welsh language in the non-conformist chapels of the country and it wasn’t until the Census of 1911, for the first time in 2000 years, that Welsh became a minority language (43.5%) in its own country. The language continued to decline throughout the 20th century . Cymdeithas yr Iaith, one of the most successful language-campaigning organisations ever seen in Europe was established in the 1960s and the language began to turn a corner. Historians will no doubt record this period as one when ‘normalisation’ of the language process began. ‘Cymdeithas’ looked for change in every aspect of life that had an impact on the Welsh language – road signs, housing, television etc – and sought legislation to give Welsh full legal status in Wales. Throughout the period 1960 – 1990 hundreds were imprisoned for breaking the law with non-violent direct action. The growth of bilingualism and interest in the language today is largely due to the efforts and sacrifices made during this period.

A limited Welsh Language Act was passed in 1967 which gave equal validity to Welsh with English. This was essentially ‘passive’ in that, legally, the courts and some public bodies accepted Welsh when it was used by the public but there was little or no compulsion for the public sector to initiate the use of Welsh in providing services. In other words, it was far from Welsh being used ‘normatively’.

From the late 1980s, Wales has seen a growing political consensus on the language. The National Curriculum now includes a provision that all pupils study Welsh from the age of 5 to 16 and in 1993 a new Welsh Language Act was introduced which, for the first time, gave Welsh status on an equal par with English. It did not, however, address issues such as planning and housing, so crucial in language development and survival. Equally, the response to physical mobility, both out-migration of Welsh-speakers and in-migration of non-Welsh speakers was not addressed.

The penetration by the mass media and, more recently, social media has been corrosive for the majority of Lesser Used Languages. One of the key moments in the recent history of Welsh was the decision to establish S4C (Sianel 4 Cymru) in 1982, building on the success of Radio Cymru introduced in 1976? These media, together with on-line and print journals such as Golwg and Cymru Fyw and the impressive range of Welsh books emanating from the Welsh Books Council have to a limited degree ameliorated the impact of English language radio and television.

With the advent of a National Assembly for Wales in 1999, a political forum was established creating an ideal opportunity to ‘normalise’ the language. The National Assembly treats the Welsh and English languages equally “so far as is practicable” and has adopted several policies to secure the status of the language. Notably, a Welsh Language Board has overseen the adoption of language plans or schemes in the public sector and, in 2011, introduced a Welsh Language Measure to further secure the status of Welsh. Guidance around planning and housing however remains less than adequate in relation to their impact on language.

More recently, a Language Commissioner has replaced the Language Board and overseen the introduction of ‘Standards’ for a wide variety – but not all – public bodies. The (majority of) utilities and other private sector companies remain outwith of the legislation.

At the time of writing, the current governmental structures around the language are about to be replaced yet again with an, as yet, undetermined structure. One thing is clear however almost twenty years after the advent of the National Assembly that, in spite of the enhanced status of the language in law, it continues to face real challenges. There is a growing appreciation that ‘official status’ alone cannot ‘save’ a language no more than teaching the language in school can. Welsh, in common with all other lesser used languages, will only endure by its use in every walk of life, public and private. This will require the various populations to embrace their language actively, based on an appreciation that it is their ‘national’ or indigenous tongue. It is without question that in our country it is the National Assembly and Welsh Government that have a crucial role in promoting Welsh in this way.

The Proposal

A preamble

The proposal that follows is not for the faint-hearted. This statement should not be seen as defensive or apologetic but simply the rationale for a highly ambitious project which elevates lesser used languages to a new plane in their world standing.

The myriad of different tongues that we witness today must surely be protected and promoted with the same vigour as the physical environment, facing not dissimilar pressures as a consequence of globalisation. It is incumbent on this generation that the richness of culture encaptured by the world’s indigenous languages is safeguarded for the generations to come. Unquestionably, the world would be a less interesting and a sadder place if we move increasingly to a monoculture. It would be a betrayal of our heritage.

Looking ahead, the panoply of policies required to secure the future and variety of languages that survive at the beginning of the 21st century, should include:

• increasing an awareness of their existence and the contribution they make to enhancing our collective heritage
• Government bodies and state organisations acknowledging the existence of Lesser Used Languages within their territories and recognising the wealth of opportunities they present for empowerment and well-being of their people
• enhancing the profile of Lesser Used Languages, fundamental in securing the above. Policies will need to be coordinated, ‘marketing’ will need to be highly effective and the psychological challenge of reversing current trends will need to be researched in a more concerted manner and implemented more effectively than previously witnessed

How can the above be achieved?
The well-being of Lesser Used Languages can only be secured by a vision – a vision that is ambitious and creative and looks way beyond the situation today. The vision will need to be underpinned by clarity of purpose, first-class research, resources to ensure the necessary advocacy and a well-financed dynamic focus for coordination and implementation. This commitment to the world’s 7000 languages will be brought together in a high-profile Centre here in Wales.

How will its achievements be measured?
The Centre will become a leading player in interpreting the world’s languages to ‘the world’. A significant marketing programme will ensure a growing fascination and willingness to acknowledge the importance of such languages. As a consequence the Centre will become a leading destination with a worldwide audience, both real and virtual.

Within five years the Centre will have widespread recognition for its advocacy of Lesser Used Languages. This would apply not only within their traditional domains but also in the corridors of international power where influence can be exerted.

Where they don’t exist today, Lesser Used Languages will have begun to embrace language planning measures to secure their future. The Centre can act as a facilitator in this respect, notably for those languages that show particular fragility.

In essence, the Centre will embrace the following functions:

• Promotion
• Research
• Advice and support

The Centre for 7000 tongues

A building of iconic standing will house the Centre. As in the case of the Guggenheim in Bilbao or the Titanic Centre in Belfast it will be an architectural gem and a major attraction in its own right. It will be the subject of an international competition for architects and must reflect the area’s environment and past history. The location of the building will, of necessity, be in an area where the Welsh language is a day-to-day reality for the majority of the population. This will help to give the Centre credibility and standing. The functionality of the building will reflect the outline given above. On entering, the visitor will be directed primarily to an interactive interpretation on Lesser Used Languages; further options will direct them to a research area and a consulting/advisory facility.

The concept of an interpretive Centre is well-established. Some inspire but the majority don’t. What is being considered here is something that takes interpretation to another level, not dissimilar to the iconic Titanic centre in Belfast which elevates a story to the ‘personal’, the traumas that ensue and the collective loss. It is interactive, involving the audience in a very accomplished way, leading to an experience never to be forgotten. This is what must be aimed for in interpreting the treasure that is the heritage of the world’s Lesser Used Languages – an equally compelling story and yet more significant in its long-term implications.

The suggestion is that the interpretive element falls into two components:

• A portrayal of the world’s 7000 languages
• Wales and the Welsh language

Looking at each in turn.

1. A Portrayal of the World’s 7000 Languages

A foray into the world’s greatest wonder, the 7000 different ways mankind is able to communicate. The visitor will be ‘steered’ from presentation to presentation. A background of sound representing various cultures or aspects of language will greet the visitor at every turn. The following outline might act as a taster for the experience:

• Presentation 1 – a melange of faces and voices, representing languages from every continent. It is important that this presentation at the outset has a significant impact so that the scene is set and the appetite whet for the feast that follows
• Presentation 2 – crucially, what is language? What is its origin, why and how has mankind developed so many ways of communication?
• Presentation 3 – a portrayal of the world’s indigenous languages today – by continent, by country, state and region
• Presentation 4 – the number of speakers/demographic spread for each language worldwide; an indication of past colonial patterns and modern day trading
• Presentation 5 – status of languages; responses by the state, both positive and negative
• Presentation 6 – policies to safeguard/develop language including the role of educational bodies and parastatals in development; a comparison with exemplars
• Presentation 7 – the lost languages of the world/those on the verge of extinction
• Presentation 8 – language campaigns ; language wars
• Presentation 9 – the relationship between ethnicity and language where that exists
• Presentation 10 – the relationship between language and culture; with the wealth available, this could become an evolving theme with different presentations over time
• Presentation 11 – the role of the mass media, social media and advertising in language usage, status and development
• Presentation 12 – ‘your view’ – an opportunity for the audience to contribute a response

2. The Welsh Experience

The Welsh experience is put forward, not as a paragon of unbounded success, but as a language which has survived despite being adjacent to England, home of the British Empire and one of the world’s most pervasive languages. The survival of Welsh in juxtaposition to English provides a rationale for locating the Centre in Wales. The significance of English today is self-evident and yet Welsh retains an important part in the psyche of most Welsh people, Welsh speakers or not.

A similar format to that outlined in 1) above is envisaged. A series of presentations with the visitor being led on a language journey accompanied by song, sounds and music representing various aspects of Welsh life, historical and contemporary.

• Presentation 1 – an exposition of the language from the 6th century onwards and its development in the wider context of the other Celtic languages. Welsh is the most widely used of all the Celtic tongues
• Presentation 2 – a visual representation of the demography of the Welsh language today illustrating trends over time
• Presentation 3 – the response to language repression. The vision of Michael D. Jones and the establishment of Y Wladfa, a Welsh colony in Patagonia. The sailing of the Mimosa, the pioneering work and travails of the early settlers and the impact of the Campana del Desierto on the Indigenous Tehuelche and Mapuche people. The language in Patagonia today and a contemporary recognition of the situation of the Indigenous communities. Other attempts to create Welsh communities outside Wales
• Presentation 4 – the legal status of the language from the Act of Union in 1536 onwards, with specific reference to some of the language’s more poignant history including the 19th century betrayal of the Blue Books, the pain inflicted by the Welsh Not and the linguistic significance of the drowning of Cwm Tryweryn
• Presentation 5 – The work of William Salesbury and Bishop William Morgan in translating the Bible into Welsh and its impact on Welsh life
• Presentation 6 – ‘Tynged yr Iaith’- a significant address and intervention by Saunders Lewis in 1962. The advent of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Adfer and other lobbying groups leading to many Welsh language campaigns furthering the ‘normalisation’ of the language. Imprisonment for many during this period
• Presentation 7 – official government policy from the period prior to the National Assembly for Wales through to the present day; various ‘official’ attempts to promote the language – the Welsh Courts Act 1942, the Bowen Commission 1972, Cyngor yr Iaith; the role and activities of the Welsh Language Board, public authorities and the third sector. The first comprehensive language strategy produced by the Fforwm Iaith Genedlaethol
• Presentation 8 – the Welsh language reflected in many of the legends of Wales – from the Mabinogion to Rhys and Meinir, Twm Sion Cati to Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy
• Presentation 9 – education in Wales; the use of Welsh as a medium of education at all levels of education. Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Language ‘centres’ for children of in-migrants
• Presentation 10 – a display of contemporary culture unique to Wales – local and National eisteddfodau, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Cwmnïau theatr, the Noson Lawen, Cymanfa Ganu, Talwrn y Beirdd, Cerdd Dant, the Plygain tradition, Mari Lwyd, the buoyant Welsh ‘pop’ Culture …
• Presentation 11 – a portrait of those organisations unique to Wales – Urdd Gobaith Cymru with its centres at Llangrannog and Glan-llyn, Merched y Wawr, S4C, Papurau Bro and the successful Welsh publishing industry
• Presentation 12 – the role of the adult learners’ movement which developed rapidly under various guises from the 1970s. The establishment of ULPANim , CYD, PONT and the highly successful National Centre for Language and Heritage at Nant Gwrtheyrn – the only permanent residential centre for learning the language. Today a National Centre for Welsh responsible for coordinating regional activity has been established on behalf of Welsh Government
• Presentation 13 – Welsh language in employment policy; a variety of responses from public, private and third sector bodies. Highlight positive examples of well-known Welsh-speaking personalities– Sir Bryn Terfel, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Syr Gareth Edwards, Rhys Ifans, Alex Jones, Mathew Rhys, Ioan Gruffydd, Super Furry Animals … and those businesses and companies using the language in a work situation
• Presentation 14 – a historic profile of the Welsh diaspora. Invoke, inter alia, Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas Jefferson, John Harvard and Elijah Yale. The Welsh in Exile and their commitment to the Language and the recognition of the Indigenous Languages of the land they were part of colonising
• Presentation 15 – a vision for the Welsh language in the 21st century; a fully bilingual nation. A commitment from the audience to respond to the challenge.

In addition to the above, there will be a regular place for exhibiting presentations on a given, but changing, theme. Examples might include the urgent plight of a threatened linguistic community and action sought; the changing status of Lesser Used Languages in Europe; a comparison of political parties policies on, for example, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish.

Supporting this major initiative there will be a Research Department described earlier and a Consultancy and Advisory role for the Centre. There will be opportunities for Team Building and Corporate Events. A Seminar facility, generating further income, will build on the many opportunities that arise from the reputation and standing of ‘7000 Tongues’ as a major cultural Centre on the international stage.

CIC 08 – xii – 17