Page 139 - 《客語及少數族群語言政策》附錄_少數語言法律
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13. Linguistic infrastructure
In order to create the right conditions to enable the number of Welsh speakers and users to increase, solid
infrastructure is required.
Long-term investment in this infrastructure needs to continue to secure a firm foundation
for the future.
Corpora, dictionaries and terminology
Living languages evolve continuously and reflect the wider world.
We believe that we need to maintain modern linguistic infrastructure, including corpora (i.e. a
large collection of printed texts or sound recordings), dictionaries and terminological
resources, in order to ensure that the Welsh language continues to be up to date and relevant.
Corpora are vitally important for translators, lexicographers and terminologists, as well as the
world of technology where they are crucial for linguistic software. It could be argued that this
important focus on corpora has not received as much attention in Wales as in other countries in
the past, and that this needs to change in the future.
It is easy to underestimate the importance of high-quality lexicographical resources.
Ensuring the long-term future of such projects can lead to further positive outcomes for
the language, increasing visibility and enabling the production of high-quality resources
for learners and fluent speakers.
In addition to corpus projects, it is vitally important to have
high-quality sources of terminology that facilitate the use of Welsh in all aspects of everyday life,
including expert areas such as technology, law, and education.
The translation profession
Our vision is to see the Welsh language normalised in as many aspects of life as possible, so the
strategic importance of the translation profession is increasing. For example, as more bodies and
institutions provide Welsh language services – voluntarily or bound by legislation – a ready
supply of skilled and highly qualified translators and interpreters will be needed.
We have seen a significant development in the profession over the last few years, and the Welsh
Government is keen to see the profession
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