Experts at Aberystwyth University are calling on politicians to put greater emphasis on how the economy effects minority languages.

Researchers at Aberystwyth and Edinburgh universities want more emphasis to be put on how economic development affects minority languages if Welsh and other lesser-used languages are to thrive.

The call is one of 14 recommendations in a report on promoting minority languages that was launched at the Aberystwyth University stand at the National Eisteddfod last week.

As well as the impact of economic development, the report addresses how language is passed from generation to generation within families, international migration, multiculturalism and balancing the role of governments and civil society organisations.

Study co-author Dr Huw Lewis from the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University said: “There have been many attempts by policy makers in Wales, Scotland and beyond in recent years to consider how the use of a minority language can boost economic performance - for example, does the ability to speak a minority language boost an individual’s job prospects and their potential earnings, or whether companies’ use of different minority language sectors boosts their market profile or turnover.

“However, it became apparent during the project that, to date, there has been a lack of consideration of how economic processes influence the viability of language communities."

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