Canolfan Bedwyr Founded

The Centre was founded on the 1st of August 1996 as part of the integration process between the Univeristy of Wales, Bangor and the Normal College. The centre was named after the late Professor Bedwyr Lewis Jones and was officially opened by his widow Mrs Eleri Wynne Jones.

Cymarfer on CD-Rom

In 1999, the first of several interactive computer packages for developing Welsh language skills was published. Titled Cymarfer, these packages were aimed at different language levels and specific versions were created for university students and for the workplace.

Cymraeg Clir Published

With the publication of this book, Cen Williams laid the foundations for the development of training, translation and editing work at the centre's Cymraeg Clir Unit.

Geraint Wyn at the helm

During the two year period between 2000-2002, following the secondment of Dr Cen Williams to lead the Welsh Medium Teaching Development Unit on behalf of the University of Wales, Dr Geraint Wyn Jones took over as Director.

Establishing the e-Welsh Unit

The establishment of this new unit brought together the Terminology Centre (which was formerly located in the School of Education) and a number of various Language Technology projects (located in the School of Psychology, Research Centre Wales and Canolfan Bedwyr itself). Led by Delyth Prys, the unit was renamed the Language Technologies Unit in 2006.

Microsoft Welsh Spellchecker

In October 2001, Microsoft launched a Welsh spell checker and hyphenator for Office XP. These language tools were developed by Microsoft in partnership with Canolfan Bedwyr and the Welsh Language Board.

Translation Unit moves to Canolfan Bedwyr

In 2002, the University Translation Unit moved from the Academic Registry to Canolfan Bedwyr as the university sought to bring together policy, training and translation in an integrated manner.

Welsh Speech Technology

The Language Technology Unit started work on speech technology research in a joint Welsh and Irish project (WISPR), funded by the European Union.

Lexicelt

Lexicelt, an online dictionary and phrase book for Welsh and Irish was published. The project was a collaboration between the Language Technologies Unit and University College Dublin.

Canolfan Bedwyr moves to Bryn Haul

As the centre's remit expanded and as staff numbers increased, the centre moved from the Neuadd Aethwy building on College Road to Bryn Haul on Victoria Avenue.

Canolfan Bedwyr Staff Outside Bryn Haul

Cysgliad released

At the National Eisteddfod 2004 in Newport, the Cysgliad software package was launched. The publication of this package brought together the spelling and grammar checker Cysill and the electronic dictionary Cysgeir to create one key resource for writing in Welsh.

NAACLT Conference

The NAACLT(Celtic Language Teachers Association of North America) annual conference was held in Bangor, under the guidance of Delyth Prys.

Developing the National Sabbatical Scheme

In 2005 the Government's Education Department asked the centre to develop an intensive language course for teachers and lecturers to meet the growing demand for Welsh-medium practitioners. The course was piloted for the first time in January 2006. Today, the courses are offered across Wales.

One of the first cohorts of staff with the tutors. 2006

Ieithgi for the BBC

The BBC released Ieithgi, a series of online language games developed by the Language Technologies Unit.

Y Termiadur published

ACCAC (the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for  Wales) published Y Termiadur: Termau wedi’u safoni, a revised and expanded version of the Y Termiadur Ysgol (1998), based on the terminology research of the Language Technologies Unit.

Dr Cen Williams retires

In July 2007 Dr Cen Williams retired from his post as director of the centre and the current director Dr Llion Jones was appointed in his place.

Canolfan Bedwyr moves to Normal Site

Following the university's decision to sell Bryn Haul, the centre moved to the Meirion Building on the Normal Site.

Staff at the centre outside Meirion during a visit from then Culture Minister, Alun Ffred Jones.

EnwauCymru Published

EnwauCymru Online was published. The database is the source for Welsh and English place names in Wales.

Terminology Standardization Guidelines Published

The Terminology Standardization Guidelines was produced by the Language Technologies Unit for the Welsh Government Translation Service and the Welsh Language Board

Law in Welsh

The co-operative module Y Gyfraith yn Gymraeg (Law in Welsh) is taught for the first time, by ourselves and Bangor Law School. Students from Bangor University, Aberystwyth University and the University of South Wales are still offered the module yearly.

Language Handbook in new guise

Canolfan Bedwyr's popular language skills handbook, Llawlyfr Gloywi Iaith, was revised and re-published in 2008. This amended version continues to sell hundreds of copies annually.

Video Network Translation

During this year, the Translation Unit began providing a ground-breaking simultaneous translation service over the video network. With a translator located in the Bangor studio, people could simultaneously receive the translation in other locations through the network.

GUM3C Conference

As part of Britain's contribution to the UNESCO Year of Languages,the GUM3C (Global Understanding in Multilingual, Multimodal and Multimedia Contexts) Conference was held.

New Language Scheme Launched

Speaking at the launch of the new University Language Scheme, Meirion Prys Jones, Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board said that Bangor had "set the goal for other Higher Education institutions" in terms of Welsh language use and policy.

M.A. Enviromental Management

Collaborate with the School of Natural Sciences to offer a module on the innovative M.A. course Rheolaeth Amgylcheddol (Environmental Management), taught completely through the medium of Welsh.

HE Terminology Project established

As the Centre for Welsh Medium Higher Education prepared for the founding of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Dr Tegau Andrews was appointed to lead its Higher Education Terminology Project. Based at Canolfan Bedwyr, the project continues to go from strength to strength.

Cysill ar-lein Launched

Cysill Ar-lein was launched, a free online version of the popular spelling and grammar checker Cysill.

SALTCymru

The Speech and Language Technologies Wales (SALTCymru) network was established to bring together industry and academia for the benefit of the Welsh economy.

Unveiling Bedwyr's Bust

Following a national appeal, sculptor John Meirion Morris was commissioned to create a bust of Bedwyr Lewis Jones. The bust was unveiled by his widow Mrs Eleri Wynne Jones on 4 May 2010. The bust can be found outside the Council Chamber in the University's Main Building.

John Meirion Morris and Eleri Wynne Jones on the day of the unveiling

Cymorth Cymraeg Launched

In June 2011, this one-stop-shop of language resources for University staff was launched. Over the years, the site has become a valuable resource for employees in organizations and businesses throughout Wales wishing to use Welsh in the context of their work.

Terminology Standardization for schools

Funded by the Welsh Government, a project was established to develop further work on terminology for schools and FE colleges in Wales, and to begin publication of Y Termiadur Addysg, an online terminology glossary for education edited by Gruffudd Prys.

CyfieithuCymru Launched

In August 2011, CyfieithuCymru a Welsh translation system created by David Chan and David Bryn Jones was launched to manage the translation work of large organisations. The system, used by the university's translation unit at Canolfan Bedwyr as well as several other large organisations, includes translation memory and machine translation components.

Bangor Branch of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol founded

Following the founding of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol in April 2011, the Bangor University Branch of the Coleg was founded, with its administrative base at Canolfan Bedwyr.

Dr Enlli Huws and Dr Owain Llwyd - two of Bangor's First Coleg Cymraeg appointments as Welsh Medium lecturers.

Canolfan Bedwyr moves to Neuadd Dyfrdwy

In July 2011, The centre moved to its current home in Neuadd Dyfrdwy on College Road

Geiriadur yr Academi goes online

On St David's Day 2012, a digital version of Bruce Griffiths and Dafydd Glyn Jones's highly valued Geiriadur yr Academi was published. The Language Technologies Unit was responsible for the technical work involved in creating and publishing a searchable interface for the dictionary's 90,000 records.

Language Certificate Pilot

Led by Canolfan Bedwyr staff, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's Welsh Language Skills Certificate was piloted. The certificate now forms an important part of the Coleg's provision.

Inspire Wales Award

At a ceremony in Cardiff City Hall under the auspices of the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Western Mail, the University received an Inspire Wales award in the 'Bilingual Workplaces' category. The nomination was based on the work and initatives of Canolfan Bedwyr in promoting the Welsh language in the workplace

Dictionary App Launched

On the summit of Snowdon in October of 2012, the Language Technologies Unit launched Ap Geiriaduron, its Welsh-English dictionary app for iOS and Android devices,

Porth Termau Launched

The Welsh National Terminology Portal was launched.

Exercise bike in Plain Welsh

At the request of the multinational company Johnson Health Tech, the Cymraeg Clir unit received a commission to create a welsh interface for all their exercise equipment.

Corpora Portal Launched

The Welsh National Corpora Portal, a collection of written Welsh and bilingual corpora that can be searched online, was launched.

Welsh Jobs Fair

In March 2014, Canolfan Bedwyr organised the first Welsh Jobs Fair for students. This fair has now become an annual event that goes from strength to strength

Welsh and Technology Conference

The Language Technologies Unit at Bangor University held a conference on the theme of the Welsh Language and Technology. During the conference, the National Language Technologies Portal was launched.

Language Tutor's work Regognised

During the University's graduation ceremonies, a Bangor University Teaching Fellowship was awarded to Eleri Hughes, Senior Tutor at Canolfan Bedwyr's Language Skills Unit, for her work in providing language support for students.

Course for Academic Staff

Introduce a Language Skills Course especially for academic staff for the first time. “Excellent course!”

#iaithgwaith Conference

In November 2015, Carwyn Jones , First Minister came to open a national conference organised by Canolfan Bedwyr focussing on the best ways to promote and use Welsh in the workplace

First Course for Classroom Assistants

As the Sabbatical Scheme continued to develop, the Language Skills Unit delivered the course to Classroom Assistants in Flintshire and Wrexham for the first time.

2016

Macsen

The Language Technologies Unit began working on a project to create a digital personal assistant called Macsen.
2016

Canolfan Bedwyr's 20th Birthday

In September 2016, Canolfan Bedwyr will embark on a year long series of events and celebrations to commemorate twenty years of innovation in language development and planning. Keep checking the website for more details.