Elen Bonner (Bangor University)
Summary
Recent statistics show that the Welsh language is under pressure in its heartlands, with the outward migration of young Welsh speakers a key concern for language planners. Research on this topic is limited, with past studies around rural migration focusing on economic influences, while more recent work highlights cultural factors. However, few studies acknowledge that different groups may have varying priorities when deciding to migrate.
A rare exception is Cooke and Petersen's (2019) typology, which explores young people's decisions about education, employment, and location from a rural island perspective. This paper adapts their framework to the Welsh-speaking context. Sixty semi-structured interviews with Welsh speakers aged 18-40 who have chosen to stay, leave, or return to Welsh heartlands inform a new typology representing the diverse priorities influencing migration decisions. The result is a typology with 23 distinct categories, providing a valuable tool for policymakers to target interventions more effectively.
As part of an Arfor-funded project (a programme aimed at promoting the economy and the Welsh language), this typology has been refined yet further into 12 practical categories. This paper traces the development of the typology from academic research to a tool for practical application in supporting the Welsh language.