Pioneering work in Welsh language e-publishing

The pioneering work of Canolfan Bedwyr staff in the area of Welsh language e-publishing will be featured on S4C’s arts and popular culture programme Pethe tonight (26 March 2012).

In addition to the research into e-publishing conducted by the centre’s Language Technologies Unit on behalf of the Welsh Books Council, the programme will also highlight how the centre’s director, Dr Llion Jones, in a groundbreaking initiative, has become the first  Welsh language poet to publish a multi-media volume of poetry for the iPad.

Llion’s volume, Pethe Achlysurol, which was originally published in paperback form in 2007, now incorporates a number of video interpretations of the poems and is being offered free of charge through iTunes.

Commenting on these recent developments, Llion Jones said: “One of the main findings of the report that was prepared by the Language Technologies Unit on behalf of the Welsh Books Council was that the provision of e-books through the medium of Welsh  was a matter of urgency, not only in terms of offering a measure of parity for Welsh language readers but also in terms of strengthening the Welsh language’s image as a vibrant and modern language. As a Centre, we’re pleased to be able to contribute in different ways to an area which is crucial to the Welsh language’s continuing vitality.”

Publication date: 26 March 2012