The darkened glass of bilingualism? Translation and interpreting in Welsh language planning

Translating and interpreting in Wales are closely involved with Welsh language planning and its goal of encouraging people to speak Welsh. This article explores how translation and interpreting have influenced the public perception of the Welsh language, and how they are now used in the context of language promotion. It is not only literary translation that is important in this respect, but perhaps even more the translation of day-to-day texts and documents – as well, crucially, as interpreting in institutional and community contexts. I argue that language planners may need a more profound understanding of the translating and interpreting professions in order to use them to full potential in the processes aimed at making Welsh a fully viable everyday language.