Affiliations: [a] Computing and Minority Languages Group, Department of
Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Glamorgan, CF37 1DL, Wales,
UK. Tel.: +44 1443 483694; Fax: +44 1443 482169; E-mail: djcunlif@glam.ac.uk | School of Management, University of St Andrews, Scotland
Abstract: The internet is now an important element of most political parties'
communication strategies during elections. While online communication might be
claimed to enable smaller parties and marginal voices to compete more
effectively with major parties, it might also enable minority languages to
challenge the existing dominance of majority languages in traditional political
communication. This paper explores Welsh-language provision on the websites of
the 18 parties which fielded candidates in Wales during the 2010 UK General
Election. Three websites making bilingual provision are examined in greater
detail, considering the Welsh-language experience in terms of information
seeking tasks, the use of web2.0 and resource generation. Overall the provision of regional information relating to Wales and of Welsh-language material has
remained remarkably static since the last General Election in 2005. It appears
that only parties which regularly contest seats in Wales make regional
provision and that Welsh-language provision is limited to those parties who
have websites specifically orientated to Wales. The Welsh language does not
appear to have been a priority in terms of online political communication for
most of the parties campaigning in Wales during the General Election. Even on
those sites making a bilingual provision, the quality, timeliness and extent of
the Welsh-language experience varied considerably.
Keywords: Political parties, website, general election, Wales, language, Cymraeg
