Public Lectures and Public Conferences

  • Publicity should be in Welsh and English (e.g. venue, time and date).
  • The title of any individual lecture should be in the language in which it is given. The title should be bilingual if a simultaneous translation service is to be provided
  • The publicity for the lecture or the conference should note clearly whether a simultaneous translation service will be available or not.
  • When organising a lecture or conference, the aims and objectives of the event should be carefully considered in the linguistic context. In order to be able to respond to enquiries, it is recommended, as an example of good practice, that a record is kept of these aims and objectives. In assessing needs, consideration should also be given to the following: a) the tone of the formal sessions, b) the tone of the discussion groups, c) the tone of the informal breaks, d) linguistic requirements with regard to chairing sessions, d) the subject matter of the lecture e) the likely audience for the lecture. Different linguistic models can meet various requirements, and the model most likely to achieve the desired aim should be selected. The following guidelines are offered as possible models.

Public Lectures

i. Departmental lectures
Public lectures are held with guest speakers, under the auspices of individual academic departments. For these lectures, Model D1 would usually be followed unless the lecture organisers opt for D2 on the basis of a needs assessment.

ii. University lectures
An annual series of public lectures is arranged, with prominent guest speakers, For these lectures, Model D1 is followed.

Language of Delivery Translation Requirements
Model D1 Lecture delivered in Welsh or English with the Chair鈥檚 introduction in the language of the lecture or bilingual. No simultaneous translation provided.
Model D2 Lecture delivered in Welsh or English with the Chair鈥檚 introduction in the language of the lecture or bilingual. Simultaneous translation service provided when the lecture is in Welsh.

Public conferences

Language of Delivery Translation Requirements
Model C1 Lectures wholly in Welsh only or English only. Discussion groups in English only or Welsh only according to the language of delivery. No simultaneous translation provided.
Model C2 Lectures in Welsh or English. Some discussion groups in English and some in Welsh. Simultaneous translation service for the Welsh lectures and/or other plenary sessions
Model C3 Lectures in Welsh or English. Discussion groups in English only Simultaneous translation service for the Welsh lectures and/or other plenary sessions.
Model C4 Lectures in Welsh or English


Some discussion groups in English and some in Welsh		 Simultaneous translation service for the Welsh lectures and/or other plenary sessions.

Simultaneous translation for one or more of the Welsh groups. (The possible technical difficulties which may arise in requesting simultaneous translation in more than one location, in terms of the need to duplicate equipment and personnel, and possible problems with electronic interference, should be noted).