Cardiff's Cymraeg: the status and influence of Welsh in an urban setting

This study examines attitudes towards the Welsh language (Cymraeg) among a socio-professionally diverse sample of residents in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Drawing upon a mixed-methods approach that combines survey data, qualitative interviews, and statistical analysis, the research explores how educational attainment, occupational background, and everyday experiences are associated with perceptions of Welsh in a contemporary urban setting. The findings indicate considerable variation in attitudes towards Welsh across the sample. While some participants expressed positive evaluations of the language and its cultural significance, many reported limited perceptions of its practical relevance in their educational, professional, and social lives. Statistical analyses identified significant differences associated with both educational attainment and occupational sector, with the most favourable attitudes generally observed among participants employed in education and public administration. The qualitative findings provide additional context for understanding these patterns and highlight the importance of perceived opportunities for language use in shaping attitudes towards Welsh. Although the study is exploratory and not intended to be representative of the wider Cardiff population, it contributes additional evidence to ongoing discussions concerning language policy, language planning, and the relationship between institutional language promotion and everyday linguistic practices in urban multilingual contexts.