Significant progress in the roll out and promotion of machine translation is just one of the mechanisms that has helped the National Assembly for Wales to deliver improvements in it's Official Language Scheme according to a new report.
The launch of Welsh as a supported language on Microsoft Translator in 2014 has transformed ways of working in the Assembly by enabling users to quickly translate, from one language to the other, directly from Microsoft-supported applications without the need to commission a formal translation. This has enabled staff to be utilised in other priority areas such as translation of committee briefing papers.
The report, which details the improvements and progress made during the past year, also outlines work that has been done in improving language services to the general public and assembly staff as well as assembly members and their support staff.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, the National Assembly for Wales's Commissioner with responsibility for the Commission's Official Languages functions and policy said:
"This report demonstrates further improvements in our bilingual services throughout the year and takes us closer towards achieving our ambition to be recognised as a truly bilingual organisation.
"The work we have undertaken has provided firm foundations upon which we will continue to build. The Assembly Commission has rightly placed great emphasis on its engagement strategy, and valuing all contributions to democracy.
"Enabling all people to engage with us in the official language of their choice, however they wish to do so, plays a huge part in that strategy. The introduction of the Bilingual Skills Strategy and the work undertaken on bespoke language skills and learning provision demonstrates that we are thinking differently and using our resources more flexibly and creatively."
Welsh Language Commissioner Annual Report 2014-15 (PDF, 1MB)