The board's functions are to be transferred in 2007

Among the proposals are laws to allow people to demand Welsh-language public services and the establishment of Welsh and English as official languages.

The assembly government said it was willing to discuss the ideas but would not support new laws solely to protect the rights of existing Welsh speakers.

The board is due to have its functions taken over by the Welsh Assembly Government in March 2007.

Its chair, Meri Huws, denied that the board's proposals, outlined in its 'position paper' released on Thursday, were an attempt to try to save the board.

"We are trying to contribute to a discussion which would lead to a new future for Wales and a future that we hope will, in terms of growth of the Welsh language, continue way beyond March 2007," Ms Huws said.

Also among the proposals are measures to promote use of Welsh in the public sector workplace and legislation to "normalise" use of the language, including the establishment of Welsh and English as the official languages of Wales.

'Stronger legislation'

Pressure group the Welsh Language Society welcomed the board's ideas.

"By calling for a review of the 1993 Language Act (the board) has identified itself with those who are demanding stronger legislation for the Welsh language," said Dafydd Morgan, the society's campaigns officer.

The board asked for a smooth handover of its functions to the assembly government and wants a new independent language regulator to be legally established beforehand.

An assembly government spokesman said culture minister Alun Pugh was very interested in letting more people know about the rights already enshrined in current language laws.

But the spokesman added: "No Labour government now or in the future would support the idea of new primary legislation focused only on the rights of people who already speak Welsh."