Welsh 2nd language

[psychocandy]

Fixed. I guess the first bit made it look like son was visiting someone with a crystal ball who spoke welsh!

[SpontaneousOrder]

I've been working in Wales for the past few months. I don't fully understand why the Welsh have to have 2 languages.

I got my car MOT'd, and had the test certificate twice: one in English, one in Welsh.

Had a council tax bill. Twice. One in English, one in Welsh.

All road signs are twice as big.

Someone please tell me the point!!!

I'll get my coat... (who's coat is this jacket?)

It's the law.

[bobspud]

The heritage bit is great but in an region where there are many area's of unemployment wouldn't it be a better idea to let a dead language go, and get your kids to learn Indian or Chinese and become a powerful gateway into England and europe for high value services to those countries? In england there have been several now dead languages that we could have stubbornly tried to hold on to. Instead we continue to evolve and adapt to the changing world.

[The Spartan]

I for one am proud that my daughter speaks Welsh, it was something I was denied when I was her age regardless of what people think about the language it's here to stay for the moment.

If I recall correctly in some parts of England there are road signs in Polish

[VectraMan]

My son (aged 10) is fluent and goes to a welsh language medium school (all lessons in welsh and kids not allowed to speak english in school).

Isn't that tantamount to child abuse? English is the first language of the UK, including most Welsh people, not to mention lots of other parts of the world and has become the only international language that counts. Why on earth would you not want to educate your kids in English just to prove some kind of lefty wishy-washy namby-pamby point about cultural identity? I assume he speaks English too, but you're still putting him at a disadvantage in life compared to nearly every other kid in the UK who learns in the language the world speaks.

[MicrosoftBob]

I'll probably be moving near Llanbrynmair if my missus gets homeworking status, and was presuming if we try and learn the language the locals would be less uppity

It's common courtesy to try and fit in at least

[bobspud]

I think its sad that we have people that are excluded from our society because they don't speak English while there are people in Wales that think its acceptable to try and turn themselves back into a Ghetto with a niche language that no-one else in the world has any wish to learn…

Welsh should be nothing higher than something like Latin and certainly below french in the school pecking order.

Polish Street signs in the UK sounds like scaremongering although I know many places will print council crap in 50 languages like anyone ever bother to read it…

[psychocandy]

Isn't that tantamount to child abuse? English is the first language of the UK, including most Welsh people, not to mention lots of other parts of the world and has become the only international language that counts. Why on earth would you not want to educate your kids in English just to prove some kind of lefty wishy-washy namby-pamby point about cultural identity? I assume he speaks English too, but you're still putting him at a disadvantage in life compared to nearly every other kid in the UK who learns in the language the world speaks.

Are you serious? I've seen it all now.... Of course he ******* speaks English. What did you think he comes home in the evening and we don't understand a word?

There are more languages in the world other than English - you do know that don't you? Just because you speak English does not preclude you from other languages.

He goes to normal school, he comes out and speaks English. He goes to Welsh school and comes out speaking both Welsh and English. You know they do English as a lesson as well don't you? (like a normal kid would do French etc). So whats the disadvantage here?

Like I said, in a lot of cases the welsh medium schools are better. Possibly because kids who go there generally are there because the parents have made a choice for that school and are a little more interested in their education. (as opposed to the default whats the nearest school thing). Also, believe it or not, there are jobs in wales where its an advantage to speak welsh.

Only disadvantage is when the parents aren't fluent. Like us. Sometimes homework can be an issue. But the schools know this and its pretty much always translated also.

Prime example here of why you lot over the border just 'don't get it'.

[psychocandy]

I'll probably be moving near Llanbrynmair if my missus gets homeworking status, and was presuming if we try and learn the language the locals would be less uppity

It's common courtesy to try and fit in at least

Good for you. Up there mind they don't even like us south walians who dont speak the language.

I was once told a welshman who doesnt speak welsh is not quite a welshman but not as bad as an englishman. Cheers for that!

[psychocandy]

I think its sad that we have people that are excluded from our society because they don't speak English while there are people in Wales that think its acceptable to try and turn themselves back into a Ghetto with a niche language that no-one else in the world has any wish to learn…

Welsh should be nothing higher than something like Latin and certainly below french in the school pecking order.

Polish Street signs in the UK sounds like scaremongering although I know many places will print council crap in 50 languages like anyone ever bother to read it…

Dont think theres anyone in wales who can only speak welsh and not english to be honest with you.

BTW. Don't think the Welsh are too concerned about whether anyone else in the world wants to hear it.