‘Why,’ said Steve as he settled his pint down on the table, Johnny
could tell by his voice that he was going to ask a question of little
importance in a tone that made it sound like it was a matter of life or
death.
‘do they insist on doing announcements in both Welsh and English
on Cardiff train station? Only about ten percent of the population speak Welsh,
I just don’t see the point.’
Johnny was right, it was the type of thing that only Steve could even think was important.
‘Um cos it’s the language of Wales I suppose and more and more people are speaking it. It seems utterly sensible to me, it does no harm.’ Johnny was hoping logic would ward off the impending rant.
‘Okay that's fair enough but I don't think there are any Welsh speakers who don't speak English, so why do they do the Welsh announcement second, after the English one? By the time the Welsh comes on everyone has understood the English anyway, making it completely pointless.’
Johnny was right, it was the type of thing that only Steve could even think was important.
‘Um cos it’s the language of Wales I suppose and more and more people are speaking it. It seems utterly sensible to me, it does no harm.’ Johnny was hoping logic would ward off the impending rant.
‘Okay that's fair enough but I don't think there are any Welsh speakers who don't speak English, so why do they do the Welsh announcement second, after the English one? By the time the Welsh comes on everyone has understood the English anyway, making it completely pointless.’
Johnny nodded as Steve took a mouthful.
‘It smacks of an afterthought, like someone just tagged it on.
Surely that is more insulting than not having it at all.’
Johnny took a long swig on his pint mulling over what his friend had said, he had to admit Steve had a point even if it was a pointless point.
Johnny took a long swig on his pint mulling over what his friend had said, he had to admit Steve had a point even if it was a pointless point.
‘I could understand it if they did Welsh first then the English,
then Welsh speakers would have an advantage, maybe encouraging more people to
learn Welsh, but as it stands it’s nonsense.’ Steve was on a roll now. ‘They do
the same in Boots - to call you for the counter, “cashier number 7 please” then whatever
that is in Welsh. I’ve never seen one person look confused at the English and
then have a moment of realisation when the Welsh comes. It’s just tokenism, I’d
be up in arms if I was one of those Welsh language campaigners.’
‘But you’re not,’ said Johnny, ‘ so why do you care? You don’t
even speak Welsh.’
‘It’s the principle though isn’t it?’ said Steve.
‘And the principle now is that it is your round.’ Johnny smiled.
‘Same again?’ Steve said and then added ‘un fath eto*?’ with a cheeky smile as he got up to get the beers.
*Google translate assures me this is Welsh for Same Again
steve yn berffaith gywir
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