AIBU to think these Welsh language requirements are ridiculous (and bordering on discrimination?)

[DimDimDiolch]

Context: I run a micro business in urban South Wales, where I rarely hear Welsh spoken, and many Welsh born-and-bred people don't speak a word of Welsh. I lived my whole life in England (no Welsh lessons at school - or anywhere else!) until about 18 months ago. I've picked up the odd bit of Welsh here and there (diolch, dim, croeso, nos da, bara, araf - that sort of thing) but I'm far from fluent. My business isn't yet big enough to employ anyone else.

My business is the sort of business where you attend events, pay for a pitch and sell products to the general public.

I've now been denied pitches at a couple of events purely on the grounds that I don't speak Welsh, even though literally everyone locally speaks English (except those who only speak Polish or Urdu...). AIBU to think it's a matter of anti-English sentiment, bordering on discrimination, that I'm experiencing? It all feels a bit 'jobs for the boys' to me, when my Welsh speaking ability has nothing to do with the products I sell.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

How is that even legal? Surely you can challenge it?

[ShoesCoatBag]

This is why I and a lot of my school friend who are
born and bred in Wales now live in England. We are a lost generation. Weren’t taught Welsh but expected to be able to speak it by the time we were getting jobs.

[OverByYer]

Sounds like you may well live where I do.
I’m happy if people speak Welsh if they choose to but it really bugs me that it’s forced on those of us who don’t

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Meh, I am from South Wales, none of my family still living there speak welsh and they all have decent jobs so very sceptical that there is a lost generation.

Denying the op a stall is not on though.

[Someonesayroadtrip]

I'm welsh but not a welsh speaker. We were taught welsh but I'm dyslexic and just never picked it up. I do feel very discriminated against at times due to my lack of welsh speaking despite loving in an area that hardly any welsh is spoken.

[TheThingWithFeathers]

What sort of events though? And who runs them? On the face of it, it sounds unreasonable but just wondering what the background is.

[SerenDippitty]

Did hey say in so many words that it’s because you don’t speak Welsh?

[MaxPaddyandHarry]

I remember someone telling me about 40 years ago that teaching jobs were all advertised in Welsh so if you didn't speak Welsh you couldn't apply. She was English, living in Bridgend.

[museumum]

I’d have thought if you can provide your info and price lists in written welsh they’d have to allow it.

[TheThingWithFeathers]

And who tests or checks that you can speak Welsh as part of your application or at the event itself? If it was me, I'd start doing classes or even just Duolingo. Then you can say you speak Welsh and you won't technically be lying. You just can't speak very much Welsh.

[SerenDippitty]

I remember someone telling me about 40 years ago that teaching jobs were all advertised in Welsh so if you didn't speak Welsh you couldn't apply. She was English, living in Bridgend.

Never been true.

[Llareggub]

I’m not denying your experience but it does puzzle me. I’ve never come across this; who has refused you a pitch? I’m also in South Wales.

[SerenDippitty]

I’d have thought if you can provide your info and price lists in written welsh they’d have to allow it.

Yes I would have thought t’s more about bilingual presentation than actual spoken Welsh.

[foamrolling]

Seems a bit odd that you both live somewhere where hardly anyone speaks Welsh and you rarely hear it and yet there are whole events where everyone who has a stall is a welsh speaker.

The only events I would expect that to happen at would be ones that are specifically Welsh language ones. What events are these exactly where you've been denied the right to set up stall?

[gypsywater]

This such BS. "Lost generation"

[greenlavender]

I'm from South Wales & although I live in the SE now, lots of my family & friends still live there & I visit often. Many of them are teachers & of course others work in different fields, industry, the NHS, Police, local Council etc. I don't recognise anything in this post I'm afraid.

[Nomorelaundry]

Where in SW are you?

[justasking111]

In N Wales where they look down their noses at south Walians, (not proper welsh) we do expect Welsh in government, teaching, NHS but for selling goods, that is ridiculous. I think you are a victim of the Taffia.

[Waffles80]

All the “theys” in this thread show the true colours of the posters behind them.

When a language is eradicated systematically by an imperialist nation who present their language / culture / religion as superior, so much more than the language dies. Cultures, histories and identities are embedded within language.

Protecting Welsh is really, really important and it’s one the greatest linguistic protection success stories. Many other marginalised languages have been eradicated.

Yes, it may inconvenience a few people, even people who don’t deserve to have their businesses impacted slightly. But it’s for the greater good.

Learn Welsh OP.

[Frankiestein402]

Wales is not England - legally services provided in Wales must be bilingual - definitely not discriminatory.

Its a bit cheeky to think that as an incomer you don't have to support Welsh.

The Welsh were crapped on by the English umpteen times over the centuries - arguably are still being crapped on. The Welsh are allowed to take pride in their language, culture and history - if you don't like it why are you there.

[ghostyslovesheets]

Learn Welsh OP

yes - this!

[DimDimDiolch]

I'm talking about large events that are open to the public, either free or ticketed events. I'm not talking about people's weddings or other private functions. I imagine that the mismatch between not hearing Welsh yet finding Welsh speaking traders is because some traders travel a long way to attend, and because some people have the ability to speak Welsh, but default to English in day to day life.

T&Cs of one state that all public facing staff must be Welsh speaking... there is only me! I may just start fudging my Welsh language ability on the forms. I've got a Welsh speaking acquaintance who I'm sure would be happy to do the written translations for me.

[Waffles80]

@Frankiestein402 it’s more than a bit cheeky.

It’s symptomatic of the don’t-give-a-fuck-about-others ideology of a people who’ve collectively fucked over countless countries and have never cared about the consequences.

[ghostyslovesheets]