To think that people should respond to a greeting in the language of the country?

[Whitlandcarm]

I work in a place where we get lots of visitors popping in and out, part of my job is to say good morning/good afternoon as they enter.

The language of my workplace is Welsh. Every member of staff is fluent. The place in which I work is a place to learn about Wales.

I say "Bore da" with a smile, and get a "err hi" "morning.", or my fave, nothing.
Often with a face like I've just shit on their shoe. Perhaps sometimes even a hint of disgust.

AIBU unreasonable to expect people to answer me in Welsh? Then speak to me in English if they please afterwards?

Would you go to Spain and answer in English, if a shop keeper etc greeted you? Certainly not.

Even some Welsh seem to do this, but 99% of the time they are English.

Many Australians, Americans, Canadians, other Europeans put effort in and reply "bore da", "prynhawn da" etc.

I reckon it's the 'if I reply in Welsh the conversation will continue in Welsh' fear.

I used to have this in my last job - I'm not a fluent Welsh speaker but can greet and maybe have a little chat about the weather. In my last job I was expected to answer the phone in Welsh which was actually massively counterproductive as if it was a fluent Welsh speaker phoning they would - not unreasonably - then continue the conversation in Welsh leaving me floundering. It didn't help that because of the role I was in there were a lot of technical terms, and I trained in English so even if my Welsh was better I'd have been stuck when we got onto the architectural stuff they'd actually phoned about.

What does seem odd though, is that OP says her workplace is a place to learn about Wales - you'd think, if you were walking into such an establishment, it wouldn't be a massive surprise if you were greeted in Welsh!

Also - the phone thing - it used to drive me nuts, particularly because those (very few) callers who weren't happy that I couldn't talk with them in Welsh were even more unhappy when they started off in Welsh and I had to stop them....

I'm Welsh, I speak Welsh as a second language, and I live in Wales. I would never feel disappointed or annoyed that someone from outside Wales has no knowledge of the niche language I have never had to use (I sometimes choose to, but never have to). It isn't taught or heard outside of Wales. It simply isn't a worthwhile language to learn even the basics of unless you wish to live and work in Wales, especially when English is spoken far more often all over the country and by every single person who can also speak Welsh.

I would reply in Welsh. Any further conversation I would say what's that in English in Welsh. (Smug).

I didn't grow up in Wales, but I have a basic command of the Welsh language. I would probably still respond in English to signal that I would be more comfortable conversing with you in a language I'm completely fluent in.

It isn't taught or heard outside of Wales

Except Patagonia iirc.

#sociohistoricallinguistics

It's not even really the equivalent of going to Spain and not replying to a greeting in Spanish, so much as it is going on holiday to Spain and not replying to a greeting in Catalan.

I believe there are 'pockets' of Welsh dotted around the world.

I travel extensively in Europe for work. Before a trip I remind myself of please / thank you / hello / goodbye in the local language.

I just googled "Welsh hello".
The first hit (google translate) is Helo.

The second hit is a list of useful phrases which gives 4 versions of hello (including helo) and has bora da only 11th on the list of phrases.

Most people I think will google "hello" not "good morning".

So even someone making the effort is likely to be "uh?" at your bora da.

Also, my experience is that native speakers sound different to what you have read (accent and intonation - I go to Russia frequently and my colleagues think where I put stresses in words is very amusing and confusing!) and also it can just throw you when unexpected.

I think you're being harsh - and that's before you get into the fact that Welsh is not the widest spoken language in Wales.

Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda

To be fair, even if it is just Patagonians who are snubbing the op, Welsh isn't a first language for any of them

I reckon it's the 'if I reply in Welsh the conversation will continue in Welsh' fear.

Spot on! I've lived in Wales for over 3 quarters of my life. I understand 'bore da' but would respond with 'hi'. My youngest could hold a conversation with you though.

I love languages and speak quite a few, but Wells is a mystery to me. I have learned that cymru is pronounced like cam ri though.

Except Patagonia iirc.

Not really anymore, I imagine.

They might understand some Welsh but if their mother tongue is English a lot of people will naturally use it, not even thinking.

My friend occasionally answers me in Bengali when I talk to her, usually when slightly distracted. Her brain just answers in her main language before she looks at my puzzled expression and realises.

My little niece is Portuguese and will answer English questions in Portugeuse, she just naturally answers that way because she is more confident and it is 2nd nature. Her mum is native English and can still get muddled in her languages.

It would be nice if they answered in Welsh but I wouldn't expect it.

The place in which I work is a place to learn about Wales.

So wouldn't the correct response for you to say 'Welcome, bore da is Welsh for Good Morning and you can greet the same in return.'

You know, help them learn about Wales and Welsh if they don't know? If that's the purpose of the place?

I love languages and speak quite a few, but Wells is a mystery to me. I have learned that cymru is pronounced like cam ri though

More like 'Cum-ri'

I'm from south-east Wales, Welsh speaking (from an English speaking family) and very self-conscious when speaking other languages. I always try to at least learn the basic greetings of any country I go to so would expect the same courtesy back tbh

Hang on, so all visitors who aren't Welsh that are from a country other than England respond in Welsh to your "Bore da"?

Gingerandgiving my mate is bilingual welsh and English. About five years ago a young guy stopped her in Leeds town Centre and asked for directions in Spanish. She said she spoke none so he asked if she spoke welsh. And they talked Welsh. He was from Patagonia.

If the purpose of the workplace is to enable people to learn about Wales, then the visitors are learning about Wales, i.e. they don't know everything or possibly anything yet. So to expect them to carry out a conversation in Wales is a bit off.

I would expect you to say "Bore da, how are you?" to throw a little Welsh their way, but to also stress that you're just as comfortable speaking in English and they don't have to feel uncomfortable if they don't have any Welsh or feel like they're too embarrassed to practise it. You're expecting too much - don't set up people to fail.

Why not? I would respond in French to a greeting in France, even if I don't speak any other French. I consider it common curtesy to learn basic greetings of a country I'm in

I worked in Regent Street for many years. I would greet customers with a smile and a hi/good morning/hello/whatever seemed appropriate and would be greeted in anyone of one hundred+ languages. It never occurred to me to be annoyed that they weren't replying in English. I was just happy if I got eye contact and a smile. I also managed to sell to these customers and service their cameras without having any common language. It was amazing what good will, sign language and my need to earn commission could achieve.

ChiefClerkDrumknott Per the 2011 census...

All usual residents aged 3 and over: 2,955,841
Can speak Welsh: 562,016
Main language is English or Welsh: 2,871,405

Therefore at least 2,309,389 had a main language of English, and the figure was probably higher, due to some people being able to speak both English and Welsh. So at least 78% had a main language of English and a maximum of 19% had a main language of Welsh.

Yeah, I'd consider learning English to be the common courtesy...!

I'm Welsh, live in Wales and speak fluent and I do feel like if they're going to a place to learn about Wales, the least they can do is say boreda, prynhawn da, nos da etc.

Huw Edwards made a documentary a while ago about Welsh being spoken in Patagonia. It is very much still spoken there.