Welsh not allowed in Wales!!

[jofeb04]

What do you think

oh whooops! TC in trouble then!

I have to agree, although i and two of my staff speak fluent welsh it is an unwritten rule that all workplace communication is undertaken in english, this is to make it fairer to those who don't speak welsh because everyone understands english.

However the welsh speakers are often heard conversing in welsh to customers and in the staff room (unless there are non- welsh speakers).

i think it shoulf be considered a completely indepenant in all areas county with its own language.

Same here really nearlythere, I think most people stop talking welsh if there is someone with them who does not know it!

But, to officially stop it ??

Well, this will be rather confusing for my cousin who works in an all Welsh speaking office of the Gas Board, which was set up to deal with inquiries in Welsh from Welsh speaking customers, who prefer to use Welsh.

Will they be expected to have all their conversations in the office in English, and them switch to Welsh while on the phone to their customers?

But this applies to lots of international companies. Can't see why it should be special for Wales?

I work for an international company which has its HQ in France, but the working language is English. No matter which country my colleagues are in, they must speak English to discuss work. In practice teams will speak their native language within their own country of course, but the working language is still English...

lol MB, I know that most companies here (well, most of the larger ones, water company etc) hire people to talk to welsh speaking customers.

although most welsh speakers will revert to english when someone is present who does not understand, there is still a small number of welsh language activists who believe that if you don't speak welsh then you are not welcome in wales- this is mainly upper mid to north wales- Mach upwards really.

But it is this that sticks in peoples mind and some people genuinly believe that welsh speakers will speak in welsh in front of them just taking the piss!

Potoroo,
But why English for? My bil went to France for a major IT company, and he had to talk in french, he learned the language.

Why can't the language of the country be spoken in offices etc?
(Getting confused now lol)

Ah nearlythere, I'm actually in South, and tbh, love listening to the welsh language(I can pick up the essentials!!)

Sorry - wasn't clear.
The company's policy is that English is the working language because it is an international company with teams all over the world - it just happens to have HQ in France. It is not a French company.

So in practice, people will speak their own language in their own offices, (likewise if they are speaking to customers in country) but if they have colleagues from other countries with them they need to speak English.

So in a typical meeting that might have people from France, Germany, Italy and Romania, it will be conducted in English.

I've assumed that it is the same for Thomas Cook because it is an international company.

Ok, Potoroo, makes more sense now. BIL's company is french!

But this is a branch office, where people go to book their holidays, not a regional Head Office, where people need to chat with folks in other countries.

There is a branch of WHSmiths in Paris (or there used to be ) I wouldn't expect the shop assistants there to all talk English to each other, just because the company is English.

MB - I agree. Just skimmed the article, but I assumed that they meant official type training should be in English - normally that does come from a central office, but Welsh would still be spoken within the office and to customers.

(In practice in our company we often find that training is in English for documentation and slides, but is often presented locally in the local language).

Agree Mb

And also to clarify, I should have said that the company I work with has specified that the working language is English, even though it is not an English company. This language requirement is in all job descriptions.

This is fairly common for international companies now though - its becoming the international language....

I once worked for a German Multinational and their 'working language' was English. However, all the German offices worked in German, and would only switch to English when dealing with an international call.

So the phone would be answered in German, and then they would fall effortlessly into beautiful English once you had stammered something innane in German

I love listnening to the Welsh language. my parents and heritage is Welsh, although I grew up in SE London.

I do agree out of courtesy, that English should be spoken, should there be persons who do not understand, within ear shot. Same opinion applies to all languages. Respect and courtesy reign the day here.

Everyone thinks English is a mother tongue in the UK - incl. Wales; but this is not the case for Welsh people. It would be a sin to stop people speaking what they consider to be their mother tongue - especially a wonderful language like Welsh.

xx

heard on the news yesterday that english is to be the main language & everyone has to lean it as they'll be reduced translation service. Will this effect welsh?

I read this thread title completely differently. I was imagining that it was about DH forgetting the toll money for the bridge.

I think that until Wales decides that it wants to opt out of the British doo dah, they should have English as well.

Pretty much as I feel about Scotland opting out of Britain. If Scotland does, and I find one pee of my money subsidising it. I will be starting a new party called the English National Party. I suspect it's already been done. I am so pissed off with people banging on about the oil. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR YOUR UNEMPLOYED OR YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

Lets stay together and be as one.