more p/c rasict nonsense

[rabbitburrow]

Problem in this case, is that Bangor is a predominantly Welsh speaking town so the most common language is more than likely Welsh. If say an English manager came to the firm then they should learn to speak Welsh to fit in with them not the other way around.

Demanding they speak English is not on and one of the reasons the Welsh detest the English so much, especially in towns like Bangor.

The way I look at it is, they are in Wales, national language is Welsh. If you went to work in an office in France, would you complain about them speaking French? Would you expect them to neglect their own language and speak only in English when you are around?

Actually this does bug me, not the Welsh/English thing as I myself am Welsh and speak mostly English. It's the Polish immigrants that come over and refuse to learn either Welsh or English. They should be made to learn the language or go back to where they came from.

ok rant over

Not all Polish immigrants refuse to learn the language, we have a polish lodger who is 20 and he is lovely, he is very keen to brush up on his English, and is very well mannered. When he is on the phone to his parents in Poland, I take the mickey by saying 'blawulabluaw' which he finds very funny! He has lived with his uncle over here for the last year, and they speak Polish in their house because his aunty doesn't speak English (She's a housewife, so I suppose she doesn't really need to as she only goes out with her hubby, so I think it's a case of not needing to than not wanting to).
The other day was quite funny, he was trying to describe something to me because he didn't know the word, he was saying 'it is like potato, but red' I said 'sweet potato?', tried 'desiree potato?', then he said 'ketchup', he wanted to know 'TOMATO' pmsl. I got confused with the potato thing (he meant it sounded like potato!)

XX

[shelleywelley]

Not all Polish immigrants refuse to learn the language

Lol, It's the one's that do refuse that wind me up. My partner works with quite a few and there are the odd one or two and I mean one or two that integrate well and speak English and have a laugh with the rest of the lads. The rest stay in their own little groups and swear at the lads in Polish. On the plus side, Jon now knows a few Polish obscenities

Aww at Potato and tomato

[rabbitburrow]

Lol, It's the one's that do refuse that wind me up. My partner works with quite a few and there are the odd one or two and I mean one or two that integrate well and speak English and have a laugh with the rest of the lads. The rest stay in their own little groups and swear at the lads in Polish. On the plus side, Jon now knows a few Polish obscenities

Aww at Potato and tomato

Pmsl! he has tried to teach me a few swear words, but I keep forgetting! I know what you mean though about the others not integrating. Matt has some other Polish co-workers, but he's happy to chat to the English ones (that's how he learnt most of what he knows now)

[buttons-and-bows]

I'm English and live in Wales and don't have any problem at all with the Welsh people speaking there own language, they are and always have been very polite to me, when they know i have been too bone idle to learn more than a few words of Welsh they speak English to me quite happily.

[silkcityuk2]

Problem in this case, is that Bangor is a predominantly Welsh speaking town so the most common language is more than likely Welsh. If say an English manager came to the firm then they should learn to speak Welsh to fit in with them not the other way around.

Demanding they speak English is not on and one of the reasons the Welsh detest the English so much, especially in towns like Bangor.

The way I look at it is, they are in Wales, national language is Welsh. If you went to work in an office in France, would you complain about them speaking French? Would you expect them to neglect their own language and speak only in English when you are around?

Actually this does bug me, not the Welsh/English thing as I myself am Welsh and speak mostly English. It's the Polish immigrants that come over and refuse to learn either Welsh or English. They should be made to learn the language or go back to where they came from.

ok rant over

if your national language is Welsh and not english as quoted
then i agree
the office of thomas cook are out of order and they should be able to carry on in what language they are native to
and foriegners should learn to speak da lingo

but

i was lead to believe the national language in wales was english so i appolgise if i was wrong

[kengillam]

As with most things it is a matter of courtesy, if you are unable to speak Welsh I am sure they will accomodate, however to move to a foreign language area whether it is Wales or elsewhere in the World to expect the locals to change their language to that of the incoming individual smacks of arrogance. Like wise those coming to the UK if you do not wish to learn the language, you have to ask should you really be here.

[buttons-and-bows]

So I am arrogant am I well thankyou so much for your very polite and well mannered comment.

[shelleywelley]

So I am arrogant am I well thankyou so much for your very polite and well mannered comment.

Lol, don't think that is quite what Ken meant. I can't imagine you going into somewhere and throwing a hissy fit if they don't speak to you in English

Simon, my comments weren't aimed at you personally, was a general mini rant

[kengillam]

No I don't think you are arrogant Buttons-and-bows, to clarify Welsh is a bit of a different situation as Wales is not entirely Welsh if you know what I mean. If the whole of the place was Welsh speaking and you chose to move there then yes I think you should learn the local language, same applies if you move to Spain in my opinion.

[damian_steele]

Pmsl! he has tried to teach me a few swear words, but I keep forgetting!

Scroll down the page and just after halfway through you'll see a reminder.

http://www.anglik.net/polish_phrases.htm