Mistraduku

…de Today Translations:

There are literally hundreds and thousands of examples and they can be found all over the world but lets start at home, the UK.

This bilingual road sign left many cyclists confused, telling them that they have problems with an inflamed bladder. The most popular theory behind this mistake is that an on-line translation engine led to confusion between cyclists and cystitis. Thankfully Glamorgan Council were informed and replacements for the sign were made, however what this highlights is how a small mistake can easily be amplified with bad language translation.

Another classic error made with a bilingual English to Welsh road sign is pictured to the left. When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the e-mail reply was what was required.

Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: “I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated”.

Mebyon Kernow

...de Ekklesia:

The Cornish party Mebyon Kernow (MK), have launched their manifesto for the general election, calling for a devolved legislative assembly for Cornwall and for the replacement of council tax with a progressive income tax…

… The party's manifesto commits candidates to fighting for all the people of Cornwall, whatever their background. MK insists that Cornwall had its own distinct identity, language and heritage and had as much right to self-determination as Wales and Scotland. …

… Mebyon Kernow's name derives from the Cornish for “Sons of Cornwall”. The Cornish language, which is closely related to Welsh and Breton, almost died out during the twentieth century, but a recent revival has seen a growth in the number of people speaking Cornish as a second language.…

"Malplimulto Lingvoj en la Unuiĝinta Reĝlando"

…de la Konsilio de Eŭropo:

The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has just made public the third report on the situation of minority languages in the UK. This report has been drawn up by a committee of independent experts which monitors the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

On the basis of the report, the Committee of Ministers calls on the UK to continue taking resolute action for the protection and promotion of Scottish Gaelic in all areas, in particular in education, through the training of teachers and the production of teaching and learning materials.

Furthermore, the UK authorities are encouraged to adopt and implement a comprehensive Irish language policy, preferably through the adoption of legislation.

The UK should also ensure that health and social care facilities offer services in Welsh.

Finally, the Committee of Ministers recommends the UK to adopt a strategy to enhance and develop Ulster Scots, in co-operation with the speakers.

The regional or minority languages protected under the Charter in the UK are Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots, Manx Gaelic and Cornish.

The Pipettes

….de WalesOnline:

For Gwenno and Ani Saunders, becoming The Pipettes is a long way from their childhood days in Cardiff spent singing, dancing and making cassettes.

Tomorrow’s release of their catchy new single Stop The Music, which shares the same producer as the Human League’s legendary Dare album, marks a radical departure for the former three-piece…

…Tri-lingual Gwenno and Ani – they speak Welsh, Cornish and English – have huge support from their parents, Cardiff mum Lyn and Cornish linguist dad Tim Saunders.

Ani said: “I think they like the fact we’re looking after each other. Our first language is Welsh, which we speak to mum and our second is Cornish, which we speak with our dad but we try not to speak either around anyone else so we don’t seem rude!”

Hebrea, Kimra kaj Irlanda Lingvoj

…de Irish Central:

Daithí MacLochlainn who does Irish language tours of downtown Manhattan told me he starts his tour on the docks by the Seaport Museum where they have one of the oldest examples on brick of grafitti ever written on a wall in New York, and it just so happens that the five lines of graffiti are written in Irish Gaelic. More on that later.

More to the point, MacLochlainn is the one who told me about the Welsh and how they use Israeli pedagogy to teach their rich Celtic language to foreigners and native Welsh alike in rapid time with great results--Welsh is a thriving widely-used language.

The Israelis developed a school called the Ulpan or אולפן. It's a "studio" setting for intensive language acquisition. The Welsh borrowed the school model and called it Wlpan, which is just a Welsh spelling on the Hebrew word…

Meic Stevens

…de la Guardian:

Welsh-language rock legend Meic Stevens played last night to a packed out audience in a Cardiff bar.

In the intimate setting of Gwdihw Cafe Bar off Churchill Way fans crammed into the tiny space and waited patiently for Stevens to play after supporting acts Gildas, The Violas and Richard James.

The singer-songwriter from Solva has been called the 'Wesh Dylan' and was one of the first artists to record with Cardiff music label Sain. One of his most famous songs Y Brawd Houdini is a catchy number and last night's set included some bluegrass and reggae flavoured tunes for a captivated and enthralled audience…

Siop y Morfa

…de la Rhyl Journal:

A Welsh-language bookshop which has been a fixture on Rhyl's high street for nearly 30 years has shut.

The closure of Siop y Morfa on Saturday marks the end of an era with owner Dafydd Timothy's family running businesses in Rhyl for four generations.

The decline of town centres, the rise of internet shopping and out of town developments along with tighter parking restrictions in Rhyl have been blamed.

Mr Timothy said: "It's very sad. It is the end of an era. I'm born and brought up on the High Street, the family has been in business in Rhyl for at least four generations...

Sian Llyod

...de Wales Online:

Fascinated since childhood with its remoteness and Welsh heritage, Sian Lloyd had always dreamed of visiting Patagonia. Here, the presenter realises a lifelong ambition and finds waiting lists for Welsh schools and a people looking to the future of the language:

I have always had a sentimental attachment to Patagonia.

True, as a child attending Neath Welsh School and Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, I had an awareness of the existence of a Welsh-speaking community in far-off South America, but it was nothing more than that....

Unuo Esperanto-Libro en Kimra

...de la BBC:

Harry Barron has published the first Esperanto text book in the Welsh language. In March 2010 he told us more about his labour of love.

Ever tried to learn a foreign language and got your head in a mess over conjugations, declensions and idioms?

Or even tried to learn Welsh but almost mutated working out those soft, nasal and aspirant mutations?

Gone abroad, spoke loudly and slowly at waiters and got just what you didn't ask for?

Frustrating, isn't it?

Well it was until now, at least for Welsh speakers! It has been demonstrated in various studies that learning Esperanto can improve your language learning abilities!

The first ever text book in Welsh designed to teach the international language Esperanto has just been published....

* Informoj pri la okazonta Esperanto Kongreso en Llandudno (14-17 Majo) estas havebla ĉi tie. La tagordo inkluzivas enkondukon la kimran lingvon.

Yn y Ddinas

…de la Western Mail:

A Welsh indie rock band is hoping to become one of only a handful of acts to get a non-English language song into the UK top 40.

Welsh-language single Yn y Ddinas (In the City) by Masters in France went on sale on Monday and the band will discover tomorrow whether they have broken into the charts.

Only a select few have scored hits in the UK charts with non-English tracks.

Luciano Pavarotti’s classical aria Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep) made it to No 2 in 1990 and three years earlier Los Lobos topped the chart with La Bamba.

A Facebook page encouraging members to get Yn y Ddinas into the top 40 has almost 10,000 members...

Jill Evans

…de la Western Telegraph:

The Welsh language takes another step to becoming an official language of the EU today (Thursday) with Welsh translation being used for the first time at the European Parliament.

Plaid MEP, Jill Evans will be speaking in Welsh, with translation, in a seminar on language policy.

The event, called Language diversity: A Challenge for Europe, is organised by the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament, of which Jill Evans MEP is President.

Mrs Evans believes that this historic step for the Welsh language could be a springboard for Welsh to be recognised as an official EU language...

£5,000 Puno

...de la Daily Post:

Mobile phones, energy and water companies in Wales could face a penalty of up to £5,000 in future for failing to supply proper services in Welsh.

Proposed new laws published yesterday will establish for the first time legally enforceable standards of services through the Welsh language.

A new Welsh language commissioner will be appointed to police the new standards, with the powers to investigate complaints.

This includes grievances from Welsh speakers who believe their freedom to use Welsh with one another has been prevented.

The proposed measure by the Assembly Government would also confirm the official status of the language in Wales...

Interkelta Festo Noz

...de BZH Novjorko:

BZH New York has organized the first Interceltic Fest Noz which will take place in New York on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at Connolly’s Times Square.

The Fest Noz is a celebration of music, dance, and culture of Brittany, Galicia, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and will feature 40 musicians from the 5 Celtic nations, dance sets from the different Celtic cultures and a silent auction.

In addition, the evening will celebrate the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals celebrated among Celtic peoples, either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring.

The current lineup of performers includes the following:

Bretagne: Duo Morgane Labbe and Francois Tiger - Bagad de New York - Marie Martin

Ireland: Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra Led - Tony DeMarco and Friends - Niall O'Leary School of Irish Dance

Scotland: Wild Thistle featuring Mary Morrisson Abdill and Hannah Maire Marcus – Aodhagán - Capital Region Celtic Pipe Band,

Wales: Honey and Biscuits featuring Helen Ellis and Mary Morrisson

Galicia: Nosa Terra

Silent auction from 7pm to 10pm: Artists Capucine Bourcart and Christophe LeGris will auction 6 photographies with all proceeds going to Action Against Hunger and its Relief Efforts in Haiti...

Osian Liberigita!

…de la Daily Post:

A language campaigner yesterday called on new First Minister Carwyn Jones to write a new Welsh language act.

Osian Jones, Cymdeithas yr Iaith organiser for North Wales, made the call on his return home after his release from Altcourse prison in Liverpool.

The 32-year-old has spent the last two weeks behind bars after refusing to pay fines and compensation for painting slogans on high street superstores.

The action was part of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s campaign for a comprehensive Welsh Language Act to include the private sector.

Mr Jones, from Llanllyfni, near Caernarfon, had painted “Ble Mae’r Gymraeg?” (Where is the Welsh?) on stores in Llangefni, Bangor and Caernarfon in June.

Yesterday he insisted the Welsh language Legislative Competency Order, currently going through its Parliamentary process, needs to be strengthened.

He said: “I hope my actions will mark the start of a new exciting period in the history of Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

“The future of Welsh hangs in the balance because too many politicians don’t take it seriously. Despite the overwhelming support, the next decade could see Welsh destroyed because of the indifference and failures of politicians, multinational businesses, and the Welsh establishment...

Eurospar

…de la Daily Post:

A customer claimed she was “mimicked” by a checkout girl when she asked her a question in Welsh.

Bosses at Eurospar, Blaenau Ffestiniog have apologised to Fflur Medi Owen, 26, and Elen Gwynne, 29, both actresses with Cwmni’r Frân Wen after the incident.

The women were performing at Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog and had gone to the supermarket in their lunch break last Friday.

Fflur, from Dinas, Caernarfon, said: “Elen asked the till assistant a question in Welsh – bearing in mind that Blaenau is one of the towns where the Welsh language and culture is at its purest – when we were devastatingly greeted with a stare of disgust.

“Elen then proceeded to check with her twice – again in Welsh – whether or not she understood (“Sori, Yda chi'n siarad Cymraeg?”). We were still stared at as though we had four heads between us, after which she then mimicked the sounds back to us in a very spiteful way, and still continued her hard stare.”

Elen, from Caernarfon, said: “I asked her if they sold any plastic cutlery before asking if she spoke Welsh.

“She mimicked what I had asked her in a racist way. I’m sure it wasn’t the first time she had heard Welsh being spoken. She just stared at me. I couldn’t believe it. I felt like I’d done something wrong when I left the shop.”…

"Kial mi estas en ĉelo?"

…de la Western Mail:

…For those who denounce my crime, they should remember that almost a century ago a group of ordinary people came together to protest in a similar way. They used tactics like hunger-strikes, window-smashing and demonstrations. One woman died throwing herself under the King’s horse. They broke the law because women didn’t have the vote. Without the non-violent, direct action of the Suffragettes, women would not have had the right to vote in 1918.

I believe that everyone in Wales should have the right to see, hear and use the Welsh language – I want it to live and thrive. It’s a view shared by the vast majority of the public; a view summed up well in a recent Western Mail editorial: “We are blessed that Welsh is not the language only of academics and folk enthusiasts, but is shouted by sportsmen and whispered by lovers.”

Yes, there is a genuine love of the language. It can be seen everywhere around us, from the large numbers of people learning to the singing at rugby matches. So, shouldn’t everyone have the right to use it in their everyday lives? Isn’t that something everyone is working towards?

Unfortunately not. We have a system of law that takes the opposite view: it chooses profit over the Welsh language’s future.

The world’s most profitable companies can open a shop in the middle of a predominantly Welsh- speaking community and refuse to provide basic bilingual services. And despite our campaigns, these corporations continue to ignore not just the rights of Welsh speakers but also the vast majority of the public, 80% of whom want bilingual signage and marketing along with training for people to speak Welsh.

But still, I am the one in the dock, I am the one in prison, I sit in the cell – not the chief executives of the supermarkets, banks or major retailers….

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:
..Osian Jones,
..Rhif / No. DX8265,
..HM Prison Altcourse,
..Fazakerley,
..Lerpwl, L97 LH
..Lloegr (UK)

Robyn Llyn por Kimralingva Akto

…de la Caernarfon Denbigh Herald:

That Osian Jones* has been sent to prison saddened me greatly. He was sentenced to 28 days for refusing to pay fines and costs totalling £1,120, imposed after he had painted pro-Welsh slogans on two English-based chain-stores in Bangor.

It appears that this was the longest sentence imposed on a Cymdeithas yr Iaith member since 1991, eighteen years ago. The first (of some hundreds, since) was Geraint Jones of Trefor, also sent down for a month as far back as 1966.

The law treated Osian Jones just as if he had been caught shoplifting, or some other offence involving dishonesty or violence.

Having been a lawyer for the whole of my adult life, I naturally have a great respect for the law and the courts. But I am equally aware of the law’s many failings.

Anyone who has the slightest knowledge of history will be aware that many worthy movements have only succeeded in their aims by campaigns of law-breaking, aimed at recalcitrant legislators who stubbornly refuse to right injustices. The protest movements won in the end, but only after much needless sacrifice and suffering.

Examples are legion: take the trade-union movement and the enfranchisement of black people in the United States and South Africa, where the names of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are shining examples of those who suffered for elementary human rights. And, nearer home, the Suffragettes, many thousands of whom went to prison to secure votes for women.

One hundred years ago, the law would have been handing out a sentence of 28 days to some wretched female, who had transgressed merely because she felt women were entitled to the right to vote. That too, was lawful in its day. But it proves that our law does not cater for unjust and imperfect situations.

The remedy for this country is a new Welsh Language Act: Wales badly needs it - now!

.

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:

..Osian Jones

..Rhif / No. DX8265,..

..HM Prison Altcourse,

..Fazakerley,

..Lerpwl, L97 LH

..Lloegr (UK)

Hawl i'r Iaith!

Hawl i'r Iaith from Lleucu Meinir on Vimeo.

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO *

Osian Jones,

Rhif / No. DX8265,

HM Prison Altcourse,

Fazakerley,

Lerpwl, L97 LH,

Lloegr (UK)

Baronino Royall de Blaisdon

...de la Baronino Royall de Blaisdon:

In the St Andrews Agreement the Government committed to introducing an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and to work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.

Subsequently, in the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, a duty was placed on the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt a strategy to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.

This strategy is still in preparation.

In addition, the Government published two consultation papers, in December 2006 and March 2007, setting out its proposed approach to an Irish Language Act. However, at the point of devolution in May 2007 responsibility for the Irish language, and for taking forward any legislation in this area, passed to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Skrivu Osian Jones!

…de la BBC:

A member of the Welsh Language Society who refused to pay a fine for painting slogans on shops has been jailed for 28 days by Caernarfon magistrates.

Osian Jones had been ordered to pay more than £1,100 after he painted graffiti on Boots and Superdrug stores in Caernarfon, Bangor and Llangefni.

The chairman of the bench gave Jones, from Dyffryn Nantlle, a chance to pay the fine, but he refused.

About 30 supporters carrying placards accompanied Jones to court.

The chairman of the magistrates, Gareth Haulfryn Williams, said: "We understand your situation, but I will ask you once again if you would consider paying the fine?"

Osian Jones replied: "I am not willing to pay a single penny.

"The situation of the Welsh language in Wales is as vulnerable now as it was 10 years ago when we got devolution."

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:
..Osian Jones
..Rhif / No. DX8265
..HM Prison Altcourse,
..Fazakerley,
..Lerpwl, L97 LH
..Lloegr (UK)