A matter of principle

Vaughan Roderick's thoughts on the language LCO

"I don't want to go on and on about the language LCO but one little thing worries me. The government in the bay is arguing that, as a matter of principle, the Assembly is the appropriate body for drafting language measures. But if it's the principle that is important why agree to any limitations at all on this right? As a matter of principle shouldn't the Assembly be able to legislate to enforce chip shops and cinemas to operate bilingually?"

'Hope sex' and O babies!

Not a very 'PC' post title I know but at least we got your attention!

This from yesterday's Times 2:

"I was highly delighted when Tony Blair won the 1997 general election but I can't, in truth, say I was so ecstatic that I dragged some man off the street for a bit of celebratory coitus. Not so in America, apparently.

"High on the euphoria of Obama's presidency we're told that people have been jumping on each other just like after the 9/11 terror attacks. Then it was called “apocalypse sex”, now it is being called “hope sex” - expressing one's new-found optimism via the act of fornication.

“It felt like it was a natural extension of our celebrations,” one Obama copulater tells Grazia magazine...It would be nice to believe that ordinary, hard-working Americans are enjoying a love in (which we're told will be followed by a baby boom - O babies - as couples throw contraceptions to the wind). Because, on a micro level, it would represent natural justice."

Interesting!

I wonder if Rhodri Morgan's successor will have a similar effect here?!

Dewi Dau

Podcast #8 - the language one!

"Diwrnod hanesyddol i'r iaith Gymraeg".

Monday was billed as a historic day for the Welsh langauge so it's no surprise that this week's podcast is dominated by the Welsh language LCO. Is it far reaching enough? Does it go too far?

Also this week: How many houses has the Assembly built? What is the Welsh name for Brecon? And - most importantly - do we need a jingle?



Diolch am wrando,

Y tri Dewi

Menna Machreth yn Mynnu Mwy

Yn dilyn "diwrnod hanesyddol i'r iaith" ges i sgwrs efo Menna Machreth, cadeirydd Cymdeithas yr Iaith. Fe gawsom ni gyfle i drafod ymateb CYI at gynnwys yr LCO ac fe rannodd Menna ei gobeithion ar gyfer dyfodol yr iaith Gymraeg.

Hoffwn i ymddiheuro am ansawdd y recordiad: roedd Menna ar drên ar ei ffordd adref o Ferthyr ble y cyhoeddwyd yr LCO iaith ddydd Llun.



Diolch i Menna am roi o'i hamser.

Dewi Dau

Don Quixote

Translation of Vaughan Roderick's latest musings

One of the few Welsh words that Don Touhig is familiar with is "crachach". He uses it frequently, usually as part of an attack against the Assembly or language-promoting measures. Here he is in the House of Commons in February 2008.

"The chattering classes, the crachach, who believe that they know best for Wales, swoon at the prospect of more powers for the National Assembly. Many in the media think that more powers for Cardiff is the story of the decade--tosh, rubbish. The real people of Wales, the werin, have no time for all of this, and I stand with them."

Here he is again in July discussing the Assembly Government.

"What we have in Wales at the moment is the priorities of the crachach and not the werin"

Syr Emyr Jones Parry? Crachach! Crachach! Crachach!

Now read what Paul Flynn has to say on the language LCO.

"In each devolution referendum, there has been a cabál of West Briton MPs campaigning against moves for self-government. They will be more negative drivel this time, too. It's sad to record that the Conservative Party has bravely enacted almost all Welsh language reforms. Labour now has a chance to show our respect to the unique language of our people. Welsh has traditionally been the language of the gwerin, while English was the language of the crachach."

I wonder who that snowball* was aimed at.

*slight improvisation in the translation - but you get the gist!

Translation by Dewi Dau

True Wales Interview

Should the Welsh Assembly have more powers or should the politicians try harder to make the current settlement work?

We hear a lot about Bethan Jenkins and the "Yes" campaign so in the name of balance here at Politics Cymru we thought we'd talk to True Wales who've been heading up the "No" campaign.

Yesterday, Dewi Un chatted to Labour Councillor David Rees from Caerphilly who's been an active member of True Wales.



Many thanks to Cllr Rees for his time.

Don Corleone

Translation of Vaughan Roderick's post

Paul Murphy's statement on the language LCO was rather lukewarm. More consultation is needed, he said. The demand could change. To use his own words: "It's not set in stone".

Some of Labour's Assembly Members were surprised by the statement but the Secretary of State for Wales is not the man being blamed. "The problem is Don Touhig", said one "Don is Paul's best friend and he spends a great amount of his time with him and his family. They're like two brothers."

And by the way, congratulations to Jenny Randerson for being brave enough to say in the Chamber what many of the members are saying in private. "If we wish to legislate to force a chip shop to use Welsh we should be allowed to do that - does anyone honestly believe the chip shop would close as a result?"

Congratulations must also go to Nick Bourne for addressing the Assembly in Welsh this afternoon. I wonder if he was trying to prove the ipod's worth.

Translation by Dewi Dau

Blog Review: A matter of competence

With the publication of the Welsh Language LCO earlier, the Welsh Political Blogosphere has got all excited – here's a look at what all the different bloggers are saying about this week's big news:

Betsan Powys looks into who might sit on the scrutiny committee

Heledd Fychan says history is being made

The Lib Dems have a far more pessimistic view

Gareth Hughes speculates about the trouble Plaid will find themselves in if the WASC water down the proposals at all

While Sweet and Tender Hooligan warns that adding burden's to businesses in Wales will lead to businesses staying away from Wales...

Dewi Tri

“The Devil Will be in the Measure”

So the Welsh Language LCO's finally being published tomorrow – and so what will undoubtedly be the long process of procrastination on the part of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee will soon be underway (I'll have to consult Dewi Un on the exact amount of time this whole process is likely to take...although if the Affordable Housing LCO is anything to go by his answer is likely to be something like “How long is a piece of string?”).

Having just seen Betsan Powys on the Politics Show Wales exclusively revealing the contents of the LCO there doesn't seem to be much that can be complained about: the WAG is supposed to have control over Welsh Language policy which this LCO seems to reinforce.

However, the point that has been argued (by people commenting on our blog amongst others) is that this isn't the right time to be talking about language when people's priorities are on keeping their jobs and paying the mortgage – but in all fairness, this LCO will in itself make no difference to businesses or to people in Wales – questions as to what extent Welsh businesses and authorities should be forced to go bilingual will have to wait until another day when (or indeed “if”) the Welsh Language Measure is proposed.

So the question right now is this: should the WAG have the power to legislate over language in Wales?

Answers on a postcard...

Note to self: might be a good time to start establishing myself as a professional translator...

Dewi Tri