Minister James sees web issues in island visit
ARRIVA Buses Wales has been blasted for showing “disrespect” to the Welsh language over a sign blunder.
The poster (right), which has been printed inside hundreds of Arriva buses across the country, reads: “More journeys, fewer trips”. But the Welsh version reads “Teithio mwy, syrthio llai” which translates to “travel more, fall less”.
The blunder was spotted by Llyr Jones, from Anglesey, who was traveling on the No 62 bus from Menai Bridge to Bangor.
Arriva blamed the error, which the firm hopes raised a smile rather than causing offence, on a misinterpretation.
But Mr Jones was far from impressed by what he saw: “Doesn’t anyone see these signs before they get installed and think it’s wrong?
“The Welsh language is an important aspect of our culture here in Wales so how are these stupid mistakes allowed to happen, especially on buses where hundreds if not thousands of people see them every day? Respect the language and get it right!”
Gwynedd’s Welsh language champion, Craig ab Iago, said it’s no longer acceptable for mistakes like these to slip through the net.
He said: “This is just part of a wider picture of complete disrespect towards the language of this country.
“Welsh-speaking tax payers hand over money to Arriva as subsidies and then Welsh speaking travellers pay to use Arriva’s services.
“Without us, Arriva Wales wouldn’t have a business.
“Yet we are still expected to suffer insult after insult, via Google translated signage, English-only announcements, shockingly bad THE MINISTER for Skills and Science visited Anglesey last week following concerns over broadband provision on the island.
Julie James AM went to Mona Industrial Park and to a community in Llangoed to receive a snapshot of the problems faced by businesses and communities on the island.
Rhun ap Iorwerth AM had invited constituents to share their experience of broadband and was able to collect the information together in a paper to present to the Minister.
He said: “A fast data connection is not a ‘luxury’ these days. From education to tele-medicine, from business to leisure, our need for a broadband connection is an integral part of our everyday lives, and being rural should not be a reason for failing to get this connection.
“Rural areas expect, and receive, water and electricity. In the 21st century, we should have similar expectations in terms of data connectivity. Ynys Môn may be rural, but it’s not remote!”
“I would like to see a one-stop shop for practical help and support for those without and acceptable pronunciation of our place names, and use of the English version of destinations when they can get away with it.
“It’s getting really tiring having to constantly fight against this level of disrespect, and it’s definitely not humorous.”
Arriva insists it uses a translation agency and not Google Translate to produce their bilingual signs.
Area managing director Michael Morton said: “Arriva Buses Wales uses a translation agency to ensure that the language is correctly and diligently translated.
“Very occasionally, what we are trying to say is misinterpreted, especially where a word may have two or more different meanings in English.
“We are always grateful when our customers point out any mistakes and we hope these errors, which we are working to rectify, have raised a smile rather than causing any offence.” connection. At the moment, if there are alternative solutions available, people often aren’t aware of what those solutions are, nor who to turn to to ask the question even, and it’s not obvious what help could be available.
“I also want to see clarity for those who are unable to get a clear timetable for connection to their property through the Superfast Cymru programme (or similar) - including a clear statement if it’s NOT possible to connect, and for financial support aimed at those that are unable to get a ‘traditional’ connection, including developments on a community-wide level.”
“During her visit, I was able to make the case to the Minister for strengthening broadband for people in Anglesey.
“The Minister agreed to look at what can be done – for example, we agreed that I would host a Business Forum with the government’s connectivity team so that local businesses could find out what Welsh Government can do to help them.”