Welsh language row at checkout
A SHOPPER claims he was confronted by an “aggressive” fellow customer after using the Welsh language option at a self-service checkout.
Friends Siôn Edwards and Nic James were at a Tesco store in Roath, Cardiff, on Saturday when another customer questioned their decision to make their transaction in Welsh.
Siôn, who is learning Welsh, claims the man ended up “squaring up” to him after stating “people speak English” in Cardiff.
Police are now complaint.
Tesco customers using self-service checkouts can choose either Welsh or English to be displayed and voiced.
Siôn, 30, from Denbigh, said: “We just popped into the Tesco and we were using the self-service checkout. I’m learning Welsh so I always use it on the checkouts to help me.
“As I was going through, a guy queueing for the kiosk said ‘they do investigating the them in Welsh do they?’
“I replied saying, ‘Well we are in Wales.’ Then it all escalated very quickly.
“Then he said ‘you’re in Cardiff mate’ to which I said yeah, the capital of Wales.
“He said ‘most people speak English here.’”
Siôn said he replied: “If I’m in the capital of Wales and I can’t speak Welsh then where can I use it?”
At this point Nic, 32 – from Rhyl – and Siôn claimed the customer “squared up” and became more “aggressive” forcing the store’s security guard to step in.
Siôn said: “He broadened his shoulders and said ‘do you want to make something of it?’
“Then the security guard got in between us and said ‘it’s not the place.’”
Nic wrote about the incident on Twitter.
Fox and Fable Vintage replied: “I’m not Welsh but moved here two years ago. I love hearing the language. I can’t understand attitudes like this at all.”
While Deescattered wrote: “What is wrong with these people that think you can’t speak your own language in your own country?”
Richard Edwards added: “These stories are so frequent now and heartbreaking. It’s our job in Wales to keep the language.”
Siôn, a communications manager, said that in a previous job he was also once confronted by a customer when he used the Welsh for thank you.
He said: “I would always start and end with Welsh, so diolch and thanks.
“I said it [diolch] to one woman and she said ‘that’s a shame’ and I said, ‘sorry what’s a shame’? She said she was Cardiff born and bred but she doesn’t like to hear Welsh.”
South Wales Police said an incident of anti-social behaviour on Saturday has been reported to them.
A spokeswoman said: “An incident of anti-social behaviour at a store in Clifton Street, Roath, was reported to us on Sunday afternoon and inquiries are being made to identify those involved.” Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference number 1700363029.