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Opinion

Sports Direct’s language ban is a xenophobic sign of the times

06 Aug 2017 3 minute read
Picture by War on Want (CC BY 2.0)

Sian Gwenllian, the Assembly Member for Arfon

The notice that has reportedly appeared in Sports Direct stores in Wales outlining the company’s so-called Language Policy has rightfully incensed Welsh speakers across Wales.

At best, it shows a profound ignorance of the status of the Welsh language and disrespect for the Welsh language and the people who speak it; at worst it is an attack against all minority languages and indeed it is an attack against anyone and everyone who does not fit the norm and belongs to a minority of one sort of the other. It is a xenophobic sign of the times in which we live.

The norm in this instance is speaking English – the language spoken by the majority of people in the countries of the British state. Sports Direct is now distancing itself from the notice but we have evidence that it has been posted in at least two, maybe three stores in Wales to date.

It does not single out the Welsh language – it says that staff “must speak in English at all times when they are at work … this includes personal conversations.”

What Sports Direct fails to understand is that since 2011 the English and Welsh languages have equal status in Wales. The legislation protects “the freedom of persons wishing to use the Welsh language to do so with one another.”

The Welsh Language Commissioner who is now looking into the matter will be able to confirm that Sports Direct is acting illegally. But legal or illegal, what on earth can be wrong with employees conversing together in the language which is their natural mode of communication?

They speak English too and in the course of their working day they would regularly switch to English in conversations which included non-Welsh speakers. That is the essence of bilingualism.

Under siege

Once again, and ironically during Eisteddfod week, Welsh speakers like myself have to condemn what is an outright attack on our identity.

The Welsh language makes me who I am. Anyone who attacks my language (which happens to be my first language) also attacks me.

But Sports Direct is also attacking many more minorities and identities with this offensive notice.

We demand that Sports Direct apologise unreservedly to Welsh speakers and to other minority language speakers.

In most countries throughout the world, people speak two, three or more languages during their daily lives, including at their place of work. Some people who only speak one language find this a difficult reality to grasp.

Diversity and multiculturalism is what makes the world, including Wales, the rich and varied place it is.

Welsh-speakers are getting very tired of having to explain ourselves to the likes of Sports Direct. We feel under constant siege and are rightly worried that such attacks seem to becoming regular occurrences.

Minorities are under threat and intolerance is growing. We must seize on every opportunity to resist such attacks and to stand our ground. We need robust and constructive action in the face of the relentless onslaught.

As far as the Welsh language is concerned, expanding the provisions of Welsh language legislation into the private sector would be a fine starting point.

Let’s hope for some action on this when the Government publishes its White Paper on the Welsh Language later this week.


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19 Comments
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glasiad
glasiad
6 years ago

Sian writes: “it is an attack against all minority languages and indeed it is an attack against anyone and everyone who does not fit the norm and belongs to a minority of one sort of the other. It is a xenophobic sign of the times in which we live.” So now Welsh has been reduced to being just another minority language needing protection in Wales? By the way, xenophobia is a fear of foreigners, not fear natives or their language. I think Sian is very confused. She seems to lump being Welsh as just another minority needing protection in her… Read more »

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
6 years ago
Reply to  glasiad

Glasiad is right. The writer of this article has failed to appreciate the legal difference between a national minority language and an ethnic minority language.
A national minority language has rights which are protected by a United Nations convention. An ethnic minority language does not enjoy such rights, not least because their enforcement would be unworkable, unaffordable, and against the interests of the national minority language (in our case, Welsh).
She’s talking the usual globalist piffle.

Al
Al
6 years ago

Yes- xenophobia is the completely wrong word to use in this context.This is an Assembly member?!

Symptomatic of Plaid Cymru’s obsession with Brexit being all about racism and xenophobia, and wanting to ally themelves to the UK left in order to appear progressive and right-on.

Rather than seeing it as the biggest gift ever for Welsh Independence.

CambroUiDunlainge
CambroUiDunlainge
6 years ago
Reply to  Al

Just wait till Wilhelm gets inaugurated. That’ll be the biggest gift and they’ll fluff that too. Lets not forget who wanted to stand for Rhondda against Chris Bryant. Establishment party through and through now.

Gregory
Gregory
6 years ago
Reply to  Al

So Brexit is not all about racism and xenophobia. What actually is it about then? The glorious future once the Empire rallies around us, forward into the past? Please do tell me how this is going to happen because I haven’ t seen The Plan yet. I however have heard a lot of people with ‘accents’ or ‘funny names’ being told to ‘f**k off back wherever you came from’. And this isn’t anecdotal, this is people I know and trust. And hold on. whose Empire was that anyway? Wasn’t that during the days when ‘England’ was synonymous with ‘Britain’? And… Read more »

CambroUiDunlainge
CambroUiDunlainge
6 years ago
Reply to  Gregory

Anti-establishment vote. Valleys have not changed much under Labour and Tory governments. Voices are not heard… Labour MP’s don’t vote on Welsh issues and Plaid just does not get it.

Brian Webb
Brian Webb
6 years ago

This is totally unacceptable. I am a non Welsh speaking man but appreciate that my fellow countrymen who do speak Welsh should be allowed to do so.

Glywys
Glywys
6 years ago

A bit of a stretch to tie this in with unspecified xenophobia. And probably futile too, I see no reason the left/progressives will ever accept the Welsh as a historically oppressed group and call for measures to protect and promote us. Wrong skin colour for starters.

leigh richards
6 years ago
Reply to  Glywys

Would point out Glywys that a ‘left/progressive’ – Sian Gwenllian – in saying the provisions of the welsh language act should be extended to the private sector is calling for a measure to protect welsh speakers. Not sure what you mean by ‘wrong skin colour for starters’ – welsh people are all skin colours

Ma rhoi barn wahanol yn gallu bod yn beryglus!
Ma rhoi barn wahanol yn gallu bod yn beryglus!
6 years ago

‘At best, it shows a profound ignorance of the status of the Welsh language’ – No legislation (currently) extends to forcing companies to use the Welsh language. (This article is written by an AM by the way, just saying) ‘As far as the Welsh language is concerned, expanding the provisions of Welsh language legislation into the private sector would be a fine starting point.’ Why must those, who support the Welsh language, offer solutions that infringe on the freedom of speech of other individuals, companies and corporations? If you want to punish Sports Direct – boycott the place – don’t… Read more »

leigh richards
6 years ago

“Why must those, who support the Welsh language, offer solutions that infringe on the freedom of speech of other individuals, companies and corporations?” what are you babbling on about? In case it’s escaped your attention it’s the freedom of welsh speakers to speak their own language which is being infringed upon here. And it’s precisely because existing welsh language legislation isnt extended to the private sector that companies like sports direct are able to behave in this reprehensible way. If youre as sincere in wanting to see the welsh language ‘flourish’ as you purport to be you should be condemning… Read more »

Marconatrix
6 years ago

For your information, here is what the BBC Welsh link referred to above says (my translation!) ——- Minster “to place language standards on shops and banks” The minster with responsibility for the Welsh language has said he is in favour of forcing supermarkets and banks to offer services in Welsh, according to a language campaign group. Alun Davies AM had a meeting with members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in March. In a letter to the minster the following day they said: “We are pleased that personally and in private you are in favour of including the remainder of the private… Read more »

Sibrydionmawr
Sibrydionmawr
6 years ago

Oh dear, once again we have Plaid doing a very poor impression of your average Brit Left post-imperialist guilt trip thing and lumping the Welsh language and associated identity as part of the multicultural schtick. I’m probably more radically left-wing that almost anyone in Plaid, and tend very much towards anarchism, but within that I see much of what ‘multiculturalism’ has achieved. It casts people as belonging to one group or another, and doesn’t seek to see them as Welsh people from diverse backgrounds – the difference being is that ‘multiculturalism’ tends to emphasise people’s origins, and not their current… Read more »

Angharad Shaw
6 years ago

Xenophobia is a fear of that which is different (to oneself), including but not limited to a fear of foreigners. The word used in the article is therefore correct.

Martin
Martin
6 years ago

A Plaid AM again is the first to get in the media condemning an attack on Welsh, and the comments are all attacking her! What is ‘Brit Left’ about it? What is ‘galling’ about it? The word ‘xenophobic’?

CambroUiDunlainge
CambroUiDunlainge
6 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Whats important about politics is a politicians ability to relate to those they represent. She represents a nationalist party whose rhetoric should appeal to vote for Plaid… who tend to be Welsh speakers and Welsh nationalists… who are probably more concerned with their own language and culture rather than it being an attack on “all minority languages”. It’s like shes taking the thunder out of her own cause.

Martin
Martin
6 years ago

Disagree sorry. I know Bangor very well and the point about other languages would make sense there. She represents people there very effectively.

CambroUiDunlainge
CambroUiDunlainge
6 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Give me a break. She turned it from an argument over Welsh language into a wider one about identity politics. You’ll find people who speak other languages all across Wales. The difference here is that its a Welsh speaking heartland where the language is used in stores and public spaces.

I’m not sure how you can say she does or does not represent people there effectively… for only an election can determine this. Though I’d assume if this angle was the case… then the Liberal Democrats would fair a lot better than they do.

Martin
Martin
6 years ago

She makes consistent points in the article about Welsh and does not change it from being an article about Welsh. Making a link to British xenophobia is appropriate and correct (though a matter of opinion). You’re not sure how I can say she represents people? She has had one election already and won. She is supported by language campaigners and Welsh nationalists amongst others, and was the first representative of any political party to oppose Sports Direct in the media. With those issues borne in mind, my opinion is that the focus on attacking her for being ‘Brit Left’ was… Read more »

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