Plaid Cymru MS asks why Welsh language voice was ‘lost’ on Tesco self-service tills
A Plaid Cymru MS has asked why the Welsh language voice was “lost” on a Tesco self-service till.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, who represents Ynys Mon, demanded to know why the supermarket’s new system still had Welsh on-screen instructions, but no longer had a voice in the language.
A spokesperson for Tesco responded to the Senedd member saying that a new audio in the Welsh language had been recorded last week, which now needs to be tested before it is rolled out to stores.
The spokesperson added that the issue was “being fixed as soon as we can”.
Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “Hi @Tesco. When you introduced Welsh on self-service tills, it was groundbreaking. Commerce giant Tesco spoke Welsh! It started conversations & was powerful.
“Your new system still has Welsh on-screen instructions, but your Welsh voice is lost. Will you find it again? Diolch.
Tesco replied: “Hi there, The Welsh audio language was recorded last week. Once this has been checked off and tested we will get this out to stores. This is being fixed as soon as we can.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth replied: “Well, that is excellent news – diolch! I’ll look forward to hearing what the ‘new voice’ of Tesco in Welsh sounds like. And thanks for getting me a response so quickly.”
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Now, if we can just persuade them to provide us with real live Welsh language voices at the staffed check-outs too…
I’d love to practice my Welsh while shopping.
The supermarkets all try to use updates and upgrades to renege on their “commitment” to Welsh language services, obviously hoping that, one day, nobody will notice. They sometimes bury Welsh under the ‘other languges’ button. These aren’t oversights. They’re a matter of policy, as is plastering packaging with the Butcher’s Apron. Important that we keep harrying them, and reminding them that we’re still here, and that we still demand the Welsh language service. Cadwch yn effro, bawb.
I know the feeling of Cymraeg being buried. Take a look at this horror – I can’t think that it’s anything else but deliberate.
https://ccha.org.uk/
There are two exceptions – Aldi where all tannoy announcements are in Welsh first, all signage (Welsh first in large lettering, english underneath in smaller lettering). The Co-op is the other with Welsh signage given prominence over english. You’ll never get that respect from the british supermarkets and yes there is one that absolutely disrespects our language – M&S. Try using the Welsh option on their self-service tills and it constantly reverts to english! I remember that M&S were the last supermarket to reluctantly accept Welsh cheques, until Cymdeithas yr Iaith protested outside their stores! So, where possible, we need… Read more »
MS Tweets, shop responds, problem solved ….
I clicked on this thinking it was actually going to be news. Silly me.
Since when has the issue of safeguarding the Welsh language in 2021 not been news in Wales? If the headline had read “Cat stuck up tree shock!” I might have agreed with you. Da iawn, Rhun. Job done.