Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language also calls for greater coverage of devolved nations’ news across the UK.
Suzy Davies AM/AC has lent her voice to comments made by broadcaster Huw Edwards on the “anglicisation” of Welsh place and building names, following a report today (January 7) on news website nation.cymru.
Mr Edwards – one of the stalwarts of BBC News – took to social media concerned at how Welsh is, in some cases, becoming a victim of what has been termed “linguistic cleansing”.
Examples given include Porth Trecastell, which became “Cable Bay”, and the deconsecrated church of Nantcwnlle, now a private residence, becoming “Dunroamin”.
With his tongue perhaps in his cheek, Mr Edwards added:
“I propose replacing London with its old Welsh name ‘Caerludd’. No? Ah. I thought not.”
Mrs Davies – Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language – said:
“Huw makes an amusing point, but no less powerful for its cheekiness. However, that it follows the news report yesterday that Transport for Wales (TfW) had, according to a leaked report, broken the law over its use of the Welsh language, makes for quite sad reading.
“We Welsh Conservatives supported a backbench bill to protect Welsh place names, but neither the Welsh Government no Welsh Labour supported it, and the bill was defeated by three votes.
“Huw is a such a well-known figure – from election night coverage to commentating on the annual Festival of Remembrance, and from presenting the BBC’s flagship news programmes to commentating on royal events – that I wonder if he could use his influence on not only this issue, but perhaps also to bring more news from this devolved nation to the UK as a whole.
“Rarely does Wales – or Scotland and Northern Ireland – feature on mainstream media news across the UK.
“Even when reports are flagged up as relevant in England only, we’re not told what the position is in the other UK nations. It’s time that news from all nations in the UK is reported to the country as whole, because understanding our present is every bit as valuable as understanding our history.”
The source story can be found here.
Further reading:
Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language responds to leaked TfW leaked report.