Language row over station signs
Bilingual signs at a west London railway station are to be taken down after complaints from ethnic groups.
Signs at Southall station appear in English and Punjabi.
Two weeks ago train operator First Great Western (FGW) decided to remove the signs after receiving calls for other languages to be displayed.
FGW said it would be impossible to display every language and it would be consulting the community to find a permanent solution.
A FGW spokesman said it was awaiting a date for a meeting between its managers and Ealing MP Virendra Sharma.
'Diverse culture'
In the mean meantime he said the company would be adopting government guidelines which require only the English language to be used.
According to FGW signs have been displayed in English and Punjabi for about 12 years after an agreement between the council and the community.
However it was forced to take action after ethnic groups in the Southall area "raised issues with the use of station signage in one specific language other than English".
A statement said: "We have therefore consulted within the community and have decided to review the signage.
"However desirable in our diverse culture, it would be impossible to provide station signage for every language, but we... hope to reach a solution that meets the needs of local people as soon as possible."
Because heaven forbid that we might have signs that acknowledge that there are places in England where significant parts of the population speak languages other than English.As I see it, the station is in London, in England, so the signs should be in English.
For clarity, the signs always were in English.As I see it, the station is in London, in England, so the signs should be in English.
As I see it, the station is in London, in England, so the signs should be in English.
Wallsend on the Tyne and Wear Metro.As I see it, the station is in London, in England, so the signs should be in English.
Sounds very politically correct.Because heaven forbid that we might have signs that acknowledge that there are places in England where significant parts of the population speak languages other than English.
As I see it, the station is in London, in England, so the signs should be in English.
Marylebone station gets lots of Chinese tourists going to Bicester village. The announcement is there to help them. There's also announcements in Arabic for the same reason.I was not aware of a bilingual PA at Marylebone. Is it really necessary?
I don't see any point in Cornish signs as Cornwall is part of England and people who live here should be able to understand English.
The same goes for stations in England with Punjabi signs.
In my opinion, a basic understanding of English should be a requirement to live in this country.
Thanks. I did not know that. I actually think that is a good idea.Marylebone station gets lots of Chinese tourists going to Bicester village. The announcement is there to help them. There's also announcements in Arabic for the same reason.
Levenshulme station will not make you happy, I tell you!As I see it, the station is in London, in England, so the signs should be in English.
Don't airports have multilingual signs?
Since I believe more people in Scotland speak Polish than Gaelic......
Don't airports have multilingual signs?
I think you mean 'romani ite domum'.Wallsend on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Romanes eunt domus.
Since I believe more people in Scotland speak Polish than Gaelic......
Don't airports have multilingual signs?
Marylebone station gets lots of Chinese tourists going to Bicester village. The announcement is there to help them. There's also announcements in Arabic for the same reason.
The majority of residents in Wales can't speak Welsh particularly in the South. They speak English. How much does it cost them to have bi-lingual signs unnecessarily. I'm glad I left Wales in the mid 1960s before all this nonsense of making English speaking children learn Welsh in school when they don't want to. Where else in the world is being able to speak Welsh beneficial ?This thread makes me laugh so much, I bet the same people thinking signs should only be in English as it's England would be the same ones that complain abroad they don't know where they are as all the signs are in Arabic (insert any other language you fancy) and they don't do a full fried with normal bacon!! Truly unbelievable.
PatagoniaThe majority of residents in Wales can't speak Welsh particularly in the South. They speak English. How much does it cost them to have bi-lingual signs unnecessarily. I'm glad I left Wales in the mid 1960s before all this nonsense of making English speaking children learn Welsh in school when they don't want to. Where else in the world is being able to speak Welsh beneficial ?
The majority of residents in Wales can't speak Welsh particularly in the South. They speak English. How much does it cost them to have bi-lingual signs unnecessarily. I'm glad I left Wales in the mid 1960s before all this nonsense of making English speaking children learn Welsh in school when they don't want to. Where else in the world is being able to speak Welsh beneficial ?