I put out the following question on ANSWERS a while back " Will the British (of ancient stock) become extinct, in Britain, in 500 years ?". I think that was a relevant question. A parting legacy from your soon to leave Prime Minister no doubt !.
Also, does this make me a racist or a concerned grandfather ?
2007-02-16 01:26:59 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
These Poles must have some influence...We Welsh had to campaign for YEARS before getting road signs in OUR language in OUR country.
2007-02-16 01:46:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look, I'm not British but American so my view might be a bit different since there is no one more racist than Americans. I don't think you're being racist per se but at the same time, try to be understanding. Obviously this was done out of concern. If there is a growing Polish population, the local government must be trying to accommodate them. I agree that they should learn English, but in the meantime, being friendly to other people will make the entire world better. How would you feel if you had to live or visit another place and no one knew English and everyone REFUSED to help you or to allow you to speak your native tongue? It's offensive to exclude entire groups based only on their differences. Try to be understanding even though it is a bit trying to have to see changes in your country.
NOTE: The Brits are a conglomerate of different groups - The Celts and the Saxons and some French, etc. All of it together is what makes you what you are today. Don't be too afraid of change. Sometimes it is a good thing. :) God Bless
2007-02-19 17:06:43 · answer #2 · answered by kohai4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Brittany, Alsace, French speaking Belgium near Luxembourg ,and Basque country signs are bi-lingual. I have noticed whilst driving in these areas that in the first four some people have been around with a pot of black paint and rectified the signs to display the language of the area. It is considered criminal damage, but nobody from the highways department has been to restore the original appearance of the signs.
Four days later:
I have asked a highways engineer about these signs. Apparently those you are referring to were temporary due to roadworks to avoid accidents. However it seems there are numerous permanent signs in several languages on routes taken by foreign truckers as, due to confusion, they have caused serious accidents. For instance there are some as you drive out of major ports that are reminders to keep to the left. Similar reminders appear in English on the other side of the Channel. They are safety measures, and not a threat to the British national identity.
As for your last question, being concerned about keeping one's language and traditions does NOT make one a racist. Sadly these are being erroded not just in Britain but in other nations too.
2007-02-16 07:19:19 · answer #3 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't think the brits will become extinct, don't worry. immigration has always existed and will always exist. as far as i'm concerned, as long as people bother learning the language and how the country's run, there shouldn't be any problems (i'm french).
it might be going a bit far to convert road signs into a non-native language (ie it's fine to have welsh or gaelic etc.. where applicable), but bear in mind that until a few centuries ago, one of the main languges spoken in the uk was french...
by the way indian isn't a language, and there's already a tube station in london with hindi signage...
2007-02-16 01:47:10 · answer #4 · answered by misspimousse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats unlawful no longer allowed. there's a lot of poles residing in eire now yet no Polish highway indications. there's a version of an area Newspaper revealed sooner or later a week in Polish, Multilingual English and varnish classified ads on some Public telephone packing boxes, and interior the Supermarkets they are advertising Polish meals.there's a pair of Polish Pubs. yet no highway indications.
2016-10-02 05:55:51 · answer #5 · answered by mattsson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw a very funny cartoon today. Two guys were looking at a road sign and one is saying to the other 'it's a sign in Urdu warning that the next sign you come to is Polish'!
2007-02-16 04:57:32 · answer #6 · answered by Beau Brummell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The English language is used on road signs all over Europe ... Its for safety reason ... Should they take down all of the English road signs as well !?
2007-02-16 01:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by jizzumonkey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if anything i would say indian. But shouldn't they be able to read and speak english before they are allowed into this country, make more sense really. Think it's about time we stopped it all though.
2007-02-16 01:32:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No! your no racist mate, just concerned like the rest of us minority English.
2007-02-16 01:33:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋