Welsh is taken very seriously

ALTHOUGH I agree with most of the points made by Christie Davies as regards the Welsh language, 1 feel I must take issue with one particular statement.

While the assertion "there are no jobs for which a knowledge of Welsh is necessary" could well be defended from a purely theoretical standpoint, it is nevertheless wholly untrue in the reality of the current Welsh employment market.

Any non-Welsh speaker who attempts to gain employment in certain sectors of the Welsh economy (the media, arts, publishing, tourism) will soon discover how absolutely necessary knowledge of Welsh is, if only as proof that you are ideologically "one of us". Without this ultimate badge of identity on your lapel/CV, you will not get through the door.

Anon (Graduate job-seeker, South Wales)

Books, page 22