Bilingual Signs
I’ve said before that I don’t like bilingual place names. Mainly with concern to Belgium, where they suddenly change language of the signs to the place you are going. In one case it led to a detour of about fifty kilometres.
Take this sign in Cardiff station.
Cardiff or Caerdydd
Surely, it should be in English or Welsh but not both! If the inhabitants of the city want Welsh to be the name, then so be it! An interesting example is London, where although there is a French name for the city, most French of my acquaintance, have used the English form, when speaking to me.
Obviously, where there can be confusion, like this informational sign both common languages are needed.
Bilingual Information Sign
In a few years time incidentally, this sign will be unneccessary as new regulations will mean that toilets will not be able to flush directly onto the track.
The Anonymous Widower 
In most countries (or areas in countries) where there is more than one language spoken is spoken, they use nore than one language in the signs (e.g. Barcelona, Bilbao, and La Caruna in Spain). This is mainly to placate the Nationalist minority in the area. Wales, Scotland and Ireland also do this.
Comment by John | April 26, 2011 |
At least Wales is consistent, in that it always shows two names, but some countries like Belgium show a different one depending on where you are. In many cases in Wales you can also guess the name on your English map as the spelling is faily similar or even the same. I just want one name and that to be on the map I have.
In some ways Montreal is the worst place, as information is never up in a language other than their odd form of French. Even in tourist parts of France, information is generally given in English as well. And even if you can read French like I can, you can’t read it in Montreal.
Comment by AnonW | April 26, 2011 |
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