“Mae gen i TGAU yn Gymraeg”

[almostwitty]

I recently had a work meeting with someone senior who turned out to be from Wales. Thus one small tangent of the conversation involved me saying I was from Wales, and stating that I had a Welsh GCSE certificate. Second language, of course, but who’s counting?

Of course, what happens? I get back a short work email … entirely in Welsh. I can distill the odd phrase or word and get the gist of the email – all but the last sentence.

Now, do I:

- admit defeat, and reveal my inadequateness in using Welsh (after all, I’m not genetically Welsh and haven’t lived in Wales for three years)?
- soldier on, find someone to translate the text for me, and fire off some pithy comeback in Welsh, and keep the illusion going?

Oh, these work dilemmas…

Mirrored from almost witty.

Comments

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

either keeps the illusion going or fin out what it means but reply in a way that means you dont answer it directly, meaning that you didnt really understand it. lol.

[kristenred.livejournal.com]

My friend ptownyc is fluent. I bet he could help.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

I bet it's an out of office. :D

[smartygirl.livejournal.com]

Give this a try before admitting defeat: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/

The truth is overrated.

[actionreplay.livejournal.com]

Reply with the Welsh equivalent of "pog mo thoin" (kiss my ass in Irish Gaelic).

[rosieperiwinkle.livejournal.com]

Quick email back, tell him you are disgusted at the thought and threaten to contact the tabloids over such filth, copy HR in.

Job done.

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Be honest. You'll just have to keep it going, and when next you might meet, you'll be on the spot if he decides to strike up a verbal conversation in Welsh. Suck it up.