Mair Williams emailed these comments from Montreal.

"I write to you from Québec and am confused by the idea that English documents should be translated into Welsh. Shouldn't all documents be published in Welsh with an English translation provided for those who ask for it. I'm totally depressed by all those who are in favour of cultural and linguistic suicide."

Mike Cross emailed these comments from Amlwch on Anglesey:

"Amlwch is a predominately Welsh-speaking town and I don't speak Welsh. I have many Welsh friends and we respect each others language and culture and none of us are racist. But some of the extreme opinions expressed on this page and in our press encourage such attitudes. The question was why waste paper & ink when we could be given the choice. If the Welsh versions are preferred by many so they will increase and natural forces prevail. The language was surpressed artificially and has now been resurrected and supported artificially which is fine by me. I hope the Welsh speakers are as keen to speak other European languages when abroad as I am and don't just use convenient English?! On any given day, several 100 million Chinese children are learning English, they will use it to become world leaders in every field of business. I think all who speak English are lucky to be able to communicate across the world. My final point is, it's not the language you use, it's whether you have anything decent to say that's worth listening to!"

Tim from Aberystwyth thinks the Welsh language is a beautiful thing:

"As someone with an English family but the good fortune and priviledge to be living in Wales I am very disappointed with some of the views expressed on this board. The Welsh language is a beautiful thing, and it would be tragic to be lost as a result of an anglo-american dominated, homogenised world culture. We'll all be walking down 'sidewalks' and 'going to the john' unless the smaller nations are able to preserve their own languages and cultural identities."

Myfanwy Alexander thinks English forms should be phased out:

"I agree that too many forms are available in both languages: given that all Welsh people study Welsh at school, the use of English on forms should be phased out. If those migrants who push up our house prices and fail to appreciate our heritage find life in Wales difficult as a result, they have a choice: either learn the language or leave."

Caroline Andrews raises an environmental point:

"I think the bilingual debate has gone too far. There are hardly any Welsh speakers that do not speak English, and the attempt to be 'PC' about the language is an example of the government trying to please too many people. The bottom line is that it is a complete waste of resources from having to have a translator to the fact that double the amount of paper is being used. I think it is disgusting. Environmental issues should be at the foremost of any governments agenda before critisising health, education etc."

Geraint Jones from Newtown is exasperated by the lack of consistency in bilingual signage:

"I live in Mid Wales and driving around locally it never ceases to amaze me that one traffic sign may have Welsh first and then English, the very next will have the reverse order. Surely legislation would deem that all traffic signs should be first in language most widely spoken by the country and not decided by a noisy minority pushing Welsh for their own agenda. As for Town or Village signs why not use the name published in road maps as the first thus making it easier to navigate around the country."

Gerwyn Jones from Newtown thinks translation is inefficient:

"Businesses need to be efficient in today's world and English is the business language so let's not loose even more jobs in poorly paid Wales to this welsh inefficiency."

Mared from Anglesey says Wales is not an exception when it comes to bilingualism:

"What I think a lot of non-Welsh speakers don't understand is that most people in the world can speak at least two languages fluently, Wales is by no means an exception when it comes to bilingualism. Someone here has already mentioned Canada as an example, but there are countless other countries too. Spain for example has Catalan, Valencian, the Basque language - and there are bilingual documents here too. People need to remember that the reason the language is "only" used by 25% of the population is because the language was not used in official situations like schools and councils until relatively recently because it was more or less banned. Since it has been used officially the percentage of speakers has grown."

Chris from Treffynnon says translation works both ways:

"Why is the question about translating signs and documents into Welsh? Most place names in Wales were in Welsh before the English language evolved and many of us work in Welsh first before translating documents into English to show respect to our monoglot friends who have not yet grasped Welsh. I disagree with new street names in Wales being bilingual. They should be in Welsh only. Having them in English as well anglicises our country as councils, Royal Mail and consequently major companies will always chose the English translation rather than the original name. Many place names in Wales look stupid on signs as a mis-spelling appears above the correct spelling of a place. Why have names like Aberdovey, Ruthin, Denbigh and Llandrindod Wells on signs in addition to Aberdyfi, Rhuthun, Dinbych and Llandrindod on signs?"

Chrys from Newport raises this question:

"There seems to be more Welsh in Mid Wales then any other part of Wales, Why have signs in the south that no one can understand what they mean?"

Scott from Ammanford thinks we should be more economical about translation:

"My student support forms were about 50 pages (if not more); they were all doubled up in Welsh; despite me telling them in an earlier form that I can only speak English. I think the answer is to just be more economical - less wasteful - about it; no one should mind having a welsh or english version of a document - but when you have both and you see your taxes going down the pan needlessly - that's when it gets your back up; and rightly so! Just be a bit more 'smart' about it; if someone can't speak Welsh - clearly no point in piling on the Welsh literature, just to go in to the bin. It would be very easy to do nowadays, with large computer-based databases; they could have an option 'I want this in Welsh / English' - that would be the end of it. No waste, no hassle, no fuss - no argument!"

Ruth from Cardigan says Welsh is cool:

"I think that any one who says that there are to many documents being translated in to Welsh are wrong. As long as the documents are for or in Wales then they should be in the country's language. Also, the Welsh language is lovely. I speak it so I should know. I still go to school and my school is all Welsh so I use it in every day. If you live in Wales then you should try to learn the langauge or at least learn hello, goodbye and where am I? Wales is cool so don't dis it!"

Andrew from Mold has mixed feelings about the language:

"I am fascinated by the Welsh language. It's great having everything doubled up, but it's also needless waste. I am a Welsh person who can't speak Welsh and I have no desire to keep this country in the dark ages. I think the only thing people use Welsh for is to confuse people who can't speak it."

Roy from Bournemouth/Brecon says we should follow Canada's example:

"Being that you are in Wales and the language is disappearing, I think that more should be done - in fact, signs should be in Welsh first then English. In Canada where my wife is from, all documents, signs etc have to be in French and English. This is the law. You have to cater to all. I even teach my three year old Welsh and will continue to do so."

Nick from Aberystwyth says bilingualism needs to work both ways:

"As a student at UWA, I seem to remember ticking a box on my application form saying which language I wanted my correspondance in. I ticked English (being English, no problem there) but not one university department seems to have taken any notice, and consistently sends me paper that ends up straight in the (recycling!) bin - a huge waste of paper!

I've got absolutely no problem with dual langauge usage when it's necessary (road signs for example), but I have to take exception with Mark's comment. I for one bat more than an eyelid when a Welsh-only sign is not translated. Unless I have a very prejudiced view on this - which I really don't think I do - it seems that it is dual language only when it suits the Welsh. There are Welsh-only postings in the University's own weekly e-mail for example. Pertinent to Ifor Grimson's post - how is one supposed to learn Welsh if one isn't given the chance to attend plays/speeches/etc. in Welsh (which those Welsh-only postings in the University's e-mail tend to advertise)?

Mark from Aberystwyth says there should be more research into the demand for Welsh language documents:

"I think the Welsh language is being disproportionately enforced. Back in the 1980s, only 8% of the population spoke Welsh, now it's up to about 25% but all across the country it's given equal staus to English, more so even sometimes. There is complaint if an English sign isn't translated, but if there is a Welsh only sign, no one bats an eyelid. More work should be put into seeing if people want their letters and such in Welsh, as I can't speak it and the number of letters I get double printed in English and Welsh seems a large waste to me and the 75% of other Welsh people who don't speak the language, money that could be used elsewhere surely?"

Ifor Gimson from Llandrindod Wells made this response after reading Roger's comments below:

"Welsh-English translations are a vital part of a bilinqual nation! Whether he (Roger) likes it or not, Knighton is part of the country of Wales... I think anyone who comes over the border should be encouraged to learn our language just as they are and do in France-Spain-etc. Cymru am Byth, God bless Wales."

Roger who works in Knighton in Powys says too many official documents are translated into Welsh:

"We don't feel the need here to have all our literature bilingual, if necessary we have a bilingual trustee to assist. It may be more relavent the further into Wales you go but here - so close to the border with Shropshire and Herefordshire - we don't seem to have many Welsh speakers and it would be an unnecessary use of our limited financial resources to translate everything."