Why is Census Question 17 Intentionally Left Blank?

Nick Harvey · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 22.28

Is it also blank in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, or is it just an English thing?

Pete · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 22.30

It's something about speaking Welsh which only appears in Wales.

Alexia · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 22.41

17
Can you understand, speak, read or write Welsh?

Tick all that apply
[ ] Understand spoken Welsh
[ ] Speak Welsh
[ ] Read Welsh
[ ] Write Welsh
[ ] None of the above

iSon · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 23.05

I must admit I am a little disappointed. I was hoping it was going to be:

"Are you one of the two viewers of HTV West News?"
[] Yes
[] No
[] What's HTV West?
[] I take my tea with a doily

Pete · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 23.12

iSon wrote:[] I take my tea with a doily

Surely "[] I wear a doily and place hot drinks hot drinks on formal blouses" ?

Alexia · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 23.15

Advice - if you were me, what would you put? I can speak basic conversational Welsh, understand the basics of an S4C rugby commentary and read enough to get by a basic children's story. I could, and probably will, tick all of options 1-4, but that in no way equates me to a Welsh 1st-person speaker from up North.

Plus why isn't this question changed to Scottish Gaelic in Alba, or Gaelige in Tuaisceart Éireann? Plus what if I'm a Welsh ex-pat living 'cross the Dyke?

DVB Cornwall · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 23.17

There's a Similar Language related question in Scotland too (Q16).

barcode · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 23.20

I still not seen my nor has anyone in my area

Gavin Scott · Wed 16 Mar, 2011 23.33

I've got mine, but it's still in the envelope.

cdd · Thu 17 Mar, 2011 00.53

Alexia wrote:Plus why isn't this question changed to Scottish Gaelic in Alba, or Gaelige in Tuaisceart Éireann?

Or indeed Old English in England... it is, after all, just as relevant as other deprecated minority languages that nobody really speaks or uses

Inspector Sands · Thu 17 Mar, 2011 01.31

Alexia wrote:Plus why isn't this question changed to Scottish Gaelic in Alba, or Gaelige in Tuaisceart Éireann? Plus what if I'm a Welsh ex-pat living 'cross the Dyke?

What use would the question be for Welsh speakers in England? There's no laws here about the use of the Welsh language and neither will there ever be. That's what it's for, if it turned out that the Welsh speaking population in Wales had decreased spectacularly then there would be a reduction in the resources given to bi-lingual signs/publications/broadcasting etc