Sign of the Times

The BNG (Galician National Party) who are in coalition with the socialists on the A Coruña council, are campaigning for street names in the city to be in Galician.

Here are some public opinions on the matter which I have translated from La Voz de Galicia, 8th July, 2007:

It would be terrible to have them only in Galician because Galicia is a bilingual country.
- Viriato Valdés

It's an unnecessary expense and just for show. Damaged pavements and hospital lists are more important. These signs can wait.
- Jose Anido

Tourism is important here. Putting everything in Galician would create a bad impression. If I went somewhere and didn't understand the street signs it would seem strange to me.
- Alberto Tomé

Galidonia comment - Is changing the name of say, calle Riego de Agua into the Galician rúa Rego de Auga going to cause that much confusion? I doubt if you have to be a linguist to realise what rúa means in this context when it is so similar to the French word and the same as the Portuguese word - give or take an accent. That's just one example but I would question whether many street names are going to change dramatically.

I can understand what it means but it's absurd.
- Tamara Gómez (Asturias)

A lot of people from other places live here. The signs are in Spanish and it will be total chaos. I run a business and if they put up signs in Galician I'll get lost.
-Susana Álvarez

It's like "A Coruña". Other cities are given their regional name. I like the fact they do that. I'm totally in favour of this measure.
- Franciso López

Jose Antonio León says the signs should be in both Spanish and Galician. His wife, María José Lopez says just Spanish would do.

Spanish J or Galician X?

Pablo Monteigo from Avenida de Arteijo or Arteixo says it wouldn't matter if all the signs are in Galician because we are in Galicia. "If the Catalans do it then why not us?"

Meanwhile Carlos García has a novel idea: "The BNG should be worrying about more important things although I don't care if it's Arteijo or Arteixo or even if they put it in English!"