Visitors to the village must be greeted in both languages, says the assembly

Councillors in Penrhyndeudraeth wanted to put up new village signs on the roadside greeting motorists only with the word 'croeso'.

They say the greeting is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary and is understood by non-Welsh speakers.

But the Welsh Assembly Government has said the signs have to be bilingual in accordance with its language policy.

"We asked the assembly for the right to put the sign with 'croeso' only" said Penrhyndeudraeth Councillor Gwynfor Owen.

If croeso is understandable in both Welsh and English, why do we have to use welcome? Councillor Gwynfor Owen

"The assembly has said it has to be consistent with their bilingual policy - with croeso and welcome on the sign."

"However, croeso is used in the Oxford Dictionary as an official English word," he said.

"If croeso is understandable in both Welsh and English, why do we have to use welcome?"

Mr Owen said he had contacted the assembly's transport department about the matter.

"We received a letter saying that even though they accepted the word was in the Oxford Dictionary, the language unit was not happy for us only to use the word croeso."

Tegwyn Jones from Rhydypennau, Aberystwyth has been working on the Welsh equivalent of the Oxford Dictionary, the University of Wales' Dictionary, for over 30 years.

Counterpart

"We're talking about the Oxford Dictionary, the dictionary that everybody refers to about the English language," he said.

"If the word is in there - I think this is the final proof - the definitive version.

"The fact that it's in the dictionary tells us there's been quite a bit of research and the word is accepted in the English language

"Even though croeso appears in the Oxford Dictionary it's obviously a Welsh word and there is an English counterpart," said a spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government.

"As part of our bilingual language policy both languages should appear on the signs."