Welsh village's proposed name change raises stink

[September 25, 2013]  LONDON (AP) -- A proposed name change is raising a stink in one British village.

Welsh-language campaigners say Varteg, in south Wales, should be rebranded with a more authentic Welsh spelling -- Y Farteg.

The Welsh language has no letter v, though the sound is made by the letter f. Varteg is an anglicization of the original Welsh name.

Some residents fear the change will make their town the target of ridicule.

Villager Sioned Jones told Wales Online, "Just imagine how embarrassing it will be to have the word 'fart' in your village's name, never mind being followed by egg."

Another resident, Ray Leyshon, called the proposal "a bad joke."

The local government said Tuesday that the Welsh Language Commissioner had proposed the name change but that residents would be consulted first.

[Associated Press]

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