I think it's a beautiful language and would love to learn it... but alas and alack, there is no one here to teach me! I have a couple of words from some books I've devoured, but that's it for me.Well, I'm fairly fluent if a bit rusty, and there's another user here called Gwenno who's completely fluent- look her up. Always nice to see someone interested in our tiny, weird language.
Well, I'm fairly fluent if a bit rusty, and there's another user here called Gwenno who's completely fluent- look her up. Always nice to see someone interested in our tiny, weird language.
I think it's a beautiful language and would love to learn it... but alas and alack, there is no one here to teach me! I have a couple of words from some books I've devoured, but that's it for me.
I don't have that much time to spend on the forum
If you genuinely want to learn Welsh I may be able to help a little bit, at least directing towards useful resources
Martti: The best place to listen to fluent Welsh is here: http://www.internetradiouk.com/mobile/region/wales/ (BBC Radio Cymru is the official nationwide station, but I'm sure others broadcast in Welsh too.
thanks! I'll check it out!Not a problem in the least, nice to see someone showing an interest in my tiny country's language.
Hello, I'm going to be studying in Cardiff after the summer, and I'm hoping to enroll in Welsh 1.Trying to phonetically spell Welsh is difficult, actually.
I was wondering if you could describe how to properly make the "ll" sound, cause I'm saying it like a "hrrr" at the moment. I was also wondering about how "Y" works, and what "^" does to things.
I'm only OK at recognizing written Welsh because I took a Lit class on the Celtic countries in general, but I got to read the Mabinogion and Melog in it, so I'm hoping that is a good-ish base, along with bands like Y Bandanna, and Sŵnami (I don't think I'll ever be able to spell that right without looking, I'm too used to Tsunami).
On that note, are there a lot of English/borrowed words that get whatever "romanized" is in Welsh, and where I can look up their spellings?
(Also, what do you mean by "romanised"?)
I think crowfeather means that the English words have been transliterated into Welsh eg bus--> bws or taxi--> tacsi (or at least I think that's how you spell it) (also, don't mind me I'm just trying to explain stuff. I really like Welsh, but I don't think I want to push my language wish list too far. I already have seventeen languages in it now!)Ah, thanks.
I think crowfeather means that the English words have been transliterated into Welsh eg bus--> bws or taxi--> tacsi (or at least I think that's how you spell it) (also, don't mind me I'm just trying to explain stuff. I really like Welsh, but I don't think I want to push my language wish list too far. I already have seventeen languages in it now!)
Trying to phonetically spell Welsh is difficult, actually.
The "ll" sound is almost like "lluh"- lisp the "ll", but it's a rough lisp.
"Y" in what context?
The "^" is a tor: placed over a vowel, it elongates the vowel sound.
The old literature is definitely a good place to start, although I'd recommend more contemporary work too, as Welsh has changed quite a lot since the old days. As for music, listen to some of the Super Furry Animals, Gruff Rhys, etc.
Also, if you want to listen to Welsh in context, listen to the Internet Radio here: http://www.internetradiouk.com/region/wales/#bbc-radio-cymru-96-8-wenvoe
I don't know if that was much help, but send me a PM if you want anything else and I'll try to help. Great that you're showing such an interest though.
(Also, what do you mean by "romanised"?)
Also, not entirely sure what 'ghoti' means. In Welsh, fish is 'pysgod'.
Welsh!?! I live in Wales, surrounded by confusing welshness! I'd love to learn a bit so I know what the locals are talking about. Admittedly most of them are quite old so they most probably converse about pots and cooking. However one must never underestimate old grannies for all we know they might be planning world domination.
So which is the best way to approach Welsh? what should be considered when starting to learn it. I suppose sounds and pronunciation are vital here.
Welsh!?! I live in Wales, surrounded by confusing welshness! I'd love to learn a bit so I know what the locals are talking about. Admittedly most of them are quite old so they most probably converse about pots and cooking. However one must never underestimate old grannies for all we know they might be planning world domination.Wales! I too live in Wales.
So which is the best way to approach Welsh? what should be considered when starting to learn it. I suppose sounds and pronunciation are vital here.
Crowfeather: in 'Y Bandana', the 'y' would be pronounced 'uh' and means 'the'.
As far as I know pretty much all the signs in Wales are bilingual thanks to the act of union, although you'll find that Welsh is far more.. Well, Welsh in the north and the west (also, literary pilgrimage? You have to go to Laugharne), but the south is more Anglicanised.
Also, not entirely sure what 'ghoti' means. In Welsh, fish is 'pysgod'.
Eyup! My name was called and I appear it seems…. There's another Welsh girl on the forum as well, but she hasn't been active for a while, Laufeysdottir I think it was.
oh dear... my name is called and I appear, erm, a month later...Shwmae a croeso! A dweud y gwir, dw i'n llai rhugl na ti ,efallai felly mae'n ffantasteg i groeso ti a fy 'thread'!
OND: hwrê! Cymraeg!! er mod i ddim yn hogan Gymraeg go iawn (Almaenes sy'di byw yng Nghymru am 11 o flynyddoedd ydw i mewn gwirionedd), fuaswn i'n hapus i gyfrannu i'r edefyn yma !
:uk: BUT: hurray, Welsh!! even though I'm not a real Welsh girl (I'm actually a German woman who lived in Wales for 11 years), I'd be happy to contribute to this thread!
I moved back to Germany with my family 5 years ago but used to live in Snowdonia, in probably the Welshiest area of Wales + my work had to do with Welsh linguistics. So I might be able to answer grammar questions, phonetics +phonology, things about language history, ... (yes, I'm a big language geek)
I'm usually a bit busy in real life so I won't be here as much as I'd like, but feel free to ask me stuff (if you're not in a hurry)
I might even put up some links later... ;)
I love the way Welsh is written and sounds! In fact I'm fascinated by Celtic languages in general: Irish, Welsh and Breton are all on my language wish list (and last time I counted, it has 26...... :P)Croeso!
One question: I've heard that there are two major dialects of Welsh, the Northern and the Southern; which one would you recommend to stick to? (I know ultimately it probably depends on where I'd like to visit the most, but to be honest as of now I haven't got an idea)
And I just opened the Radio link the ParanormalAndroid provided, and a beautiful song comes up but I have no way of knowing what song it was D: it trumped even Soundhound.
The "ll" sound is called linguistically a "voiceless alveolar lateral fricative": I believe there's a sample on the Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_lateral_fricative (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_lateral_fricative) How I do it is to first pronounce the "sh" sound, then slowly start to press the lip against the roof of the mouth until you feel the air "leak" sideways passing your cheek.
*raises hand and waves it wildly* I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN WELSH (would like to learn all the languages, really). Anyone got suggestions for how to go about it?Hah, I can understand that mentality.
One question: I've heard that there are two major dialects of Welsh, the Northern and the Southern; which one would you recommend to stick to? (I know ultimately it probably depends on where I'd like to visit the most, but to be honest as of now I haven't got an idea)
Shwmae a croeso! A dweud y gwir, dw i'n llai rhugl na ti ,efallai felly mae'n ffantasteg i groeso ti a fy 'thread'!
Croeso!
In reference to dialects, the two aren't particularly different in terms of language, it's more like the difference between slang in, say, London or Manchester. Living in South Wales as I do, which is very Anglicanised, the northern version is probably more 'pure' but honestly I'm not entirely sure. Given that Wales' population is heavily skewed to the south but Welsh is more widely spoken up north, it all depends on where you want to go.
Shwmae pawb! Dw i wedi dysgu Cymraeg am fis, ond dw i ddim yn siarad Cymraeg iawn eto. Ydy unrhyw un yma isio siarad yn Gymraeg? (Mae'n ddrwg am y camgymeriadau...)