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Celtic Radio Community > Wales > Welsh Websites


Posted by: greenldydragon 06-Jul-2004, 12:38 PM
This is a website about wales and it includes a community (though it is much smaller than this one) forum and such. It has some good information, you may want to check it out. http://www.welshdragon.net

Posted by: Mayte2 09-Jul-2004, 04:03 PM
thanks for that greenldydragon .. I`ve bookmarked it for when I have a spare hour or two .. I`ll go check it out:)

Mayte

Posted by: greenldydragon 27-Nov-2004, 01:51 PM
I was browsing the information on BBC about Wales and found this place, Celtica.
This link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/celts/pages/celtica.shtml , provides some information and it looks really interesting. I was just wondering if anyone whose been to Wales has been here?

Posted by: UrchinGirl 27-Nov-2004, 03:08 PM
Wow, this looks really interesting! While I've never been further out of the States than to Belieze, I'll deffinately put this on my "to visit" list! Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: susieq76 01-Feb-2005, 10:42 AM
I have merged a few topics for cohesion. Here is a place where we can all put great websites that we find about Wales and any discussions about those websites!

Thanks!

Posted by: susieq76 01-Feb-2005, 12:10 PM
Here is a great website with links to many other informative websites:

http://madog.rio.edu/Directory/Websites.asp

Posted by: DdraigGoch 19-Apr-2005, 11:03 PM
Shwmae!

Here's my own website with lots of links to everything Welsh.

http://members.aol.com/dprice1035/welsh.htm

David

Posted by: gwenynen 20-Apr-2005, 08:09 AM
Helo, David.

Your website is great! I used to live not too far from you a few years ago. I also like soccer (though 'football' is the proper name, I write 'soccer' to avoid cofusion.) I don't play it except with my 5 year old. My other family members do.

Hwyl!


Posted by: susieq76 20-Apr-2005, 08:28 AM
Croeso y Celtic Radio, DdraigGoch! It is great to have you here. That is a wonderful website you have! Thanks for posting a link to it. We are so happy to have you here, and I hope that you will make yourself at home!

Susanna

p.s. - do you have any tidbits on rugby? I am afraid I know nothing about it, and some of the guys have been itching to get hooked into the Welsh rubgy scene!!

Posted by: gwenynen 20-Apr-2005, 10:57 AM
Wps, I didn't read your biography carefully, David. I meant I used to live not too far from Pendleton, not your present location.

Posted by: DdraigGoch 20-Apr-2005, 10:16 PM
Susanna - Sorry, no rugby links yet. In all honestly, I don't understand the game. It's a bit odd to me, plus the scrum just simply looks weird. When I was in Wales, I did actively look for a match to watch...even a youth league match just to learn. None to be found during my travels, but perhaps next time.

Gwenynen - where near Pendleton, if you don't mind my asking?

David

Posted by: gwenynen 21-Apr-2005, 07:44 AM
David,

Bloomington - it's not exactly near but at least in the same state. My family and I drove just by Pendleton when we traveled up noth to Detroit (without knowing.)

Are you learning Welsh now? There's a new thread for posing only in Welsh. Please visit there too.

Hwyl!



Posted by: gwenynen 21-Apr-2005, 07:59 AM
PS: The Welsh only thread can be found under 'Celtic Nations' then 'Celtic Languages' then 'Advanced Welsh.' I still get lost in this forum!

Posted by: susieq76 21-Apr-2005, 02:25 PM
The Advanced Thread is only for Advanced Welsh speakers - no English in that thread please. The Beginner's Welsh is for the rest of us. If you have any questions David, let me know. I will be glad to help!


Posted by: Siarls 22-Apr-2005, 11:07 AM
I found a Beginner's Welsh thread but no one had posted in there. Am I in the wrong place?
And speaking of good websites, www.geiriadur.net is amazing for finding words.

Posted by: susieq76 22-Apr-2005, 02:41 PM
That is a great website. I am not sure why no one has posted there. I will ask Wizard if he can merge my Welsh lessons into their....

He just created the post, so that may be why no one has posted there yet. When I get back on Monday, I will definately have something brilliant to say in Welsh that I will put on!! lol.gif

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Posted by: susieq76 03-May-2005, 09:08 AM
http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Wales/wales.htm

Here is a great website of things to do with children while visiting Wales. It looks like a wonderful site.


Posted by: Siarls 07-May-2005, 03:55 PM
www.verbix.com

This is good for conjugating Welsh verbs. Two slight problems: conjugation in Welsh is very formal, so you only really need to worry about conjugatin bod
Second problem is that it's apparently under construction.

Posted by: Siarls 12-May-2005, 08:50 AM
Actually, I just remembered that I give these websites to the children I teach Welsh...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/colinandcumberland
http://www.google.com/intl/cy/

Most British Governmental websites provide Welsh, including:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page3762.asp


Posted by: gwenynen 18-Jun-2005, 09:17 AM
National Eisteddfod this year will be held near Bangor. Here's a good website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/eisteddfod

Be sure to go to 'A learner's view' about an Englishman learning Welsh and will be helping in the learner's tent.

Posted by: gwenynen 21-Jun-2005, 08:13 AM
This is today's news but I thought it worth posting:

"No Top-up fees for Welsh students"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4115074.stm

"It should encourage a higher number of Welsh students to stay in Wales and won't offer incentives for English students to come here to avoid paying top-up fees."

Posted by: Gogsrus 27-Jun-2005, 05:57 PM
This was interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/programmes/starspangleddragon/

hwyl
Gogsrus

Posted by: gwenynen 01-Jul-2005, 08:22 AM
Interesting info about Stonehenge:

http://news/bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/4123764.stm

Posted by: Siarls 01-Jul-2005, 09:48 AM
In response to the Welsh top up fees, as a Welsh student studying in Wales, the issue is a very sore topic. The current system is very bureaucratic and rigid, but lacks many tests to effectively fund students and institutions.

While I was in London, I was refused a grant as it was only available to English students due to the benefits of the Welsh National Assembly, whereas the Welsh National Assembly refused to help me as my mother earns too much. Nonetheless, my mother's wage is nowhere near enough to fund a child at university in London.

My mother now has 2 jobs and both my brother and I work many hours a week to be able to fund ourselves.

Posted by: gwenynen 01-Jul-2005, 11:21 AM
I had no idea the real situation was like that. I posted the website thinking it was a great news for all the Welsh students in Wales.

Posted by: Siarls 02-Jul-2005, 08:58 AM
It is good news - top up fees would make the situation even worse.

Posted by: gwenynen 11-Jul-2005, 02:44 PM
Here's a good site for the International Island Games which has just started on July 9 in Shetland Islands. Ynys Môn is competing.

http://shetlandresults2005.com/

So far Ynys Môn has won one gold in men's shooting and one bronze in women's 100m butterfly. Best wishes to our Cymry and Cymraesau!

Posted by: Siarls 12-Jul-2005, 05:00 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4676141.stm

sad.gif

Posted by: Siarls 12-Jul-2005, 05:01 PM
Or, if you're confident enough to read it yn Gymraeg:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_4670000/newsid_4676100/4676175.stm

Posted by: gwenynen 13-Jul-2005, 07:32 AM
It must be a dissapointing news, but we can still cheer for our team. By the way, it helps to read the news in both languages.

Posted by: gwenynen 24-Aug-2005, 08:18 AM
1st Welsh program on BBC Radio 1 ever! -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/oneclick/open

Has anyone listened to the program? It just started on the 24th (3 am GMT!) You can listen to it again. I just tried the first few minutes. It's in Welsh for non-Welsh, so you can read the subtitles as you listen (it works the same way as pre-schoolers' Read and Listen book/tape with a turn- the-page signal.) The presenters speak very slowly and clearly (compared to Radio Cymru) so it's much easier for learners to understand them. The problem is I can't read English and listen to Welsh at the same time just like a film with subtitles. I wish they made subtitles in Welsh. Then I'd be able to follow the show much more easily.

In any case, it's a major advancement of Welsh language in the British Isle. I think they plan to have shows in other languages in UK.

Posted by: austaff 27-Aug-2005, 11:19 PM
Gwenynen I listned to the show but boy didn't they talk fast I could only pick up a word here and there, but it was great to have the subtitles to follow their conversations biggrin.gif

Posted by: gwenynen 01-Sep-2005, 07:56 AM
You can have a glimpse of the recent National Eisteddfod on Radio Cymru:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/radiobymru
Click on "Encore"
You can listen to interviews with the winners and their songs (including a song from "Lion King" in Welsh!) Of course I can understand only partially, but it's a pleasure to listen to them. I recorded the program in my low-tech taperecorder and have been listening to it. I like their accents, especially the presenter. Her Welsh flows like music.

Posted by: Siarls 05-Sep-2005, 05:35 AM
Have you been here?
http://www.bbcamerica.com/britain/dictionary.jsp?newSearch=true&newSearchType=phrase&searchPhrase=other®ion=Wales&x=25&y=3

I was actually quite offended by the misspelling and the mispronunciation of Iechyd Da, so I wrote in to correct them. We should start building the vocabulary of this site though! (Oh and pong is incredibly outdated, and in Wales noone knows what Welsh Rarebit is! We just call it cheese on toast!)

Posted by: gwenynen 05-Sep-2005, 07:32 AM
I hope they'll correct the mistakes.

Posted by: Siarls 05-Sep-2005, 08:59 AM
http://www.bbcamerica.com/britain/dictionary/dictionary_addword.jsp

If we use this site though to build on the Welsh vocab! Scotland is very popular, let's show them Wales!

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 06-Sep-2005, 08:57 AM
"Pronounced Yacky Da?" Sheesh, obviously no Welsh speakers are involved in that site. I couldn't pull up anything while trying to search for words, maybe I'm not doing it right. IF "Yacky da" is any indication, I'm scared to find out what other words they have listed and how they instruct people to pronounce them. Thank you Siarls for sending them a correction.

Posted by: Siarls 06-Sep-2005, 05:36 PM
An Englishman once blurted out to me "Yacky Dar, Saimroo Ambuth". I know he was trying to be nice by telling me "Iechyd Da, Cymru am byth", but I just felt patronised and offended. I think Gwenynen and I have discussed this before.

Anyway, BBC America still hasn't replied to me which also offends me.

There are only 3 words in the Wales section which is why I insist on us building it up. I'd do it myself, but I don't want to appear as the only person who takes an interest in Wales, so I ask for your support. Add a word now! Ones you'd like to see on there. Welsh or Welsh-English.

Posted by: Siarls 04-Oct-2005, 08:53 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/eisteddfod/galleries/monday.shtml

Dr Christine James (winner of the Crown) is one of my lecturers! Monday night, we're having a night to congratulate her at the University.

These BBC regional sites are a good source of information for Welsh. My home region is the South West, if you fancy a browse there. Click on the South West outline in the little grey map of Wales in the top left of the page.

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 04-Oct-2005, 10:07 AM
Great Siarls, please give her a big "llongyfarchiadau " from your Celtic Radio friends dros y mo^r.

I love looking over those areas on the bbc site (Lleol i mi). The photos people send in also give me a good glimpse of the beauty of Wales. I print up some of the articles on the site too and take them home - not just to read them but to study the language too. Its a great site.

Posted by: gwenynen 04-Oct-2005, 01:21 PM
Indeed! Best wishes to Dr James!

Ah, yes, I do visit SW BBC Wales site often to see what's happening in your neighborhood, Siarls! Swansea has been in the news a lot lately.

Posted by: Siarls 04-Oct-2005, 03:39 PM
Really? Why has Swansea been in the news? I was in the local newspaper last week.

Posted by: anhrefn 04-Oct-2005, 07:55 PM
hey greenldydragon,

i've been to celtica. some of it was very cool - informative and interesting. some of it was just downright silly. still, i'm glad i went! i loved the town of machynlleth very much. there are other things of great interest there; just outside of town is the centre for alternative technology which was truly inspiring. a link:
http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl?refer=index&init=1
there's also a museum for owain glyndwr there - couldn't find a link for it, though. and, unfortunately, it was closed while i was in town. alas...

by the way, when i'm not listening to celtic radio, i often listen to bbc/radiocymru. even though i don't understand it all, i love hearing welsh spoken smile.gif

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 05-Oct-2005, 12:49 PM
Hey Siarls, what were you in the paper for? Is this paper online, and do you have a link to the story? I'd like to read it.

Posted by: Siarls 05-Oct-2005, 03:48 PM
It's not very pleasant:
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161389&command=displayContent&sourceNode=161372&contentPK=13245397&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

I am of course, officially, Charles Wilson. Gareth Gwynn was one of my best mates at the time.

Posted by: gwenynen 05-Oct-2005, 08:30 PM
O, Na! Were you severely injured? That was awful! O, it must have been terrible for you!

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 06-Oct-2005, 10:42 AM
God that's awful Siarls, hope you're feeling better. Hope you'll stay out of that area at night, looks like a rough neighborhood from the article.

Posted by: Siarls 06-Oct-2005, 12:31 PM
It was over a year ago, so I've had time to get over it all, but it was terrible and £250 was just not enough money - I was off work for a fortnight. I was in hospital over night with a broken nose, dislocated jaw and needed stitches... in my lips and gums... was so painful!!! By the way, I just want to say that neither myself nor Gareth provoked or started anything. The article is a bit unclear about that. One minute a guy is asking us for change, the next, we're being jumped by him and his friends. There was no warning whatsoever and I was offended that I was not called to the stand to testify.

So, for what other reasons have Swansea been in the news lately, Gwen? I know everything that's going on here but because I live in the area, but I want to know what's making my town famous, or infamous!

Posted by: gwenynen 06-Oct-2005, 01:39 PM
O, Siarls, I feel awful you got so badly injured! Those guys should get more for what they did to you than what was reported.

I'm afraid the recent news about Swansea hasn't been too cheerful - such as the murder of the 17 year-old boy, closing of a Walker's factory, and something else about a hospital (I can't remember the details.)

On the bright side, I was listening to Gaynor Davies on Radio Cymru just a moment ago and she interviewed two professors or students from Swansea University. I think it was about a book club or something and they were reviewing some books. I was trying hard to understand, but it was so hard! I even recorded it so I shall listen to them again.

Posted by: gwenynen 06-Oct-2005, 02:00 PM
Anhrefn, I'm afraid greenldydragon hasn't posted here for a long time. As a matter of fact, there are only a handful of us who post regularly. That's why we're so glad to have new members to the Wales threads. I hope you'll keep on posting.

Did you go to Machynlleth? How nice! It's indeed too bad those important cultural buildings were closed. The Glyndwr museum especially ought to have a national support. It's so important to preserve national heritage.

I too love Radio Cymru. I understand only here and there but as you say, it's wonderful to listen to fluent Welsh speakers. Some of them do sound as if they were siging, don't they? I like Gaynor Davies. Her Welsh is charming! Another of my favorites is the guy who reads news often on Post Cyntaf. I don't know his name but his Welsh is soooo fantastic! I can tell right away when he comes on the air!

Posted by: Siarls 08-Oct-2005, 04:28 PM
By the way, you know that Walkers factory that's closing? I work opposite it.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=262575&y=196362&z=3&sv=262575,196362&st=4&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=586&ax=262575&ay=196362

The arrow points to the Walkers factory. Where it says "Hotel" is now a petrol station - the one in which I work!

Posted by: gwenynen 08-Oct-2005, 07:18 PM
Neat map! Do you still work at Tesco too? Or was it a summer job?

Posted by: Siarls 12-Oct-2005, 07:46 AM
I've been working in Tesco since I was 16! I started off stacking milk, yoghurt and cheese. Then I moved to stacking shelves in the petrol station, then to checkouts, then to customer services and then to working on the checkouts in the petrol station! I'll keep working there until I graduate. I need the money!
I'll probably stay in the petrol station now though. It's not as highly paid as customer services, but I've certainly settled more than I did on customer services.

Posted by: gwenynen 12-Oct-2005, 08:12 AM
O, so the petrol station is a part of Tesco. There was an article about Tesco in the latest Lingo Newydd, a Welsh learners' manazine. It was about pros and cons of Tesco being built in many parts of Wales.

By the way, when do you graduate?

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 12-Oct-2005, 03:29 PM
Gwenynen, how did you subscribe to Lingo Newydd?

Posted by: gwenynen 12-Oct-2005, 07:24 PM
They don't have a secure payment system on the web. I didn't want to email my credit card info nor send a form by regular mail, so I called them on the phone. I got to talk to the woman whom I exchanged a few email (in English.) I was planning to say "Diolch" at least, but I was rather nervous and forgot!

Posted by: gwenynen 13-Oct-2005, 08:47 AM
O, no! Have you heard the news about the petrol station explosion in Cwmbran? Siarls, do be careful!

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 13-Oct-2005, 12:43 PM
Yes Siarls, be careful. Is Walkers the factory/butcher shop they closed due to the e coli outbreaks?

Posted by: Antwn ap Ioan 23-Oct-2005, 12:55 PM
This story from Eurolang about Ireland's Gaeltacht and its language requirement is very interesting. I wonder what would happen if communities in Wales would pass a similar law. Might be a good idea.

http://www.eurolang.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2483&Itemid=1&lang=en

Posted by: Siarls 24-Oct-2005, 11:01 AM
Yes, I've heard of these sort of Irish conquests before. I am completely in favour of many Irish Language legislation in the Republic of Ireland. Ireland is an amazing country and I think that Wales and Ireland can do a lot to help each other- we need to liaise more.

I'll try and find the website for your curiosity, but there was also a law passed recently in Ireland reverting all place names back to the original Irish.
I would be overjoyed by this if it were to happen in Wales. For example, the area of the Gower peninsula near where I live (in fact, I'm part of the Gower constituency, much to my horror and to the horror of Gower residents - there's a little rivalry between Gower, Swansea and the Lliw Valley and I think most Lliw Valley folk feel more sympathy toward Llanelli), all the Welsh placenames have been lost and only the English remains, not just on the roadsigns, but in spoken Welsh.
"Fi'n chwilio am Reynoldston" someone said to me. I was horrified, I responded, "Trerheinallt?".

This Irish law also required that only the Irish names would be used on maps, atlases and the ordnance survey. I completely agree. Some road atlases completely miss out the Welsh and some put the Welsh translation in brackets, in a smaller font beneath the English. Somewhat ironic seen as the Welsh is the original.
There would be some places that should retain their English, I feel. Swansea, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Glamorgan and Newport maybe. Swansea is a rare case in fact - the English is the original name, rather than the Welsh Abertawe.

By the way, the Walkers factory is closing due to company hardships. My friend works for Bridgend Borough Council Environmental Health - she has been working flat out to help resolve the crisis. Swansea remains unaffected.

Posted by: Siarls 24-Oct-2005, 11:09 AM
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/03/28/international/i121952S03.DTL&type=printable

(Information on the Irish Language Act that reverts all placenames back to the Irish original forms).

Posted by: Siarls 04-Nov-2005, 07:46 AM
http://www.answers.com/topic/calan-gaeaf

Basic information on Calan Gaeaf.

Posted by: gwenynen 04-Nov-2005, 10:13 AM
Diolch, Antwn, Siarls for these websites. Very interesting. The original purpose for dressing up like spirits at Halloween was to avoid demonic persecution... Three cheers to the Irish for passing this law! That's the way to preserve an endangered native language. Tourists should learn the place names if they so want to visit! Maybe it'll be too radical to do the same in Wales (for the sake of faint hearted) but at least all the signs should be bi-lingual with the Welsh words in bigger letters and the English in small letters in parenthesis ! smile.gif

Posted by: Antwn 05-Nov-2005, 10:20 AM
I agree. Maybe complimentary plastic magnifying glasses can be hung from each sign so passers by can stop and read the English place name wacko.gif

Sorry for not posting for a while, there was a technical problem and this site didn't recognize my screen name! Its fixed now, though with a slight modification.

Posted by: gwenynen 05-Nov-2005, 02:36 PM
Helo Antwn. Nice to hear from you. I'm glad you've overcome the technical problem. You have a neat Avatar!

You're so funny! I burst out laughting when I read your first line! laugh.gif I forgot to add a comment concerning the Irish Language Act. I was horrified to know they show Sponge Bob in Ireland of all the Amreican TV programs!

Posted by: Siarls 07-Nov-2005, 12:52 PM
Hello! I agree with you about giving Welsh priority over English on roadsigns. Less than a mile from my house is the border with Carmarthenshire where Welsh is written above English on roadsigns and where there's too small a space to have a bilingual sign, generally Welsh gets precedent!!!

I think Welsh should pass a similar law but you know, even Welsh people seem to have difficulty with placenames. I often have to take peoples' addresses in the petrol station because they have forgotten payment (but we can't suck the petrol back out of their tanks!) and so many people mispronounce places and then they spell them out to me like I'm a foreigner and I feel like saying, "Ie wel, fi'n siarad Cymraeg so does dim bai arna i pryd pobl ddim yn gallu dweud pethau yn dda!".

Saturday, someone said what I thought was Lancome, like the French design label. They were trying to say Llangwm. My colleague said he could see the anger in my eyes, hear the impatience in my voice and thought I was going to correct the lady. But they were Welsh!!!

By the way, have you seen this:
http://www.swan.ac.uk/cymraeg/
?? It's my department!!

Posted by: gwenynen 07-Nov-2005, 04:40 PM
Great web site! The campus is located in such a beautiful place.


Posted by: gwenynen 07-Nov-2005, 05:27 PM
Since I found Dr. Gruffudd's e-address on the above web, I sent him a message. I praised his learner's dictionary. I used the expression you taught me (mae e'n torri o'r neilltu o ganlyniad i'w ddefnydd aml.) smile.gif Aren't I a good student? smile.gif

Posted by: Antwn 08-Nov-2005, 10:02 AM
Sheesh! At least they weren't trying to pronounce Pwllheli. At the very least people should learn to pronounce place names in their own country. Well, I shouldn't talk. I grew up in Virginia and there's a small town there called Buena Vista. Not hard to pronounce even for a non Spanish speaker, yet the locals pronounce it Beoona Vista. Don't ask me why.

Siarls, you should have said that to them in Welsh. Even if they didn't understand you at least they'd know you speak Welsh and don't need to have Welsh names spelled out to you. You could also say "Edrychwch mewn eich waled CYN bwmpio'r petrol y tro nesa!" .....or whatever the colloquial version would be.

Gwenynen, please let us know if Dr. Gruffudd responds. Yes it is a nice site, the campus by the sea must be beautiful.


Posted by: austaff 08-Nov-2005, 11:54 PM
Gwenynen what courses are you now doing since you finished with the Lloyds Have you found a new course etc as I have nearly finished Lloyds so were wondering what you are doing now which may help me

hywl am y tro

Posted by: gwenynen 09-Nov-2005, 09:08 AM
I don't know any good course. Cam Ymlaen is good in a way but I just can't bring myself to start using Mi or Fe at the beginning of sentences unless I find a strong reason to do so. For now, I use mix-match of everything, Read Gareth King's grammar book, work on Teach Yourself Welsh I bought some time ago, listen to Radio Cymru, read newyddion and Welsh blogs, post at forums, etc.

What about the Linguaphone software you mentioned a while ago? Do you still use it? I'm so sad all those great softwares don't work with MAC. sad.gif

Posted by: Siarls 09-Nov-2005, 09:17 AM
It is lovely, today we can see England in the distance. In the summer, students walk over to the beach, do homework and have barbecues.

In the winter though, it gets very blustery and wet!!! There's a boulevard that runs between the Library, Languages Building, Taliesin Arts Centre, Engineering Building and Computer Science/Business building - this makes for a lovely wind tunnel in winter and by the time you arrive at your classes, it feels like you've been surfing or swimming in the sea as we're covered in salt water!

Posted by: gwenynen 09-Nov-2005, 09:34 AM
O that sounds so wonderful. I'm so partial to living by the sea (even with salt spray and all.) Is there any symbol here for envious green eyes? You see Oklahoma is land-locked. We do have lakes and rivers but they aren't the same as the sea. Besides I'm far from them anyway.


Posted by: Antwn 09-Nov-2005, 09:38 AM
Siarls, question for you. Do you belong to Cymuned? Are they a positive organization?

Posted by: Siarls 09-Nov-2005, 09:39 AM
Japan is a maritime nation, isn't it? I can imagine you miss the sea. I missed the sea when I was in London and it's only round the corner! I live right by the sea as well, you can't see it, but you can feel it in my garden. The salt spray, the seagulls, the fresh strong wind.
I do have to say that there are days when I am soaked to the bone, though!!! Yesterday for example! And I go through umberellas as often as I go to a hairdresser!!!!!!!

Green eyes? Hmm, I'm not sure... let me think about it and ask some friends what we'd say.

Posted by: Siarls 09-Nov-2005, 09:40 AM
Do you mean a cymdeithas, Antwn?

Posted by: gwenynen 09-Nov-2005, 12:12 PM
I'm sorry to cut in line but does anyone read Cambria magazine? In the latest issure (11/12) they printed my letter to the editor about Gwynfor Evans. Please take a look if you have a chance.

Posted by: Siarls 10-Nov-2005, 06:07 AM
Of course, I'll have a look next time I'm in a newsagent. Is it in English or Welsh? I don't read Cambria much, but I'm eager for Y Byd to come out.

Posted by: gwenynen 10-Nov-2005, 08:36 AM
It's in English. For a specific reason of educating English speaking Welsh. This idea was suggested by Gwynfor Evans. He said to the editor-to-be before launching of the magazine, " ..there are many Welsh language publications all of whom tend to 'preach to the converted'; what is needed is a pioneering, patriotic magazine in English which would involve, educate and inspire the four-fifths of Welsh people who could not (yet) speak Welsh."

I hear they are having difficulty raising enough fund for Y Byd.

Posted by: Antwn 11-Nov-2005, 10:19 AM
No Siarls, Cymuned. They're an organization which supports y Fro Gymraeg -- see below. I joined their mailing list but I don't know much about them. Thought maybe you would. They're a grass roots organization, very passionate....I just want to make sure they're not rash. I believe in what they stand for, supporting measures to stop the diminishment of y Fro Gymraeg, but only by legitimate methods.

http://www.cymuned.net/

http://www.ynyfro.com/

I'm also longing for Y Byd to come out. A country wide newspaper in Welsh could be a great unifying force. I don't know what kind of start-up expenses they have, but one would think that with 1/2 a million speakers of Welsh, even a fraction of that number who might subscribe would attract enough advertsisers to support it.

Wonderful letter in Cambria Gwen! I can really feel your sincerity and reverence for Gwynfor Ifans.

Posted by: Siarls 11-Nov-2005, 10:27 AM
I feel very foolish not knowing about the cymuned. I think it's a good example of Welsh laid-backness (forgotten the actual English word!!!!)

We're not well connected with each other which often saddens me and I think may be a contributing factor to the disorder of the Welsh language cooperations!!!The cymunedau don't seem to be rash or illogical - I'm sure they'd make more news here otherwise!

Ah Gwynfor Evans. A great man. Well-liked in Wales. What a marvellous idea, we need more of it today and I have often said the same thing should be done with S4C. There's not enough to courage learners to watch it... there's not enough to encourage natives to watch it!!!!!

Posted by: Antwn 11-Nov-2005, 11:10 AM
Diolch Siarls, I feel more comfortable being on their mailing list. I like to know what's going on, especially in support of Welsh. They send out monthly updates of their activities through email as well as occasional appeals for help....all in Welsh of course which makes it a great learning tool for me too. Y'all join up now, ya hea? Os yw eisiau arnoch chi oll.

Posted by: Antwn 11-Nov-2005, 01:06 PM
Just wanted to post an English version of one of the Cymuned sites FYI


http://www.notenglish.com/

Posted by: gwenynen 11-Nov-2005, 02:02 PM
Diolch, Antwn. I've signed up! I'd been considering it. Now is a good chance as you gave us a direct link. (But I'm afraid I have to received e-mail in English for now.) I't'll be great to receive weekly news. I want to be aware of what's going.

Posted by: Siarls 14-Nov-2005, 02:56 PM
S4C has a new learner's website:

http://www.s4c.co.uk/cymraeg/e_index.shtml

Posted by: gwenynen 14-Nov-2005, 05:05 PM
This new site had been talked about in another forum. I tried to register but it wouldn't work for people overseas. Somehow you have to enter "Wales" for your country to get processed but I don't want to do it because I live in USA. It's too bad because it sounds like a good free program.

Posted by: gwenynen 14-Nov-2005, 06:04 PM
Does anyone go to BBC Learn Welsh Message Board? Most of the posters are sincerely wanting to learn Welsh or willing to help them. There was one poster who was extremely provoking and made rude comments about Cymraeg. There have been many responses, most of them strongly supporting it. (I'm one of them.) If you are interested, please take a look and give your opinions (you need to register first.)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbwalesedu/F2130353?thread=1424530

Posted by: Antwn 15-Nov-2005, 10:07 AM
QUOTE (gwenynen @ 14-Nov-2005, 06:05 PM)
This new site had been talked about in another forum. I tried to register but it wouldn't work for people overseas. Somehow you have to enter "Wales" for your country to get processed but I don't want to do it because I live in USA. It's too bad because it sounds like a good free program.

I know what you mean Gwenynen. When I logged on to Cymru'r Byd a box popped up asking if I wanted to participate in a survey. It was in Welsh, but I could understand it well enough. One of the first questions asked where I lived. When I truthfully answered the US I was told I didn't qualify to participate. I read articles on that site all the time. Why wouldn't my answers mean as much as those in Wales? How do they know I'm not a Welsh ex-pat living here temporarily? Maybe the questions had to do with situations in Wales I didn't know about.

Anyway, although it might be seen as rather quaint, I not sure our interest in Welsh is taken that seriously there. Ironic when you consider your response to that Welsh person on the BBC forum who thought Welsh was a dead language no one should bother learning. I can understand to an extent. Americans are not exactly known for passionate interest in language learning, but are one of the most staunchly monoglot people in the world. A smattering of this and that is all we ever learn as a rule, and when you ask someone if they speak another language they'll usually say something like "I took French in high school" which is like saying "my great great grandma was 1/16 Cherokee" then claiming to be native. Then their French would sound something like "Party voo crankcase silver plate, come and tie my shoe?" Americans think the rest of the world is going to learn English, but statistics show that the numbers of English speakers have declined over the last decade or two from 10% to about 8%. Of course a drop of 2% might be explained by the population increase in China alone over the same period I don't know, but I do know that the US assumption that English is/will be spoken everywhere is exaggerated. I also hope it is. Not that I hate English, I'm grateful to be a native speaker of it, but I'd like for us to maintain a linguistically diverse planet.

Someday I'm going to write to the BBC in perfect literary highly stylized Welsh and complain about leaving us out, but they'd probably think someone wrote it for me. I had that happen in grade school, a teacher was sure an essay I wrote was written by a parent or older sibling. Oh ye of little faith........

Posted by: Antwn 15-Nov-2005, 10:15 AM
By the way, I know its been said before, but Thank You Siarls for all your support to Gwen, Austaff and me here!

Posted by: austaff 16-Nov-2005, 11:56 PM
Hi Gang

Have you listened to radioacen it plays all welsh music folk clasical and has a learning segment, they even speak in welsh then tell you what was said in that other tongue that stasrts with an E Saesneg tongue.gif

Hywl am y tro thumbs_up.gif

Posted by: Siarls 17-Nov-2005, 06:22 AM
I nearly had a heart attack reading that website Gwen. It may be best I don't post on there. I am quite angry.

Any help I can be to you, let me know.

If you want to register with S4C learners, you're more than welcome to use my details and I can forward the information to you.

Posted by: Siarls 17-Nov-2005, 06:25 AM
I hear many good things about Acen. It is well-liked by learners in Wales.

Posted by: gwenynen 17-Nov-2005, 09:05 AM
Helo austaff. I used to listen to Radio ACEN but for some reason (something to do with our MAC which is beyond my field) the music gets interrupted every few seconds now so I gave up. They do play the kind of music I like though (lots from Sain.)

Diolch Siarls for your offer but I think I'll wait and see if ACEN will do something about it because there are many overseas learners who want to register, I'm sure.

As to the discussion on BBC messageboard, I think the guy indeed is a professional trouble maker. I checked there now and he had more rediculous statements. If he thinks he can dampen the enthusiasm of Welsh learners by his insults, he's wrong. At least I get MORE eager to learn! He doesn't know he's contributing to the very language he's trying to slander! laugh.gif

Posted by: Siarls 18-Nov-2005, 06:50 AM
It seems ridiculous that Acen does not allow overseas learners to register. I wonder what their reasoning is.

I don't understand trouble makers. How can anyone possibly enjoy provoking negative human reaction? I am reduced to tears when I get myself into trouble and provoke anger/sadness!!!!!

Are any of you using http://www.geiriadur.net ?

Posted by: gwenynen 18-Nov-2005, 08:55 AM
That trouble maker at Learn Welsh gets worse everyday. He almost seems to be enjoying slandering Welsh. He's totally unreasonable. I think it's best to ignore him. There are plenty of people like him in the world, I fear. On the other hand, I'm glad to read positive posts from many Welsh learners about Welsh. It seems we are united in support of our dear language. smile.gif

Yes, I do use the site from time to time. I mostly use Learn Welsh geiriadur.

Posted by: Antwn 18-Nov-2005, 09:37 AM
I use www.geiriadur.net, but mostly rely on the dictionary on Learn Welsh like Gwenynen does. Sometimes when Learn Welsh doesn't have a word I'll use the Lampeter site, they seem to provide more alternatives. One thing I like about the Lampeter site is that they'll translate more phrases.

Once I looked up the word "year" on Learn Welsh and they didn't have it. I also tried blwyddyn but they didn't have that either. I was writing that letter to Lingo Newydd and couldn't remember the gender of it. I needed to know whether it would SM or not. I couldn't believe they didn't have the word year listed. The Lampeter geiriadur did. Sometimes I'll have both up on the computer.


Posted by: Siarls 19-Nov-2005, 07:44 AM
We're eager to promote it because it's the University of Wales. I was wondering if you found it useful? I'd be interested to hear what you don't like about it and what your needs are from a dictionary as learners.
Enthusiastic, good learners at that!

Posted by: Antwn 19-Nov-2005, 10:36 AM
What's really frustrating about the Lampeter site is that after it gives you a meaning and you click on the word to find if there are any more subtle connotations to the use of a particular word, then you click back hoping to just go back to the last page where you were, it takes you back to the original search page. Sometimes you'll get a page that says "Warning this page has expired". That problem becomes very tedious. So then you have to put in the word all over again to get to the page where you were. Because some words have multiple meanings, this becomes a problem. I think the BBC does a better job of helping you understand which word to use when there are multiple words of similar meanings. Lampeter does a good job of this too, but since you can't just go back to the page you were on as I mentioned above, it becomes very frustrating at those times. The Lampeter site is also a bit slower, but I like it anyway for reasons below.

One book I'm finding more usefull now is a dictionary of idiomatic phrases by Alun Cownie. The Lampeter site provides many more of those than the BBC site. I come across phrases which can't be understood if translated literally. One good thing about the BBC site is that you can get conjugations of verbs by clicking on "conjugation" when its offered. The Lampeter site offers conjugations of prepostions however and explanations and examples of their use, and it does a phenomenal job on those whereas the BBC site just defines them. That's a great asset, since as a learner one of the biggest problems for me is knowing which preposition to use. We've discussed that before. So each site has its strong points and problems, that's why I often will use both.

Another great asset in the Lampeter site is the search criteria for part of a word. You can enter "ar" for example and get tons of the many phrases which begin with it. That's a great feature! Lampeter gives you pronunciations too.

I like the Lampeter site and I also appreciate all the work it takes to put together a site like that. It must be a massive effort and cost quite a bit. So I think the best way to appreciate it is to use it. I'd already gotten into the habit of using the BBC site before I'd discovered the Lampeter one, so that's part of the reason too. But recently I discovered other features it has, so I'll probably be using it more. I'm really glad they put it together. If they'd fix the back button problem, I'd probably use it even more.

Posted by: Siarls 21-Nov-2005, 12:39 PM
Thank you. I think I agree with what you're saying. I shall see what I can do with your comments.

Posted by: Siarls 21-Nov-2005, 05:11 PM
http://www.ybyd.com

Posted by: gwenynen 23-Nov-2005, 09:29 AM
Best wishes for y Byd! smile.gif

Does anyone read Welsh blogs? There are so many of them (isn't that great?) that I only read some of my favorites. This site is handy to brwose latest entries but they're having a technical problem at the moment which should be fixed soon according to the admin.

http://blogiadur.com

What about you, Siarls? Aren't you going to start one? I'll be a faithful reader! smile.gif

Posted by: Siarls 23-Nov-2005, 09:42 AM
Does dim amser 'da fi, Gwen! Weithiau, fi'n ffeindio fe anodd i gadw lan a^ chi gyd fan hon!
No time, Gwen! I find it difficult sometimes to keep up with you all here!

Falle y bydda i ar wefan Prifysgol Cymru yn y dyfodol! Gyda blogs ar fy ymchwil i Ieithyddiaeth Gymraeg!!!
Maybe I'll be on the University of Wales website in the future! With blogs on my Welsh Linguistics research!!!

Posted by: gwenynen 24-Nov-2005, 09:26 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4464736.stm

Congratulations, Siarls. smile.gif

Posted by: Siarls 24-Nov-2005, 02:14 PM
Diolch, yr ydym yn falch iawn o'n prifysgol!

Posted by: Antwn 25-Nov-2005, 09:10 AM
I'd sure like to be able to go back to university now that I'm older. It would be nice to go to Swansea to study Welsh. Yes, very nice Uni Siarls, except I'm disappointed to see that they're closing the philosophy dept.

Gwen - yes I like to read Welsh blogs. There are some learner's blogs out there too. You may want to start one. I also go to maes-e.

Posted by: Siarls 25-Nov-2005, 09:38 AM
I'm glad they're closing Philosophy! The lecturers there are so problematic. I like the new Vice-Chancellor and his policies, but Philosophy is always contending him.
I'm sure you'd enjoy learning Welsh at Swansea - the support is very good.

Posted by: gwenynen 25-Nov-2005, 05:36 PM
Which blogs do you read, Antwn? I usually read Chris Cope, dogfael and Rhys Llwyd. Dogfael's Welsh is so good (and often too hard form me!) that I learn a lot from him. Chris is so funny. Though he's always saying his Welsh isn't good enough, I think he's done exceptionally well. And I appreciate his audio flog. I wish Welsh speakers would start one. I respect Rhys's bold stand as a Christian.

Maybe I'll be able to start one myself in a few years when I've learned a bit more. What about you, Antwn?

Their Welsh is so colloquial at maes-e that I can hardly follow what they are talking about. I boldly joined them but I feel like I'm interrupting fluent speakers with my learner's Welsh so now I just try reading. Did you know they had an article about Nic, the admin in Golwg? They were saying how he's contributed to the Welsh language through blogs.

Posted by: Antwn 26-Nov-2005, 12:33 PM
Hi Gwenynen. Yeah, I know what you mean about maes-e, but that's the point, it really shows you how Welsh is really used outside the textbook. There are some other learners on the board too. I haven't posted yet either.

I really respect Nic Dafis, he's a tutor and I think he has contributed alot to Welsh through maes-e. Giving Welsh a real presence on the internet is important by giving it more international exposure and establishing a voice for Welsh outside Wales. Besides - its everyone's internet! There are more personal blogs and other sites in Welsh than alot of other minority EU languages. I also read his blog occasionally, and Suw Charman's (clwb malucachu). Each of their blogs have a good list of other Welsh blogs too.

Since I no longer have my own puter, I'm not as up on the blogosphere as I used to be. I tried to start one while I was on aol, but then I could never think of anything to say on it. Besides I was a bit intimidated posting in Welsh where fluent speakers could see my goof ups. It still takes me a while to write a Welsh paragraph, though not nearly as long as it used to. My blog doesn't exist anymore. I'll have to look up the blogs you suggested....thanks!

Here's Nic Dafis' blog
http://www.morfablog.com/

Here's Suw's English blog - it has alot of Welsh blogs listed on it
http://chocnvodka.blogware.com/

Well Siarls, I just like the subject. I don't know anything about the internal politics at the university but I'll take your word for it.

Posted by: Mihangel 05-Dec-2005, 07:03 PM
CELTICA.
This is an excellent place showing early celtic life. But as lots of things in the UK they start with really good ideas but fail later as no one wishes to support them, I am referring to the authorities here. I hear it is closing for good at the end of February, 2006 which will be a great loss I feel. sad.gif

Posted by: gwenynen 05-Dec-2005, 08:19 PM
Croeso, Michael! I'm glad you found us! Please intruduce yourself in "Introduce Yourself" thread under "Wales."

Thanks for the info. They can surely use more support for such a worthy subject.

Posted by: gwenynen 15-Dec-2005, 09:35 AM
I thought I'd talk about in this thread the website Austaff posted in Beginner's Welsh. It's:
http://welshpages.glam.ac.uk
There're two courses, Dyfal Donc and Catchphrase. They're both good. The first few lessons may be too simple. I skip those. I'm wroking on lesson 3 of Dyfal Donc now. A good thing about the courses is it has plenty of sound help (and it loads quickly.) Especially the exercise you have to give quick answers is great for me as I lack speaking opportunities. You can get help from tutors for free IF you're a student there. Too bad for the internet learners. But still it's a great website.

Posted by: Mihangel 16-Dec-2005, 02:35 AM
Firstly I would like to say that this site is really great; so much interaction.

The web addy you mentioned, Gwenynen, is perfectly timed for me as I finish off my course with Rosetta Stone software and I look for something else to compliment my BBC catchphrase lessons. I think this site has a lot of reality to today in the way it sets the learning. I will start this soon I think.

Michael

Posted by: gwenynen 16-Dec-2005, 09:03 AM
Isn't it great? I'm glad they offer such lessons for free. I recorded the interactive drills so that I can practice more. I really need to work hard on that aspect. It's so easy to write simple sentences but it's a totally different challenge when you have to speak on the spot! - Gest ti ginio? Do. Ces i ginio gyda Sian. smile.gif

Posted by: Mihangel 16-Dec-2005, 06:21 PM
Yes it is really good and we are very lucky to have these free web sites to learn Welsh.
I agree that to read and write are the "easy" bits, but to speak one not only needs confidence but also the ability to recall the appropriate word or phrase quickly, practice, practice!

I shall be starting on this web site sonn after Christmas I think as the other one is nearly finished.

Posted by: Mihangel 16-Dec-2005, 06:29 PM
I have ordered two books from Gwales to help with my learning "Pa Arddodoad" A checklist of verbs ans Treigladur" a check list of mutations I hope I receive them soon and that they would be helpful.
Michael

Posted by: gwenynen 17-Dec-2005, 10:03 AM
Warm wishes to all who use these lessons! smile.gif I finished Dyfal Donc lesson 4 today but I still have to practice speaking quickly in the drill. This site is the best thing I can use (for free too) as a self-taught learner.

I found something neat too. Go to Quia Number Games on the left side panel. Thre're fun word games. If you click on Home on the top blue column, there are other language games too. I even found Japanese! I tried the Kanji (Chinese character) game. I'd correct a couple of things had I chance but it's still simple and fun.

Best wishes to you with your new books, Michael.

Posted by: Antwn 18-Dec-2005, 11:09 AM
Pa arddodiad is a useful tool Mihangel. I find it helpful.

Posted by: Mihangel 18-Dec-2005, 04:32 PM
Thanks Antwn. I hoped it might be helpful and being so isolated I need all the help I can get.

I cannot wait to delve into the Dyfal Donc in the New Year as that will compliment my learning methods. I like to attack this subject in different ways rather than just one type of course as I find that is more helpful to me and never boring.

Mihangel

Posted by: Mihangel 18-Dec-2005, 04:44 PM
A friend who works with me in Oz has got from her parents a video of an omnibus edition of Pobl y Cwm which she is willing to lend to me. I am looking forward to that because I think I can pick up a better speech rhythm than I have at the moment and perhaps collect a few more idiomatic phrases.

Michael

Posted by: Siarls 19-Dec-2005, 08:28 AM
Pobl Y Cwm has a nice variety of dialects as well, that should help you with the linguistic diversity in Wales!

Posted by: gwenynen 08-Feb-2006, 09:13 AM
Here's a news about an American learner who has become a sort of celebrity among other learners and some Welsh:

http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/news.php?id=74213

I read his blog daily. He's so funny. Sometimes his topic or language get a little coarse, but he's got a kind heart.

Posted by: gwenynen 08-Feb-2006, 09:52 AM
I found better ones:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_4690000/newsid_4691400/4691404.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4690568.stm

Posted by: Antwn 08-Feb-2006, 04:51 PM
Ardderchog! I've seen his name of some of the Welsh email lists. Good for him!!

Posted by: Siarls 09-Feb-2006, 01:47 PM
Wow da iawn!

Posted by: gwenynen 21-Feb-2006, 09:29 AM
They have a program today at Radio Wales, called "Aberdar Aberdar." People in Aberdar talk about their town. Among them is a Iranian woman, a Welsh learner. Her Welsh is admirable! (And the easiest to understand.) It's amazing and encouraging a foreigner could reach a level of Welsh like that. She starts speaking about 10 minutes from the start. There're other learners too. You can listen to a song by Hergest, one of my favorite groups, at the beginning.

Posted by: Antwn 21-Feb-2006, 05:35 PM
I think people who are already bilingual aren't as intimidated about learning another language as a rule. Do you find that's true Gwen? There are many people where I work who are bilingual (Eng. Spanish) and some polylingual. Once supervisor speakes 7 languages and another person, already fluent in Russian and English, learned enough Spanish to use it for work by hanging out with the Spanish speakers there over the last year and practicing with them. He still has to look up some words in the dictionary but Sheesh!

I remember listening to the person who won the learner of the year award on Radio Cymru a good while ago. Her Welsh was easier to understand for me too ....listening with a learner's ear. I still have a heck of a time understanding spoken Welsh - either on Radio Cymru or Wedi 7 - but it always inspires me since its so beautiful to hear!

Posted by: gwenynen 22-Feb-2006, 09:14 AM
I think some people have natural aptitude for learning languages. And of course, if you're exposed to different ones from childhood (like people in Europe,) it's easier. I don't think Japanese are good linguists possibly due to the island nation they live in. I've somehow managed to learn English but I'm not particularly talented. So my progress in Welsh is slow but I'm not worried as I enjoy the process of learning too. Yet if I were given a chance of becoming fluent right away, I won't decline it!

I agree! I love listening to fluent speakers especially those with beautiful accents even if I only understand them partially. Welsh IS music. And when I do understand them, it's such a joy!

Posted by: Siarls 22-Feb-2006, 11:06 AM
My mother was born in Aberdar. She was in an orphanage there as well, which has since closed actually.

I do find that people who are brought up bilingual often adapt quickly to new languages and cultures. My Italian lecturer was once telling me how impressed she was with the Welsh generally. She said that Welsh speakers were often her best students. Better than the Spanish and French students because they would often Frenchicise/Spanishicise Italian!!!!!!!!!! (I made those words up because I can't think of the English words! LOL)

I am impressed with you guys learning. I really hope you keep it up and that you're not disheartened by anyone or anything. I offended a customer the other day when he presented a Welsh credit card. The majority of HSBC Welsh cards are Welsh-speakers - part of the incentive. So I asked, "Cymrâg?"
He replied, "Dysgu", so I proceeded to say in quite fast-paced Welsh thinking I was helping him,
"Ah wel ma' lot o bobl 'da cherdyn 'ma'n siarad Cymrâg so fi'n wastad gofyn"
Apparently, it was a bit fast for him and he exclaimed rather aggressively, "I told I am only a learner. Learner".
I apologised in English, but he stormed off. I was so worried that I had disheartened him!

By the way, remember that road sign I was telling you about? The City and County of Swansea have finally put up a bilingual sign. Now if Wales were to follow Ireland's example and revert most place names to the original Welsh, keeping the English of only the major places, then we wouldn't have this bilingual signage problem!!!!

Keep up the good work though, people!

Posted by: Siarls 22-Feb-2006, 11:08 AM
Oh, I also want to point out (rather vainly) that my Italian discreetly told me that I was a better student than the Portuguese girl in my class. What a compliment. Being Portuguese, she has a native exposure to Romance languages.

Posted by: gwenynen 22-Feb-2006, 01:53 PM
Congratulations, Siarls! You are indeed gifted with languages.

About the learner who got mad at you and stomped away, I say, "What a waste!" He threw away a great opportunity to practice his Welsh with a speaker. If he'd asked you to speak more slowly, I'm sure you'd have been glad to do so. I feel like a starved person looking at delicious food thrown away before her very eyes!

Posted by: Antwn 22-Feb-2006, 05:31 PM
That is a nice compliment Siarls. Yeah, its hard to keep from altering a language according to the rules of one you know when they're so related. You just slip into the habit. I used to get critisized by my German teacher in high school when I'd Anglisise the word order. I'll never forget her scream at me "You're not speaking English!!" I must have been the 50th student to do that and she'd had enough! But I was more careful not to make the same mistake.

I think Italian is a beautiful language too - I think its mandatory to speak it with alot of gesticulations isn't it? wink.gif

I hope your customer continues with his learning - maybe he'll chat away with you in Welsh at some future date.


Posted by: Siarls 23-Feb-2006, 04:00 PM
I'm sure that hand gestures and facial expressions are as much a part of the Italian language as the words themselves!!!

Thank you for your compliments and I like your analogy, Gwen! Yeh, of course I'd have been more than willing to help him. I'd have even written it down for him, if he had wanted. He was middle-aged, so maybe he didn't like the misplaced authority???

I am always teaching Welsh wherever I go. I think I must bore people sometimes! There was a difficult sentence in Italian that none of the other students understood, but because the verb had preceded the subject and object as in Welsh. I proceeded to explain the grammatical structure of the sentence and described its similarities to Welsh!!! My classmates must have thought, "Italian class, not Welsh!"

Posted by: Antwn 23-Feb-2006, 05:44 PM
Its wonderful that you're such a promotor of Welsh Siarls, we sure appreciate your efforts and your coaching here!

How many classes at your Uni offer instruction through the medium of Welsh?

Posted by: Siarls 23-Feb-2006, 05:49 PM
Many classes are offered in Welsh. And we have the right to do our exams and coursework in English or Welsh, whatever the subject. All exam papers are bilingual. All signs are bilingual. Even the handbook and catalogue of modules is bilingual. I sometimes wonder if this is a waste of money though because it does mean a lot of work, paper and ink!

Posted by: Siarls 23-Feb-2006, 05:56 PM
We also have the right to choose a Welsh-speaking personal tutor and to receive any verbal communication in Welsh. All letters, emails, posters (yup - so if the French Society is having a concert, they MUST puiblicise in Welsh equal to English. At the moment, we have union elections, all the candidates posters are bilingual), exam results and degree certificates are bilingual. The graduation ceremony is bilingual with "Llongyfarchiadau" being announced to each student, not "Congratulations".
On our profiles, there is a language option:
English
Welsh (Not Fluent)
Welsh (Fluent)

The Vice Chancellor is Welsh speaking (he runs the university. He is the equivalent to a College President I think you call them in America. In Britain, the Chancellor is the official president, but he or she is always someone of high importance that acts as a figurehead and publicity for the University. Prince Charles is our Chancellor. I don't quite recall the Chancellor of Oxford, but he's not Royalty, so in my opinion, that makes Swansea more important that our Chancellor is Prince of Wales and heir to the English throne!!!)

Posted by: Siarls 25-Feb-2006, 08:32 AM
http://home.clara.net/tirbach/hicks3a.html#Proverbs

Posted by: gwenynen 25-Feb-2006, 09:03 AM
Most expressive of all I think is "Cau'r drws ar ddannedd dyn." You can just see the picture in your mind!

Posted by: Siarls 07-Mar-2006, 08:22 AM
I am finding this a fascinating read - I was planning to write a book on Welsh, but with this, there is not much need for my book (Although I would like to add a couple of things).

It's an article on the Welsh Language and the Welsh English dialect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_English


This section is also very interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_people

Wikipedia is generally an excellent website that I regularly use for my essays. My latest essay, I got a 2:1 (which is a B in American standards, I think). My main criticism was that I shouldn't use English sources and translate to Welsh, but this is because Wikipedia had all the information I wanted to include in my essay.

Posted by: Antwn 07-Mar-2006, 06:11 PM
Siarls, you can always contribute to the Welsh Wiki. They're always looking for some new subjects in Welsh.

Posted by: Antwn 07-Mar-2006, 06:16 PM
By the way - I too like the Wikipedia. I consult it first whenever I need info on something. Since anyone can contribute, I questioned the reliability of its accuracy at first, but since looking up many things some of which I already knew alot about to test it, I'm pretty impressed. Its a wonderful resource, and much easier than looking all over the net to find info.

Posted by: Siarls 11-Mar-2006, 07:26 PM
Then, how about this people!
http://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymraeg

Posted by: Antwn 12-Mar-2006, 11:56 AM
Yes indeedie!! Did you write an article for it Siarls? If so which one?

Posted by: gwenynen 12-Mar-2006, 02:04 PM
Cool! It's in Japanese too.

Posted by: Siarls 12-Mar-2006, 04:43 PM
No no no, I'm too scared to write for it, yet!
How is your Japanese Gwen? Do you practice often?
There's all sorts of languages there... mmm let me see if they have Catalan.

Posted by: Siarls 12-Mar-2006, 04:44 PM
I tell you what, why don't you answer my question in the Welsh Only forum! Give you some practice there seen as this forums should actually be about websites!!!!!! hehe

Posted by: gwenynen 03-May-2006, 07:47 AM
Siarls, I'm sorry I hadn't noticed your post till last night! I don't seem to receive e-mail notice for all the posts. So I check the Welsh threads once in a while to see if I missed anything but clearly, I missed yours for so long.

I shall answer your question in the Advanced Welsh as you wish.

Posted by: gwenynen 11-May-2006, 01:36 PM
Ydych chi wedi gwrando ar ddrama Radio Cymru hon yr wythnos ma? - "Y Siwrne Adre" Mae hi'n dipyn 'spooky'* ond yn ddiddorol.



*Methais i gael hyd i'r gair mewn geiriaduron.

Posted by: Gogsrus 19-Sep-2006, 05:49 PM


http://realhistoryradio.blogspot.com/

a bit fanatical....but interesting

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