Click here for Martin's feature: 'What Is A Dialect?' Carmarthenshire
One persons reaction to this dialect was to name it General Southern Welsh; without getting into a protracted discussion, for or against this statement, one can sympathise with such a viewpoint. When compared with the extraordinary characteristics of Pembrokeshire and Glamorganshire Welsh to either side, this dialect can sound more neutral.
Some characteristics of the South - West are:
The e in the last syllable, e.g. bore = borau (morning), dechre = dechrau (to begin), bydde = byddai (would be).
The ow in mowr = mawr (big).
The occasional dropping of h, e.g. yd = hyd (length).
Diphthongs being replaced by a long first vowel e.g.ôd = oed (age), mâs = maes (out), câ = cae (field).
your comments
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Peter Owen, Bury, Lancs.
As a child in Burry Port (Porth Tywyn) we used 'losin' but I cannot remember a plural other than 'losine', mind you, it was more than 50 years ago!
Mon Mar 31 16:39:47 2008
Greg
As a learner, i use losin. swits is anglicised, like taffis lol!
Tue Aug 1 10:52:16 2006
Mary - Loughor
In my home area (West Glamorgan) we say the word 'Taffis' for sweets.
Wed Jul 7 12:43:40 2004
Eifion - Llanybydder
Here in Carmarthenshire we use the word 'losin' for sweets - but I believe in Pembrokeshire they say 'swits'. Is there a different word used in the old West Glamorgan area?
Wed Jul 7 12:40:47 2004
Do you have any examples of the Carmarthenshire dialect? Send them in here.
