Welsh Dialects in South West Wales
Welsh language tutor Martin Davies of Llanelli looks at the different Welsh dialects in South West Wales...
Click here for Martin's feature: 'What Is A Dialect?' Pembrokeshire One of the most striking aspects is the use of diphthongs (two vowels together) in forms such as dwâd = dod (come), cewn = cefn (back), cwêd = coed (wood/trees), and wedd = oedd (was). Another aspect, peculiar to this region, is the tendency to not use the dark y sound; in its place we frequently see i e.g. cifan = cyfan (all), finy = i fyny (up), i mochyn = y mochyn (the pig) , and sometimes, w e.g. cwmeryd = cymryd (to take), and cwmwdog = cymydog (neighbour). Notice as well the tendency of a final dd to disappear e.g. perfe = perfedd (middle/entrails), and we = oedd (was). 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).(West) Glamorganshire To many people, including the natives of the Swansea Valley, one of the main characteristics of this dialect is the hardening of consonants, as in catw and eclws instead of cadw (to keep) and eglws (church). However, the Swansea Valley lies on the boundary of this phenomenon; hardening occurs in all areas to the east . What makes this dialect of particular interest is its function as a link between the language of Shir Gâr and the Wenhwyseg, the language of greater Glamorganshire. The dialect links with the West because -
e is heard as a final syllablein words like tafarne = tafarnau (pubs), and emyne = emynau (hymns).We hear â and not in such words as blân = blaen, câl = cael (have), and mâs = maes (out). The dialect links with the East because -
hardening occurs frequently, but not consistently; e.g catw = cadw (to keep), Satwn = Sadw(r)n (Saturday), but dodi (to put), gwbod (to know) and gyda (with).The absence of h and chw, e.g. efyd = hefyd (as well), onna = honna (that one f.),and wsu = chwysu (to perspire).
Examples of South West words in Welsh on BBC Cymru'r BydAcknowledgement to Peter Wynn Thomas and his work in 'Cymraeg, Cymrâg, Cymrêg: Cyflwyn'r Tafodieithoedd' (Gwasg Taf 1989).
your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
L D James from Caerphilly
Is there any evidence in a change of word order in the different Welsh dialects?
Tue May 26 16:13:43 2009
J Evans Pontypridd
Why did the gutteral sound of north west wales develop? Was it anything to do with Irish occupation in the early centuries?
Mon Nov 24 16:24:59 2008
Kevin Flynn from Pontardawe
How about sai’n credu, so ni'n siŵr, etc. (= dw i ddim credu, dyn ni ddim siŵr, etc.)? Does anyone know the origin of this sa/so construction?
Mon Oct 20 09:56:08 2008
Do you know of any further dialect examples that could be added to this page? Send them into us here.
|
 |
 |
Nodi achlysur Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr yn Abertawe yn 25 oed.
|
|
 |
|
|
