h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As you can see from my (rather contrived) nickname, I am Welsh and proud of it (although I'm not rabidly nationalistic, I hope).

I think many underestimate how important Welsh is to people, especially to those who have Welsh as their first language. If you need an example, think about if you've ever been abroad. Surely you tried to learn at least a few phrases in the local language, and probably managed OK, since you've made it back to read this. But, even if you were good at the language, think how pleased you would have been (or maybe were) when you found someone who spoke English. That is how Welsh speakers feel when you can comunicate in their language.

Also, we today may think that the days when Welsh was victimised, eg the "Welsh Not", are long past. But for the older people, it may be only one generation away, and the nerves are still raw. There is a long cultural memory, and much to forgive. These things take time.

Although I descibed myself as Welsh, I was in point of fact, born and brought up in England, to a Welsh mother and an English father, and I have only begun learning Welsh recently. You can be Welsh without speaking the language, but you miss out on a large part of life in Wales if you don't make the effort to join in.

i like the feminist name!

are you learning welsh in birmingham?
pob lwc!

Sort of. I've just got here from Anglesey, and I'm at uni in Aston. I'm writing to my Nain (nan) in Welsh, and she's writing back and correcting my mistakes. Going OK so far, but I'll have to wait 'til I go home to practice my spoken Welsh.

good for you!!

i can speak welsh, but mostly don't, due to lack of confidence.

This is to mingum. Sorry, all you who can't read it, but it's not about you, so don't worry.

Mingum,

Rhaid i chi yn siarad Cymraig! Piad a phoini am eich "confidence" (mae ddrwg gen i, dwi ddim yn gwbod y gair!). Mae pobl cymreag yn hoffi y dysgwyrau - as I know well!

Go on! Give it a tro!!!


Oh alright, English people. Here's a translation. (This may also be useful if you can't read my Welsh): "You must speak Welsh, Don't worry about your confidence(Sorry, I don't know the word). Welsh people like learners - etc."

OK?

confidence
(n.) hyder [m.], ymddiried [m.], ymddiriedolaeth [f.]

The is a very good Welsh course on line. I will put a link to it in "My Space".

Alji

so that's why you got moderated!!

hmmmmmmm....do i attempt a post in welsh and offend the sensibilities of the *beloved* moderators ()

i could try simultaneous translation i suppose......

dydw i ddim yn gwybod beth i ddweud nawr, mae'n mwy anodd i ysgrifennu yn hytrach siarad, gan fod fy syllafu mor wael.
(i don't know what to say now, it's harder to write than talk, because my spelling is so bad)
ydych chi'n meddwl maen nhw'n meddwl rydym ni'n siarad am pethau drwg?
(do you think they think we're talking about bad things?)
mae fy Nghymraeg yn weddol i siarad i plant tua 4 neu 5 mlwydd oed, ond ar ol hynny.......rydw i'n rhedeg mas o geirfa!
(my Welsh is ok to talk to 4 or 5 year olds, but after that.....i run out of vocabulary!)
ho hum

Speak it!

I'm learning, but live in Belgium, so I'm mostly limited to books. When I was able to travel, up to just over a year ago, I used to go back home to Wales (still home, though I left when I was nine, over 40 years ago!) and try to speak the little that I had until then learned. Unfortunately, home was in the Rhondda, and hardly anyone there knows more than I do!

So go on and speak it and consider yourself lucky and privileged that you are able to do so!

helo, dwi'n hapus fy mod i wedi dod o hyd i bobl sy'n medru siarad Cymraeg (hello i'm happy i've found people who can speak welsh) dw'i wedi bod yn dysgu ers pump oed ond nawr dw'i wedi gadael ysgol uwchradd a dydw i ddim eisiau anghofio sut i ddefnyddio fy iaith heb pobl Cymraeg i siarad efo (i've been learning welsh since i was 5 but now i've left secondary school and don't want to forget how to use my language now i don't have anyone to speak it with) unrhywun ffansio sgwrs cymraeg? (anyone fancy a welsh conversation?)
scruff x

Ydw, dw i'n ffansio sgwrs Cymraeg! Ond rhaid i mi dweud fod dw i' ddim gallu ysgrifennu llawer achos dw i'n byw yn Wlad Belg a dw i'n ceisio dysgu ar ben 'n hunan!
(Yes, I fancy having a Welsh conversation! But I have to say that I am not able to write a lot because I live in Belgium and am trying to learn all by myself!)

mae rhaid i fi ddweud, am rhywun sy'n dysgu ei hunain, rydy chi'n siarad Cymraeg yn dda iawn. Am faint ydy chi wedi bod yn dysgu?
(i have to say for someone teaching themselves you speak welsh really well. how long have you been learning?)

Helo pawb!
Rydw i wedi darllen y sgwrs yma ac mae'n dda gen i fod pobl yn trio dysgu Cymraeg y dyddiau yma! Mi fyddaf yn hapus i helpu unrhywun sydd eisiau dysgu.


Hello everyone!
I've read this conversation and I'm glad to see that people are trying to learn Welsh these days! I would be glad to help anyone who wishes to learn.


Welsh is my second language, but I've been speaking it since I was 2 years old, so I'm fairly fluent. A bit rusty these days, living in Engeland and all that, but I like to keep it alive in my head.

Karl

hey Karl that's what I'm trying to do, i'm second language too but i learnt i went to a welsh school so did first language welsh. dwi i ddim wedi anghofio sut i siarad cymraeg (yn fy dafodiaeth ta beth) ond dwi wedi dechrau angohfio pethau fel sillafu a treigladau.

(I haven't forgotten how to speak welsh (in my own dialect anyway) but i have started to forget things like spelling and mutations)

do u live in wales then?

scruff x

Hi Scruff,
rwyt ti'n swnio yn debyg i fi. Es i i ysgol Gymraeg hefyd, ond mae fy rhieni ond yn siarad Saesneg. Felly, Cymraeg yw fy ail iaith, ond dwi'n eithaf rhygl. Does dim llawer o syniad geni chwaith am dreugliadau, ond does dim llawer o ots gen i amdanynt chwaith! Es i i Rhydfelen ym Mhontypridd, ond dwi'n byw yn Lloegr nawr. Beth amdanat ti?

Karl

Es i i ysgol gynradd Penparc a wedyn ysgol uwchradd aberteifi. Dwi'n dod o teulu sy'n siarad dim ond saesneg 'fyd. Dwi'n byw yn Lloeger nawr hefyd. Mae fy chwaer yn siarad tyme bach o gymraeg felly alle ni practeisio ambell waith ond heblaw am hynnu sai'n cael siawns i siarad cymraeg o gwbwl

(i went to penparc primary school then to cardigan secondary school. I come from a family that only speaks english aswel. I live in England now aswel. My sister speaks a little welsh so i can practice with her sometimes but apart from that I dont get a chance to speak welsh at all )

Dyle ni dechrau edrych am pobl cymraeg fan hyn a dechrau rhyw fath o 'clyb'

scruff x

Well impressed I am from a welsh speaking community and my partner is english but fair play he speaks welsh to our two daughters who are bith welsh speaking