Changes

== Alphabet ==

== Alphabet ==

Although it should be noted that the Welsh Alphabet uses the same characters as English (indeed both are examples of the Latin Alphabet) direct comparisons cannot always be made between the two.  Welsh developed as an oral language with no corresponding written language and so, when it did develop a written language, it was developed in the written alphabet of the time, the Latin Alphabet.  Of principle differences it should be noted that unlike English, Welsh has seven vowels, comprising of A, E, I, O, U, W and Y (occasionally h) .  In addition, certain sounds in Welsh are represented in the Latin Alphabet by two characters but are considered to be only one letter.  In truth this makes little practical difference in everday use but is of use in such things as crosswords (where, for instance, the letter ''ff'' would occupy one space).  In addition the Welsh alphabet has sounds (phones {speech sounds}) that do not occur in either English or American English.  Listed below is the Welsh alphabet, along with the name of the letter as prounced in Welsh (which varies compared to how it is pronounced in English) and a (rough) guide to pronounciation.

Although it should be noted that the Welsh Alphabet uses the same characters as English (indeed both are examples of the Latin Alphabet) direct comparisons cannot always be made between the two.  Welsh developed as an oral language with no corresponding written language and so, when it did develop a written language, it was developed in the written alphabet of the time, the Latin Alphabet.  Of principle differences it should be noted that unlike English, Welsh has seven vowels, comprising of A, E, I, O, U, W and Y (occasionally h) .  In addition, certain sounds in Welsh are represented in the Latin Alphabet by two characters but are considered to be only one letter.  In truth this makes little practical difference in everday use but is of use in such things as crosswords (where, for instance, the letter ''ff'' would occupy one space).  In addition the Welsh alphabet has sounds (phones {speech sounds}) that do not occur in either English or American English.  Listed below is the Welsh alphabet, along with the name of the letter as prounced in Welsh (which varies compared to how it is pronounced in English) and a (rough) guide to pronunciation.

A, a  : (Name = â)    '''Short''' = a, as in Mam (Welsh version of Mum or Mom) or Slam.  '''Long'''  = a as in Mad, aaa! (an exclaimation), but never ah as in Lard or bard

A, a  : (Name = â)    '''Short''' = a, as in Mam (Welsh version of Mum or Mom) or Slam.  '''Long'''  = a as in Mad, aaa! (an exclamation), but never ah as in Lard or bard

B, b  : (Name = bî)    b, as in Boy, Butter, etc.

B, b  : (Name = bî)    b, as in Boy, Butter, etc.

Ph, ph : (Name = ffî)  an aspirated 'p' as it is in English, and the same prounciation as the Welsh letter 'ff'.  However, in Welsh the 'ph' letter is considered to be a mutated form, and the letter 'ff' is more likely to be used.

Ph, ph : (Name = ffî)  an aspirated 'p' as it is in English, and the same prounciation as the Welsh letter 'ff'.  However, in Welsh the 'ph' letter is considered to be a mutated form, and the letter 'ff' is more likely to be used.

R, r  : (Name = èr)    r, as in Rat, Ran, Rubbish.  However, the pronounciation of the letter 'r' in Welsh is slightly more trilled and rolled in pronounciation than it is in English.

R, r  : (Name = èr)    r, as in Rat, Ran, Rubbish.  However, the pronunciation of the letter 'r' in Welsh is slightly more trilled and rolled in pronunciation than it is in English.

Rh, rh : (Name = rhî, rhô)  Again, no corresponding sound in English.  'Rh' is pronounced as 'hr'.

Rh, rh : (Name = rhî, rhô)  Again, no corresponding sound in English.  'Rh' is pronounced as 'hr'.

U, u  : (Name = û (North Wales), û bedol (South Wales)) '''Short''' = i, as in me, he, she.  '''Long'''  = ee, as in Seen, Dean, Mean. (exactly the same as i)

U, u  : (Name = û (North Wales), û bedol (South Wales)) '''Short''' = i, as in me, he, she.  '''Long'''  = ee, as in Seen, Dean, Mean. (exactly the same as i)

W, w  : (Name = ŵ)  '''Short''' = never 'w' as in english. Thus, gweld (to see) is goo-eld (although it does sound similar to gw-eld). A short oo as in look, book. '''Long''' = long oo as in goo, moo.

W, w  : (Name = ŵ)  '''Short''' = never 'w' as in English. Thus, gweld (to see) is goo-eld (although it does sound similar to gw-eld). A short oo as in look, book. '''Long''' = long oo as in goo, moo.

As can be seen, there appears to be three letters (i, u, y) in Welsh that all have the same sound (ee when pronounced). In North Wales, u and û are often pronounced as what s known as a 'close central unrounded vowel', which doesn not occur in English.

As can be seen, there appears to be three letters (i, u, y) in Welsh that all have the same sound (ee when pronounced). In North Wales, u and û are often pronounced as what s known as a 'close central unrounded vowel', which doesn not occur in English.

It should be noted that in addition to single letters (as listed above) the Welsh language also combines letters to form other sounds (as English does).  Some examples include Si (the 'sh' sound, as in Siân (SH-ahn)), Oe (oy, as in boy), Wy (oo-y, no comparable sound in English), Tch (which can produce the 'tch' sound in match as opposed to the sound of t followed by the gutteral 'ch' in Welsh), di{vowel} (which produces a j sound, i.e. diyg is the Welsh phonetic for jug).

It should be noted that in addition to single letters (as listed above) the Welsh language also combines letters to form other sounds (as English does).  Some examples include Si (the 'sh' sound, as in Siân (SH-ahn)), Oe (oy, as in boy), Wy (oo-y, no comparable sound in English), Tch (which can produce the 'tch' sound in match as opposed to the sound of t followed by the guttural 'ch' in Welsh), di{vowel} (which produces a j sound, i.e. diyg is the Welsh phonetic for jug).

A common occurance in the language is the direct use of English words (commonly known as "Wenglish"), or a phonetic welsh version of it (known as cymreigeiddio - welshification). This generally occurs for technical words, like 'niwclear' (nuclear) and 'biwrèt' (burette).

A common occurrence in the language is the direct use of English words (commonly known as "Wenglish"), or a phonetic Welsh version of it (known as cymreigeiddio - Welshification). This generally occurs for technical words, like 'niwclear' (nuclear) and 'biwrèt' (burette).

Some fun words in Welsh and a (even rougher) guide to their pronounciation:

Some fun words in Welsh and a (even rougher) guide to their pronunciation:

Ynysybwl = A place name, that in English contains no vowels, but in Welsh is pronounced Uh-Nis-Uh-Bull

Ynysybwl = A place name, that in English contains no vowels, but in Welsh is pronounced Uh-Nis-Uh-Bull