The Welsh Connection

Another day, another excuse to write. It's been a while, or at least it feels like it has. I've been trying not to write for several days now and am unfortunately succeeding. I say unfortunately because I need to get this project done and I am waiting on an email response from an informant that will lead to my conclusion. I have sampled various new games and am throughly disappointed. Some times it seems like this is true.

A friend had to watch "the video" and I thought I'd do a bit of writing on that. In my first real job I too had to watch the video... but not since then even though I have worked at several other places. I suppose the video is only used from time to time and only in some jobs. For instance I would have expected the gov-ish job that I worked at to show it, but they did not whereas my experiences in retail acquainted me with it several times (we got to watch three different ones!... ok one was on shoplifting)... Whatever. It's funny, have a sense of humor people, really.

I have spent the past few days doing some reading and research on Gaelic and Welsh mythology and language. It is almost fun (as much as research can be I guess (I looked for a pic or video for Solveo the PBS commercial... just envision that )) Granted the only problem with the research is that it is entirely unrelated to what I am supposed to be working on. However I have learned about the Celtic connection between Royalty and Horses, the connection between Horses and the Sea, and the connection between the Sea and the Gods... very interesting...

So now it's time to spread some of my hard fought and paid for college knowledge with my patented Welsh Theoretical First-timer's Introductory Translative Section (WTFITS for short) where I will show you what I have been told is the proper way to pronounce some common Welsh spelling peculiarities.

below are the parts, on the left is the welsh, on the right is the approximate american english pronunciation.

Rule of thumb: pronounce every letter, no letter in welsh is silent!
Second Rule of thumb: pronounce the vowels a, e, and o like sounds not letters!

dd = th (soft, like in the word tooth)
th = th (soft, comes at the beginning of words)
ll = th (hard, like in the word the)
ch = ck
f = v
ff = f
i = e
u = i
w = oo / u
y = or/ur if inside a word, y/e if at the end

There you go! Now know that the translation of welsh is a difficult process (as is translation in any language) and I do not know enough to begin to cover that here. But neither do other people it would seem. now here's something to practice on:

Pa frechdanau sydd gennych? (What sandwiches do you have?)

Mab pwy yw ef? (Whose son is he?)

Dach chi eisiau dawnsio (h)efo fi? (Would you like to dance with me?)

Pump gwrw (Five beers)

Ga i beint o seidr os gwelwch yn dda (I'd like a pint of cider please)

Mae'n amser gwelu, Nos Da. (Bed time, good night.)

Rwy'n dy garu di! (I Love you!)