(English below)
Dani'n mynd i Ben Lly^n yfory am yr wythnos, i fwthyn rhywle ger Pistyll, ar arfordir gogleddol y penrhyn. Gobeithio ga i gyfle i ymarfer fy Nghymraeg, ond efo cymaint o ymwelwyr yna dros yr haf, tydy hynny ddim yn peth hawdd pob tro, gawn ni weld!
Wrth gwrs, yng Nghymru mae'n rhaid cael 'cynllun tywydd gwlyb' pob ymweliad (wel cot law o leiaf!), ond ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog eleni maen nhw wedi mynd cam yn bellach, trwy drefnu gwyl o'r enw 'Gwyl y Glaw', sy'n dathlu enwogrwydd y dre am dywydd gwlyb! Yn anffodus, mae rhagolygon y tywydd ar hyn o bryd am y penwythnos yn addo mwy o heulwen na glaw... deddf y diawl am wn i!
Ta waeth, beth bynnag eich bod chi'n wneud am weddill y gwyliau, mwynhewch!!
Gyda Llaw - mae dyn o Los Angeles - Dan Rhys - wedi mynd ati i ddysgu Cymraeg ac anfon clyweliad fideo at gynhyrchwyr Pobl y Cwm, er mwyn trio cael rhan yn yr opera sebon. Cael ychydig o hwyl ydy o efallai, ond chwarae teg iddo fo, mae o wedi gwneud ymdrech mawr i ddysgu'r iaith!
We're going to the Lly^n tomorow for a week, to a cottage near Pistyll on the northern coast of the peninsula. I hope to get a chance to practice my Welsh, but with so many visitors there over the summer, that's not always that easy... we'll see!
Of course in Wales you have to have a wet weather plan every visit (well a waterproof at least!), but in Blaennau Ffestiniog this year they've gone a step further, through arranging a festival called 'Gwyl y Glaw/The Rain Festival), which celebrates the towns reputation for wet weather. Unfortunately the weather forcast for the weekend at the moment promise more sunshine than rain...sod's law I suppose!
Anyway, whatever you are doing for the rest of the holidays - enjoy!
By the Way - A man from Los Angeles - Dan Rhys - has set about learning Welsh and sent an audition video to the producers of the Welsh soap 'Pobl y Cwm' in order to try and get a part on the show. He may be just having a bit of fun, but fair play to him, he's made a big effort to learn the language!
28.8.10
8.8.10
Dysgwr y Flwyddyn... Learner of the year
 |
| Julia Hawkins - Dysgwraig y flwyddyn 2010 |
(English below)
Unwaith eto mae Dysgwr y Flwyddyn wedi ei henwi yn ystod yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Eleni, dynes lleol oedd yr ennillydd, Julia Hawkins o Grughywel, (Crickhowel) wnaeth symud yn ól i Gymru er mwyn rhoi cyfle i'w phlant dod yn ddwyieithog. Mae 'na gyfle i ddarllen amdani hi, a'i chlywed hi'n siarad am ei phrofiadau o ddysgu Cymraeg ar y tudalen hon (yn y Gymraeg), neu yn Saesneg ar y tudalen hon.
Gobeithio gewch chi eich ysbrydoli fel finnau!
Once again the Welsh Learner of the year has been named during the National Eisteddfod. This year a local woman was the winner, Julia Hawkins from Crickhowel, who moved back to Wales in order to give her children a chance to become bi-lingual. There's a chance to read about her, and to hear her talking about her experiences of learning Welsh on this page ( in Welsh), or in English on this page.
I hope you'll be inspired like me!
23.7.10
Gwyliau'r Haf.... (Summer festivals)
(translation follows)
Mi fydd 'na ddwy wy^l cerddorol yn digwydd yn Sir y Fflint dros yr wythnosau nesaf, y cyntaf ohonynt y dydd sadwrn yma. Mae Gwy^l Y Ffin yn cael ei chynnal eleni yn Nhreffynon, ac mi fydd nifer o'r fandiau mwyaf poblogaidd y Si^n Roc Cymraeg yn chwarae gan cynnwys 'Racehorses', 'Brigyn' a 'Derwyddon Dr Gonzo'. Cofiwch, mae'r digwyddiad yn rhad ac am ddim, ac o fewn tafliad carreg o Gilgwri!
Mae Gwy^l Tegeingl braidd yn wahanol. Gwy^l gwerinol ydy hi, gyda pherfformwyr o'r byd canu gwerin o dros Brydain a thu hwnt yn ymddangos, er mae 'na elfenau Cymreig a Chymraeg i'r digwyddiad Mae'n digwydd yn Yr Wyddgrug dros penwythnos ym mis Awst, ac mae'r manylion llawn ar y wefan.
Mae'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol wrth gwrs yn digwydd fel arfer dros yr wythnos cyntaf o fis Awst.
Mae'n digwydd yn y de eleni, yng Nglyn Ebwy, tipyn bach yn rhy bell i mi a dweud y gwir (mae hi'n symud i leoliad gwahanol pob flwyddyn, un flwyddyn yn y gogledd, y nesaf yn y de). Ond yn 2011 mi fydd hi'n dod i Wrecsam, lleoliad cyfleus iawn i ni yng Nghilgwri:) Mi fydda i'n dilyn digwyddiadau'r prifwyl eleni ar S4C, yn enwedig cystadleuaeth Dysgwr y Flwyddyn, un o uchafbwyntiau'r Eisteddfod erbyn hyn. Mae S4C yn neilltio rhaglen gyfan fel arfer i ddilyn campau ieithyddol y pedwar sydd wedi llwyddo cyrraedd y rownd terfynol, ac i ddatgan pwy ydy'r ennillydd.
translation
There will be two music festivals happening in Flintshire over the next few weeks, the first of them this saturday. The 'Y Ffin' (the border) festival is being held in Holywell this year, and a number of the most popular bands in the Welsh language pop/rock scene will be playing, including 'Racehorses', 'Brigyn' and 'Derwyddon Dr Gonzo'. Remember this event is free and within a stones throw of the Wirral.
The 'Tegeingl' festival is somewhat different. It's a folk festival, with folk singers from Britain and beyond performing, though there is a Welsh accent to the event. It happens in Mold over a weekend in August, and the full details are on the website.
The National Eisteddfod of course is taking place as usual over the first week in August. It's happening in the south this year, in Ebbw Vale, a little to far for me to be honest (it move s to a different location each year, one year in the north, the next in the south). But in 2011 it'll be coming to Wrexham, a convenient location for us in the Wirral:) I'll be following events at the Eisteddfod this year on S4C, especially the Leraner of the Year competition, now one of the Eisteddfods highlights. S4C set aside a whole programme usually to follow the linguistic feats of the four who've succeeded to reach the final round, and to announce who is the winner.
gyda llaw/by the way
gwy^l = festival
gwyliau = festivals/holidays
y prifwyl - the main festival ( a term sometimes used to describe the National Eisteddfod)
Mi fydd 'na ddwy wy^l cerddorol yn digwydd yn Sir y Fflint dros yr wythnosau nesaf, y cyntaf ohonynt y dydd sadwrn yma. Mae Gwy^l Y Ffin yn cael ei chynnal eleni yn Nhreffynon, ac mi fydd nifer o'r fandiau mwyaf poblogaidd y Si^n Roc Cymraeg yn chwarae gan cynnwys 'Racehorses', 'Brigyn' a 'Derwyddon Dr Gonzo'. Cofiwch, mae'r digwyddiad yn rhad ac am ddim, ac o fewn tafliad carreg o Gilgwri!
Mae Gwy^l Tegeingl braidd yn wahanol. Gwy^l gwerinol ydy hi, gyda pherfformwyr o'r byd canu gwerin o dros Brydain a thu hwnt yn ymddangos, er mae 'na elfenau Cymreig a Chymraeg i'r digwyddiad Mae'n digwydd yn Yr Wyddgrug dros penwythnos ym mis Awst, ac mae'r manylion llawn ar y wefan.
Mae'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol wrth gwrs yn digwydd fel arfer dros yr wythnos cyntaf o fis Awst.
Mae'n digwydd yn y de eleni, yng Nglyn Ebwy, tipyn bach yn rhy bell i mi a dweud y gwir (mae hi'n symud i leoliad gwahanol pob flwyddyn, un flwyddyn yn y gogledd, y nesaf yn y de). Ond yn 2011 mi fydd hi'n dod i Wrecsam, lleoliad cyfleus iawn i ni yng Nghilgwri:) Mi fydda i'n dilyn digwyddiadau'r prifwyl eleni ar S4C, yn enwedig cystadleuaeth Dysgwr y Flwyddyn, un o uchafbwyntiau'r Eisteddfod erbyn hyn. Mae S4C yn neilltio rhaglen gyfan fel arfer i ddilyn campau ieithyddol y pedwar sydd wedi llwyddo cyrraedd y rownd terfynol, ac i ddatgan pwy ydy'r ennillydd.
translation
There will be two music festivals happening in Flintshire over the next few weeks, the first of them this saturday. The 'Y Ffin' (the border) festival is being held in Holywell this year, and a number of the most popular bands in the Welsh language pop/rock scene will be playing, including 'Racehorses', 'Brigyn' and 'Derwyddon Dr Gonzo'. Remember this event is free and within a stones throw of the Wirral.
The 'Tegeingl' festival is somewhat different. It's a folk festival, with folk singers from Britain and beyond performing, though there is a Welsh accent to the event. It happens in Mold over a weekend in August, and the full details are on the website.
The National Eisteddfod of course is taking place as usual over the first week in August. It's happening in the south this year, in Ebbw Vale, a little to far for me to be honest (it move s to a different location each year, one year in the north, the next in the south). But in 2011 it'll be coming to Wrexham, a convenient location for us in the Wirral:) I'll be following events at the Eisteddfod this year on S4C, especially the Leraner of the Year competition, now one of the Eisteddfods highlights. S4C set aside a whole programme usually to follow the linguistic feats of the four who've succeeded to reach the final round, and to announce who is the winner.
gyda llaw/by the way
gwy^l = festival
gwyliau = festivals/holidays
y prifwyl - the main festival ( a term sometimes used to describe the National Eisteddfod)
10.7.10
Be' sydd mewn enw... (What's in a name...)
 |
| Yr Eifl (The Rivals) |
English translation and vocab beneath:
Roeddwn i'n gwylio rhaglen 'Coast' yr wythnos yma, oedd yn mynd o gwmpas Cernyw (Cornwall). Roeddan nhw'n siarad am greigiau peryglus ofnadwy o'r enw y 'Manacles', lle poblogaidd iawn efo plymwyr oherwydd y nifer o longdrylliau. Mae 'na eglwys cyfagos efo meindwr (spire), sy'n rhoi'r enw Cernyweg (Cornish) gwreiddiol i'r creigiau sef 'Maen Eglos'. Mae'n amlwg gweld o le ddaeth yr enw Saesneg ar ól gweld y Cernyweg! Mae'r gair 'maen' (stone/rock) yn gair Cymraeg hefyd (meddyliwch am 'Maentwrog', 'Penmaenmawr'), ac mae 'Eglos' yn debyg iawn i'r gair Cymraeg 'Eglwys' (ac y gair Ffrangeg 'église' hefyd wrth gwrs!). Roedd morwyr yn defnyddio meindwr yr eglwys fel tirnod er mwyn trio osgoi peryglon y 'Maen Eglos', neu'r 'Manacles'!
Mae 'na sawl enghraifft yng Nghymru o enwau sydd wedi cael ei newid yn yr un modd. Un enwog ydy 'The Rivals', mynyddoedd trawiadol Pen Lly^n. Enw Cymraeg (neu enw go iawn!) wrth gwrs ydy 'Yr Eifl', sy'n golygu 'the forks', ond mae pobl (wrth rheswm) yn cymryd 'The Rivals' i gynrychioli'r gystadlueuaeth rhwng y tair pig i fod yr un fwyaf. Pethau diddorol iawn ydy enwau llefydd!
geirfa/vocab
oherwydd - because of
llongdrylliad - shipwreckplymwyr - divers
yn debyg - similartirnod - landmark
er mwyn - in order to (idiom)
osgoi - avoid
amlwg - obvious
enghraifft - example
modd - means/way
trawiadol - striking
go iawn - genuine/real
golygu - to mean
cymryd - to take
cynrychioli - represent
cystadleuaeth - competitionpig - peak
diddorol - interesting
I was watching the programme 'Coast' this week, which was going around Cornwall. They were talking about the very dangerous rocks called The Manacles, a popular place with divers because of the number of shipwrecks. There's a nearby church with a spire which gives the rocks their original Cornish name, namely 'Maen Eglos'. It's obvious to see where the English name came from after seeing the Cornish! The word 'maen' (stone/rock) is a Welsh word as well of course, and 'Eglos' is very similar to the Welsh word 'Eglwys' (and the French word 'église' as well of course!). Sailors used the spire as a llandmark in order to try and avoid the dangers of the 'Maen Eglos', or 'The Manacles'.
There are many examples in Wales of names which have been changed in the same way. A famous one is 'The Rivals', the striking mountain on the Lly^n peninsula. The Welsh name (or the 'real' name!) of course is 'Yr Eifl' (pronunciation - uhr ay-vil), which means 'the forks', but people naturally take 'the Rivals' to reflect the competition between the three peaks to be the biggest. Place names are interesting things!
6.7.10
Diwedd Tymor...
A translation of this post is beneath. Don't worry if you don't understand much, it's not written at any particular level, it helps me though to write in Welsh! I've included some vocab where I think it may help before the translation.
Mae'n annodd credu bod blwyddyn arall o ddysgu wed dod i ben!
Dwi wir yn gobeithio eich bod chi wedi mwynhau'r profiad o ddysgu Cymraeg... hyd yn hyn, dwi wedi mwynhau gweithio fel tiwtor, a thrwy hynny wedi dysgu llawer fy hun! Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gario ymlaen ym mis medi.
Mae pobl yn tueddi cymharu dysgu iaith efo taith (er taith digon rhyfedd mae'n siwr!). Dydy o ddim yn bosib dweud yn union pa mor hir a fydd y daith, neu ba mor gyflym a fyddech chi'n teithio. Weithiau (efallai) mi fyddech chi'n difaru cychwyn ar y daith o gwbl (fel bod mewn canol tagfa erchyll ar y A55!), ac yn diawlio'r iaith yma a'i holl cymlethdodau, ond weithiau mi fyddech chi'n yn teimlo'n dda (gobeithio), wrth i chi ddeall rhywbeth eich bod chi'n clywed rhywle, neu'n trio dweud rhywbeth a chael ymateb positif (sydd ddim yn digwydd pob tro, hyd yn oed i ddysgwyr mwy profiadol.. ond mae 'na bobl od ym mhob man 'does!). Dwi'n cofio'n iawn y gwefr a ges i ar ól cwplhau fy nofel Cymraeg cyntaf (un i ddysgwyr). A dweud y gwir, mae'n well gen i ddarllen yn y Gymraeg hyd heddiw, gan mod i'n dal i gael yr un teimlad.
Ta waeth, peryg fy mod i'n dechrau crwydro rwan, felly hwyl am y tro:-)
geirfa/vocab
wedi dod i ben - has come to an end
wir - really
(eich) bod chi - that you have
hyd yn hyn - idiom = to this place/so far ('hyd yma' means the same)
tueddi - tend
dal i - still
mae'n well gen i - I prefer
Cyfieithiad/Translation
It's hard to believe that another year of learning/teaching has come to an end.
I really hope that you've enjoyed the experience of learning Welsh...so far, I've enjoyed working as your tutor, and through that have learnt much myself! I'm looking forward to carrying on in September.
People tend to compare learning a language to a journey (though a strange enough journey!). It's not possible to say exactly how far the journey will be, nor how fast you'll be traveling. Sometimes (perhaps) you'll regret starting the journey atall (like being in the middle of a queue on the A55!), and curse this language and all its complications, but sometimes you'll be feeling good as well (hopefully), as you understand something that you hear somewhere, or try saying something and get a posative reaction (which doesn't happen every time, even to more experienced learners... but ther are odd people everywhere aren't there!). I remember the buzz I got after finishing reading my first Welsh novel (one for learners). To be honest I prefer to read in Welsh even now, as I still get the same feeling.
Anyway, there's a danger I've started to wander now, so bye for now, Neil
Mae'n annodd credu bod blwyddyn arall o ddysgu wed dod i ben!
Dwi wir yn gobeithio eich bod chi wedi mwynhau'r profiad o ddysgu Cymraeg... hyd yn hyn, dwi wedi mwynhau gweithio fel tiwtor, a thrwy hynny wedi dysgu llawer fy hun! Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gario ymlaen ym mis medi.
Mae pobl yn tueddi cymharu dysgu iaith efo taith (er taith digon rhyfedd mae'n siwr!). Dydy o ddim yn bosib dweud yn union pa mor hir a fydd y daith, neu ba mor gyflym a fyddech chi'n teithio. Weithiau (efallai) mi fyddech chi'n difaru cychwyn ar y daith o gwbl (fel bod mewn canol tagfa erchyll ar y A55!), ac yn diawlio'r iaith yma a'i holl cymlethdodau, ond weithiau mi fyddech chi'n yn teimlo'n dda (gobeithio), wrth i chi ddeall rhywbeth eich bod chi'n clywed rhywle, neu'n trio dweud rhywbeth a chael ymateb positif (sydd ddim yn digwydd pob tro, hyd yn oed i ddysgwyr mwy profiadol.. ond mae 'na bobl od ym mhob man 'does!). Dwi'n cofio'n iawn y gwefr a ges i ar ól cwplhau fy nofel Cymraeg cyntaf (un i ddysgwyr). A dweud y gwir, mae'n well gen i ddarllen yn y Gymraeg hyd heddiw, gan mod i'n dal i gael yr un teimlad.
Ta waeth, peryg fy mod i'n dechrau crwydro rwan, felly hwyl am y tro:-)
geirfa/vocab
wedi dod i ben - has come to an end
wir - really
(eich) bod chi - that you have
hyd yn hyn - idiom = to this place/so far ('hyd yma' means the same)
tueddi - tend
dal i - still
mae'n well gen i - I prefer
Cyfieithiad/Translation
It's hard to believe that another year of learning/teaching has come to an end.
I really hope that you've enjoyed the experience of learning Welsh...so far, I've enjoyed working as your tutor, and through that have learnt much myself! I'm looking forward to carrying on in September.
People tend to compare learning a language to a journey (though a strange enough journey!). It's not possible to say exactly how far the journey will be, nor how fast you'll be traveling. Sometimes (perhaps) you'll regret starting the journey atall (like being in the middle of a queue on the A55!), and curse this language and all its complications, but sometimes you'll be feeling good as well (hopefully), as you understand something that you hear somewhere, or try saying something and get a posative reaction (which doesn't happen every time, even to more experienced learners... but ther are odd people everywhere aren't there!). I remember the buzz I got after finishing reading my first Welsh novel (one for learners). To be honest I prefer to read in Welsh even now, as I still get the same feeling.
Anyway, there's a danger I've started to wander now, so bye for now, Neil
14.6.10
Cwpan Y Byd
Dyni yng nghanol Cwpan y Byd ar hyn o bryd, y wledd pel-droed sy'n llenwi'r cyfryngau am fis gyfan!
Dwi wrth fy modd efo'r holl peth, ond dydy gweddill y teulu ddim yr un mor brwdfrydig rhaid i mi gyfadde!
Dydy Cymru wrth gwrs ddim wedi cyrraedd y rowndiau terfynol ers 1958. Y flwyddyn honno wnaethon nhw mynd yn bellach na Lloegr, yn colli 0-1 i Brasil yn rownd y chwateri, efo go^l cyntaf Pele erioed yng Nghwpan y Byd yn rhoi terfyn i'w gobeithion.
Ta beth, pob lwc i Loegr eleni!
[gwledd - feast, cyfryngau - media, cyfan - whole,wrth fy modd - in my element/made up, rownd y chwateri - quater finals, erioed - ever, terfyn - end, i'w gobeithion - to their hopes.]
(I have orderd a copy of 'Cwpan Y Byd 2010' by Gwyn Jenkins (Y Lolfa) which sounds like good value at £4.99, extracts seem to be used here .)
Dyma eirfa Cwpan y Byd sydyn (anyway, here's a quick World Cup vocab):
De Affrica - South Africa
Vuvuzela - Fwfwsela (made this one up!)
Mae o'n gém o ddau hanner - it's a game of two halves
y dyfarnwr - the referee
y llimanwr - the linesman
llaw Duw - hand of God
y postyn - the post
y trawst - the crossbar
cefn y rhwyd - back of the net
y cwrt cosbi - the penalty box
cic ysmotyn - penalty
ergyd - shot
peniad - header
tafliad - throw in
cic cornel - corner kick
cic cychwyn - kick off
camsefyll - offside
amser ychwanegol - extra time
eilydd(ion) = substitute(s)
Ton Mecsicanaidd - Mexican Wave
Dwi wrth fy modd efo'r holl peth, ond dydy gweddill y teulu ddim yr un mor brwdfrydig rhaid i mi gyfadde!
Dydy Cymru wrth gwrs ddim wedi cyrraedd y rowndiau terfynol ers 1958. Y flwyddyn honno wnaethon nhw mynd yn bellach na Lloegr, yn colli 0-1 i Brasil yn rownd y chwateri, efo go^l cyntaf Pele erioed yng Nghwpan y Byd yn rhoi terfyn i'w gobeithion.
Ta beth, pob lwc i Loegr eleni!
[gwledd - feast, cyfryngau - media, cyfan - whole,wrth fy modd - in my element/made up, rownd y chwateri - quater finals, erioed - ever, terfyn - end, i'w gobeithion - to their hopes.]
(I have orderd a copy of 'Cwpan Y Byd 2010' by Gwyn Jenkins (Y Lolfa) which sounds like good value at £4.99, extracts seem to be used here .)
Dyma eirfa Cwpan y Byd sydyn (anyway, here's a quick World Cup vocab):
De Affrica - South Africa
Vuvuzela - Fwfwsela (made this one up!)
Mae o'n gém o ddau hanner - it's a game of two halves
y dyfarnwr - the referee
y llimanwr - the linesman
llaw Duw - hand of God
y postyn - the post
y trawst - the crossbar
cefn y rhwyd - back of the net
y cwrt cosbi - the penalty box
cic ysmotyn - penalty
ergyd - shot
peniad - header
tafliad - throw in
cic cornel - corner kick
cic cychwyn - kick off
camsefyll - offside
amser ychwanegol - extra time
eilydd(ion) = substitute(s)
Ton Mecsicanaidd - Mexican Wave
6.6.10
TIR (land)
TIR by Cerys Matthews is a collection of traditional Welsh folk songs/hymns sung in her unmistakable style. As well as the CD of 17 songs, you get a 'CD size' hardback book of lyrics and period photographs, many from the North Pembrokeshire area. There are English translations of the songs, (except for Cwm Rhondda which is sung in English) as well as some of their background, as well as information about the photos, many of which are of Cerys's ancestors in and around the Trefin area of 'Sir Benfro'.
The projects strength (other than the great packaging) in my opinion is the way in which the songs are stripped down to their roots, many of which have become familiar to us through the male voice choir tradition. This simple treatment shows the songs in another light, including Hen Wlad fy Nhadau with its full three verses (news to me as well!)
So if your looking for a collection of traditional Welsh songs given simple fresh treatment this is definately worth having. You can get a signed copy now from 'Earthquake', or I'm sure the songs will be available on i-tunes etc. after the official release on the 21st June. If anyone wants I'm happy to burn 'sample' copies, though this is no replacement for the whole package of course ;)
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