Registers
Modern Welsh can be considered to fall broadly into two main styles—Colloquial Welsh (Cymraeg llafar) and Literary Welsh (Cymraeg llenyddol). The grammar described on this page is that of Colloquial Welsh, which is used in most speech and informal writing. Literary Welsh is closer to the form of Welsh standardised by the 1588 translation of the Bible and is found in official documents and other formal registers, including much literature. As a standardised form, literary Welsh shows little if any of the dialectal variation found in colloquial Welsh. Some differences include:
| Literary Welsh | Colloquial Welsh |
|---|---|
| Can omit subject pronouns (pro-drop) | Subject pronouns rarely omitted |
| More extensive use of simple verb forms | More extensive use of periphrastic verb forms |
| No distinction between simple present and future (e.g. af "I go"/"I shall go") |
Simple form most often expresses only future (e.g. af i "I'll go") |
| Subjunctive verb forms | Subjunctive in fixed idioms only |
| 3rd.pl ending and pronoun –nt hwy | 3rd.pl ending and pronoun –n nhw |
Amongst the characteristics of the literary, as against the spoken, language are a higher dependence on inflected verb forms, different usage of some of the tenses, less frequent use of pronouns (since the information is usually conveyed in the verb/preposition inflections) and a much lesser tendency to substitute English loanwords for native Welsh words. In addition, more archaic pronouns and forms of mutation may be observed in Literary Welsh.
Read more about this topic: Welsh Language
Famous quotes containing the word registers:
“We may prepare food for our children, chauffeur them around, take them to the movies, buy them toys and ice cream, but nothing registers as deeply as a simple squeeze, cuddle, or pat on the back. There is no greater reassurance of their lovability and worth than to be affectionately touched and held.”
—Stephanie Martson (20th century)