In the table below, we have attempted to characterize different registers found within the Welsh language. We show their distribution and related levels of the language including examples of specific terms or texts.
In collecting a corpus, it is useful to be able to recognise different types of text automatically and try to classify examples of one type in a unified way. It is possible to have several different models to classify and recognise registers. The aim of the table below is to propose a pattern to aid this work using a computer, rather than using written guidelines.
The table below is not a closed distribution, and usually there is a mixture of different characteristics in a text. The frequency of use of the different characteristics is going to aid the machine to have a better understanding of the register under consideration, rather than the simple existence of the characteristics in a specific text.
* denotes a form that has been found in the the style guide of the Welsh Government Translators but does not necessarily correspond to the descriptive typology of the different registers.
** denotes a form that has been found in Cymraeg Clir.
When referring to vocabulary, the term “safonol” here means forms that are identified in the main Welsh dictionaries.
|
|
Archaic |
Classical |
Formal |
Tecnical |
Neural |
Simplified language/ Clear Welsh |
Informal |
Very informal/ spoken |
Regional |
Slang |
|
Verb forms |
Yr ydwyf….. |
Yr wyf…. |
Rwyf…. |
Rwy…. |
Rwy…. |
Rwy…. |
Dw i… [*Rydw i…] |
Dw i …./Wi…./I fi…. |
Dw i …./Wi…./I fi…. |
Fi…. |
|
Style dependent |
√ |
√ |
√ |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Use of the impersonal |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
X |
Yn fwy cyffredin yn y gorff. na’r pres. |
X |
X |
X |
|
Periphrastic and compact |
Cryno
|
Cryno |
Cryno yn bennaf |
Cryno yn bennaf |
Cymysg. Defnyddio ‘caiff’ i oresgyn |
Cwmpasog ac eithrio rhai cyfarwydd iawn |
Cymysg |
Cymysg gyda’r cwmpasog yn llawer mwy cyffredin |
Cwmpasog yn y gogledd, cryno anffurfiol |
Ffurfiau amrywiol ansafonol yn |
|
3rd person plural ending |
–nt hwy |
–nt hwy |
–nt hwy |
–nt hwy |
–nt hwy/-n nhw |
-n nhw |
-n nhw |
-n nhw |
-n nhw |
-n nhw |
|
Geirynnau rhagferfol |
X |
X |
Achlysurol |
X |
X |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
|
Rhagenwau personol |
Chwi, chwychwi |
Chwi/chi [*chi] |
chi |
Defnydd o ffurfiau personol yn brin |
chi |
chi |
chi |
Chi/ti |
Chi/ti/chdi/fe |
Chi/ti/chdi/fe |
|
Negation |
Nid ydwyf…. |
Nid wyf…. |
Nid wyf…. |
Nid wyf/ Dw i ddim… |
Nid wyf/ Dw i ddim… |
Dw i ddim… |
Dw i ddim… [*Dydw i ddim….] |
Dw i ddim… |
Dw i’m/Sai’n…./Sana i…./Nagw i…. |
Fi ddim…. |
|
Long sentences, multiple clauses |
√ |
√ |
√ |
X |
X |
X [**Dim mwy na 25 gair mewn brawddeg] |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Geirfa |
Gall gynnwys geiriau hynafol/ |
Gall gynnwys geiriau hynafol ond |
Geirfa gyfoes safonol |
Termau technegol parth-benodol |
Geirfa gyfoes safonol |
Geirfa wedi’i symleiddio |
Syml safonol |
Syml gydag elfennau |
Marcwyr tafodieithol amlwg: De: taw ma’s/mâs, moyn, ffaelu Gogledd: efo/ hefo, lan,rŵan ddaru |
Gall gynnwys geiriau anweddus, |
|
Abbreviations |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
|
Intrusive vowels |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
Analogy of text and register
Note: creative literature e.g. novels can contain a number of different registers in order to convey different effects and thus are not accommodated below.
| Archaic | Classical | Formal | Technical | Neutral | Simplified language/ Cymraeg Clir | Informal | Very informal/ spoken |
Regional | Slang | |
| Extracts of old speech etc. religious texts |
X |
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| Legislation, international contracts |
X |
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| Committee reports, public administration, classical journalism |
X |
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| Technical documents/ research papers |
X |
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| Children school essays, students, press statements |
X |
X |
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| Forms, handouts, corporate websites, public campaigns |
X |
X |
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| Forms, handouts, websites, etc prescriptive language |
X |
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| Popular journalism |
X |
X |
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| Private letters |
X |
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| Transcriptions of spoken language, scripts which are written to be spoken |
X |
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| Corporate blogs |
X |
X |
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| Private blogs |
X |
X |
X |
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| Facebook and similar social media sites |
X |
X |
X |
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|
X |
X |
X |