Introduction to modern Welsh conversation and grammar. Emphasis in the first-semester class is on pronunciation, mastering consonant mutations, using several tenses (present, perfect, imperfect, past), and the acquisition of basic vocabulary and idiom. Simple written materials based on traditional Welsh stories will supplement classroom oral-aural work.

Though a minority language, Welsh is today spoken by over 582,000 people, with thousands of learners worldwide. Over the centuries the language has survived conquests, the Industrial Revolution and the dominance of English-language media in Britain; its perseverance is reflective not only of its cultural value but of the important role it plays in the lives of the Welsh as a living, breathing language. It has a thriving literary and artistic scene which extends beyond Wales, producing recent pop hits [ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/welsh-language-party-spotify-culture ] and featuring heavily in the latest season of the popular Netflix drama The Crown [ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-50548964 ]. Today, the Welsh government has a goal of seeing one million speakers of the language worldwide by 2050, and here in Berkeley you have the chance to help make that vision a reality. This class will serve as an introduction both to Modern Welsh and to the culture of Wales. Students will be introduced to the basics of Welsh grammar and pronunciation, and special attention will be paid to features that make Welsh distinctive. For example, you will learn why Wales is “Cymru” but to come from Wales is to come “o Gymru”. There are two different dialects of Welsh spoken in Wales: North Welsh (Cymraeg y Gogledd) and South Welsh (Cymraeg y De). In this class we will be studying South Welsh, which is spoken through much of the south, south-west and southern part of central Wales. By the end of the first semester you will be able to read and understand basic written and spoken Welsh, respectively, and to hold simple conversations. Classes will consist of oral and aural activities, as well as written exercises. There will be regular homework assignments, a midterm and a final.

Prerequisites: none

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.