Welsh as a foreign language 15-PNJWAL-CE-13

(First semester of a three-semester course. Continued as 15-PNJWAL-CE-23 and - at 2MA level - 15-PNJWAL-CE-33.)

The emphasis in this course is using Welsh for academic purposes. Different registers will be studied, starting with formal, literary Welsh, progressing to literature written in dialect (northern, south-west, south-east Welsh). A variationist approach to the different registers/dialects studied is used to deliver this course, with the differences in morphology, syntax and lexicon being noted and explained. Texts, both written and spoken, will be analysed through translation and grammatical explanation. Oral, analytical skills will be developed through class discussions of the texts read. A variety of texts will be used, including academic works by Peter Wynn Thomas and Gwenllian Awbery and literary texts by Islwyn Ffowc Elis, Robin Llywelyn, Margot Lloyd Jones and Mihangel Morgan. An introduction to Welsh poetic forms (awdl, englyn and cywydd) forms an integral part of the course. The course is divided between sessions on spoken and written Welsh, with importance attached to the correct register being employed for a variety of purposes and audiences. Assessment is through class participation, quizzes in class, the production of coursework (text analysis, student composition, presentations) and a final examination.