How to say: Clydach
| 12:28 UK time, Monday, 14 August 2006
A guide to words and names in the news, from Catherine Sangster of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Pronunciation Unit.
"Today's pronunciation is , for which we recommend the pronunciation KLID-uhkh (kh as in Scottish "loch").
"This recommendation, for use in English-language broadcasts, is based on the local Welsh pronunciation and was researched with a number of local sources."
(.)
Comments
I always have trouble with "Ambwlans", Catherine.
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Bob
What nonsense !! Who on earth told them that the letter 'y' in Welsh is pronounced that way ?
Surely 'klud' is the correct way to say the first syllable ?
And the guide above appears to suggest [please correct me if I'm wrong] that the second syllable is pronounced 'Ugh!'. Again this is nonsense. Just think how a German would pronounce 'Ach!' and I think you are bang on the button.
You asked 'various sources' - were they all English ?! Rant over..
You say your pronunciation guide is based on English words, but you break this in example: prununciation. shuhn is not an English word and uhn is not a valid sequence of letters! I assume you're trying to represent schwa with uh. THis is an excellent example of why using a modified IPA would be clearer.
Yep, it would be pronounced by Welsh speakers - and is generally pronounced on the Welsh local news - as KLUH-dach, with the schwa sound for the 'y' and a clear, open 'a'.
However, things are often not what they seem down South. If you asked the way to Creigiau (near Llantrisant) pronouncing it 'correctly' as "CRAY-gee-eye", you'd get bemused looks. Because of the long influence of English in the region, it's generally pronounced 'CRY-ger' even by some Welsh speakers.
Sorry, itchy trigger finger there..
It is 'CRAY-gee-aye' as in 'Aye Aye, me 'earties'...
But a confession..even I will often pronounce 'Port Talbot' with the second word sounding like 'Tall, but..[not as tall as]'...
Maybe I've lived in England too long..
The pronunciation unit have got it wrong on this place name.
Maybe somebody should speak to Huw Edwards about this because Clydach is always pronounced KLUH Dach - whether you are a Welsh or non-Welsh speaker.