Long before the English language became dominant on the British Isles Celtic languages were the main method of communication. But since the middle of the nineteenth century they had been losing their influence due to the rapid process of anglicisation. And soon Celtic languages could only be found in the western regions of the British Isles. The situation has not changed until now.
Among the Celtic languages Welsh is considered to be the most survived one. Welsh is also the oldest language in Britain. It roots back at least 2.500 and possibly 4.000 years. Nowadays about 21 per cent of the population in Wales speak Welsh as their mother tongue. The native speakers of Welsh can be found mostly in the northern and western regions of the country whereas southern and eastern parts are throughout English speaking communities. (“History of the Welsh Language”) English which is spoken in these areas is influenced to some degree by Welsh. And as a result English spoken in Wales can be referred to as a dialect of the standard English language.
Welsh English has its own specific features, which differentiate this variety from other dialects of English. These features can be found on all linguistic levels, on phonetical, morphological, grammatical, syntactical. Welsh English is supposed to be very peculiar pnonetically having its well-known song-form intonation. At the same time a great range of differences are to be noticed in grammar, syntax and vocabulary usage. And so the aim of this paper is to show and analyse the grammatical, syntactical and lexical aspects of Welsh English on the example of a literary work written in this variety. For this purpose the collection of short stories “My Neighbours” by Welsh novelist of the 20th century Caradoc Evans was chosen. These short stories are full of dialogues, which present the everyday spoken Welsh English. There is no clear reference to a particular region where protagonists originate from. Conversations in the text comprise language peculiarities that can be found in different parts of Wales. Apart from the linguistic analysis some information on history and the present-day status of Welsh and English in Wales is given.
Due to the fact that Caradoc Evans as a Welsh writer is mainly known in Wales, and printed sources about himself and his creative life are to be found mostly in Wales, the information about the author and his works is based to a great extend on Internet sources.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Welsh English – Past and Present
- Short History of Welsh English
- Welsh English Today
- Caradoc Evans and His World
- "My Neighbours – the Linguistic Analysis"
- Conclusion
- List of Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the grammatical, syntactical and lexical aspects of Welsh English using the collection of short stories "My Neighbours" by Welsh novelist Caradoc Evans. It aims to analyse the everyday spoken Welsh English presented in the dialogues of these stories, focusing on the linguistic peculiarities that can be found in different parts of Wales.
- The history and current status of Welsh and English in Wales.
- The linguistic features of Welsh English, particularly in phonetics, morphology, grammar, syntax and vocabulary.
- The influence of Welsh on the English language spoken in Wales.
- The significance of Caradoc Evans' work in showcasing spoken Welsh English.
- The analysis of grammatical, syntactical and lexical aspects of Welsh English in "My Neighbours".
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction provides an overview of the historical context of the Welsh language, highlighting its survival despite the influence of English. It introduces the specific focus of the paper on analysing Welsh English through Caradoc Evans' "My Neighbours".
The chapter "Welsh English – Past and Present" delves into the historical development of Welsh English, tracing its evolution from the time of the Act of Union of 1535, which established English as the official language of Wales. This chapter also highlights the efforts to revive Welsh language, leading to the current situation where Wales is a bilingual country.
The chapter "Caradoc Evans and His World" discusses the background of Caradoc Evans and his literary significance. It sheds light on his life and works, including his use of Welsh English in his writing.
"My Neighbours – the Linguistic Analysis" is dedicated to the analysis of Welsh English as it is represented in the short stories. This chapter explores the grammatical, syntactical, and lexical aspects of the language, focusing on the dialogues presented in the stories.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores key topics such as Welsh English, the history of the Welsh language, the influence of Welsh on English, the work of Caradoc Evans, and the linguistic analysis of Welsh English in "My Neighbours".
- Citation du texte
- Olga Risukhina (Auteur), 2007, Aspects of Welsh English on the Example of „My Neighbours“ by Caradoc Evans, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/112528
