Come to think of it, I've only done the 1st and 3rd Laws ... I must fill you in on the others.
Anyway, you might remember " All Welsh textbooks make wildly exaggerated claims." I don't think you can really argue with that . But I found a real pearl of an example the other day. It's the Preface to the "new" (1960) version of Teach Yourself Welsh, which is the biggest load of old horse-muck you will ever read, from page 1 to page 191. Funny though!
The "old" one was awful as well, but that's another story.
Here's a few gems from the aforementioned Preface .. my comments are in red ..
[ 1] All languages present difficulties to the learner, but Welsh offers fewer than most others.
Really?
[2] Much of the vocabulary, especially in the early stages, can be mastered at a glance, because a considerable number of words are alike in Welsh and English.
Obviously.
[3] Compared with French or German, the Welsh verb is child's play.
Yes, and there's only the 678 versions of bod and all its colloquial forms.
[4] On mutations ... "you will find it fascinating and will discover a new respect for your Welsh-speaking friends."
All men presumably ( see 7) .
[5] Remember the old saying " Three tries for a Welshman" [??]
What ?
[6] When you have worked conscientiously through this book, you should be able to speak Welsh, understand Welsh conversation and read an ordinary book in Welsh.
I think not !
[7] (When you have learned Welsh] ... then if your are a Welshman, you will be a proper Welshman, standing on your own feet, with your own language, your own heritage and not just a strange kind of Englishman.
I like this idea that only men will be learning Welsh!
I think these are the wildest, most preposterous claims for what is a really crap book ever in the history of the world. It must be some sort of elaborate joke.
But now, here's something good and wonderful as a contrast ... Dacw Hi from SFA's Mwng CD .... lovely!
Mae hi newydd gael ei phigo gan byr ar ei chroen
Mae'n gafael mewn papur cyfagos a'i daro ar y wal
Mae'n gadael gwennynen ar ?ydd yn sicr wedi ei dal
Mae hi'n ddoniol
(Mae hi'n ddoniol)
Mae'n sylwi pob dim
(Mae'n sylwi pob dim)
Ac mae'n medru gweld
Drwy gefn ei phen
Dim dioloch i'r drefn
Mae'n fore iau ac mae'n mynd i'r gwaith
Wrth gau ei drws mae hi'n tynnu at saith
Wrth gau ei ch?hag yr oerni mae hi'n colli pishyn punt
Mae'n ei bigo o fyny yn syth cyn troi n? mewn i'r gwynt
Mae hi'n ddoniol
(Mae hi'n ddoniol)
Mae'n sylwi pob dim
(Mae'n sylwi pob dim)
Ac mae'n medru gweld
Drwy gefn ei phen
Dim dioloch i'r drefn
Mae hi'n ddoniol
(Mae hi'n ddoniol)
Mae'n sylwi pob dim
(Mae'n sylwi pob dim)
Mae hi'n ddoniol
(Mae hi'n ddoniol)
Neith hi chwerthin ar ddim
(Neith hi chwerthin ar ddim)
Mae hi'n ddoniol
(Mae hi'n ddoniol)
Mae'n sylwi pob dim
(Mae'n sylwi pob dim)
Ac mae'n medru gweld
Drwy gefn ei phen
Dim dioloch i'r drefn
Unwaith drachefn
A few ? in there ...