Customer Reviews

Clear explanations, well laid out - By: Judith E. Kirkham, 07 Nov 2008
I've bought a few books on grammar to help mein my quest to learn both spoken & written Welsh & this is the one I've found to be the best so far.

The context of my learning experience is that I attend a course on a weekly basis. The sessions are good but, as with all classes for adults learning Welsh, the emphasis is on speaking Welsh & not on understanding grammatical points. As a grammar geek this doesn't meet my personal needs.

I understand that with some aspects of languages you just have to accept what you're told & go with the flow ('red car'in English becomes 'car red'in Welsh - that's it, no arguments!). However, whenever possible, I need to know the rules & the exceptions to the rules - this book explains them.

It does itin a very clear manner. Each chapter deals with an aspect of the language (pronouns - adjectives - verbs etc.) so I find it very easy to find the right chapter when I want to check something. I find the chapters interesting & often read one from beginning to end, simply as educational reading material. There is always a very clear explanation of the specific, grammatical point & this is made even clearer by brief sentencesin English & Welsh illustrating everyday usage of the point.

I think the combination of attending a course & personal reading is essential. The weekly sessions & the book are mutually beneficial. The book alone would explain the grammar (which is its aim) but would not help me to speak Welsh. However, I would probably have given up the classes if I hadn't found this book (and another I have also reviewed) as I was so frustrated by not knowing & understanding the theory that underpins the practical use of the language.

My favourite quote is when the writer states that a word "suffers a mutation" - I wonder if that was a Freudian slip or a subtle gesture of solidarity with the people for whom the dreaded mutations cause so much suffering!