Welsh

Wales, located to the west of the United Kingdom, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including the rugged peaks of Snowdonia, its picturesque coastline, and its rolling hills and valleys. The nation is deeply tied to its Celtic heritage, and this identity is most notably preserved through the Welsh language, Cymraeg. Over the centuries, Wales has been a center for Celtic culture, with its language continuing to thrive despite numerous foreign invasions. Today, Welsh is a key part of the national identity and remains an official language of Wales, spoken and celebrated across the country.

The Welsh Language: History and Structure

The Welsh language, Cymraeg, is part of the Celtic language family, specifically the Brittonic branch, which also includes Cornish and Breton. With roots stretching back over 1,500 years, Welsh has survived through various historical periods, from the Roman occupation of Britain to the Anglo-Saxon and Norman invasions. The language is characterized by its distinctive phonetic features, including consonant mutations, and its verb-subject-object (VSO) word order, which differentiates it from English. Though the number of Welsh speakers declined in the 20th century, efforts to revive and promote the language in schools and media have led to a resurgence in recent years.

Asterix speaks Cymraeg

The Welsh-language editions of Asterix have been published by two notable publishers:

Gwasg Y Dref Wen (Cardiff, Wales): This publisher was responsible for the Welsh translations of Asterix from 1976 to 1981. Gwasg Y Dref Wen played a significant role in making Asterix accessible to Welsh-speaking audiences during this period.
Dalen (Ceredigion, Wales): After Gwasg Y Dref Wen, Asterix continued to be published in Welsh by Dalen, a publisher based in Ceredigion. Dalen has continued to bring the adventures of Asterix and his friends to Welsh readers.

Translation of Character Names

The Welsh translations of Asterix feature some creative adaptations of character names. For example, the Druid is renamed Crycymalix, based on the Welsh word Cryman, meaning sickle, which refers to the tool the Druid carries. The Bard, called Bardd in Welsh, is named Odlgymix, a reference to Odl Gymysg or “Mixed Rhyme,” fitting for a character who frequently sings and rhymes. The Gaulish chief is known as Einharweinix, translating to “Our Leader,” a direct reflection of his role in the tribe.

Fun Translations of Roman Names

In addition to the main characters, the Roman camps are also humorously renamed in Welsh. For example, Bolatenae is the Welsh version of “Thinbelly,” Cloclarwm translates to “Alarm Clock,” and Bagiautrwm corresponds to “Heavy Bags.” These names add a layer of humor and creativity, allowing Welsh readers to enjoy the Asterix world in a uniquely localized way.

Welsh Asterix — Welsh cover of Asterix in Britain

Reading Welsh

Welsh uses the Latin alphabet, but its pronunciation differs significantly from English, with several unique sounds for the same letters. To read Welsh correctly, it’s important to understand some basic pronunciation rules.

First, many consonants in Welsh are pronounced differently. For instance, the letter c is always hard, as in “cat,” never soft as in “circuit.” The letter f is pronounced as the English v, while ff makes a sound like the English f in “fun.” Similarly, ch is pronounced like the ch in the Scottish loch, not like the English ch in “church.”

Vowels in Welsh also have distinct sounds. The letter a is pronounced like the a in “father,” e like the e in “bet,” and i like the ee in “see.” Double vowels, like ae or ei, usually create long sounds, and w and y are treated as vowels, producing sounds similar to oo and uh respectively.

Additionally, Welsh features a phenomenon called “mutations,” where the first letter of a word can change based on the grammatical context. This can affect the pronunciation and is something to be aware of when reading.

With these basic rules in mind, reading Welsh becomes a more intuitive experience, allowing you to pronounce the words as they are intended.

Publisher

DalenÉireann, a publisher focused on Celtic languages, has brought Asterix into Gaelic alongside translations into Irish, Scots and Scottish Gaelic This effort contributes to the preservation and spread of these languages, offering the Asterix series to a broader audience in their native tongues.