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A Grammar of the Welsh Language

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A Grammar of the Welsh Language ^ÌOM^ %U^ — — — BECOMMENDATIONS. "Mr. Rowland's Grammar is not only based on tlie most approveil systems, but, as a manual, is the most important, useful, and satisfactoiy work that has been penned upon the snh]ect.'"— Carnarvon and DeiMtjIi. Herald. " The author may safely be complimented as having produced a volume well worthy of the age we live in, and of the estimation in wliich he is that it held by his countrymen generally. We have little doubt but will soon be reckoned amongst the best recognised authorities of Wel.sh Literature." North Wales Chronicle. "DecideJly the best Grammar of modern Cymraeg extant, and reflects very great credit ujion the learned and judicious author."—A'tv. John Williams Ab Ithel. " The best "Welsh Grammar, arranged after the model of the Greelc and Latin Grammars that have more recently appeared in Germany, and therefore much more complete and precise in the doctrine of words than the earlier AVelsh Grammars."—/'. J. Mone, Director des Archivs zn Carlsruhe. "Mr. Rowland's "Welsh Grammar is always one of my travelling companions. I think it one of the most valuable modern contributions to "W^elsh Literature."—^. J. Johnes, Esq., Judge of the County Court. "I wish also to construct an Elementary Grammar in Breton. I intend to write on this subject to Mr. Rowland, to ask his permission to translate his excellent Grammar, or at least a great portion of it." Charles de Gaulle (Barz Bro C'hall), Secretary to the Breuriez Breiz. "There was no Grammar worthy of the name or of the British Lan- guage until Mr. Rowland brought forth Ms. "—Z>?-. Rudolf Siegfried. "Y mae Mr. Rowland wedi cychwyn yn yr lawn gyfeiriad. Nid Crammadeg o'r iaith Seisnig wedi ei gyfieithu a'i draws-gymmhwyso at y holl deithi Gymraeg yw ei lyfr ; ond Grammadeg o'riaitli Gymraeg yn ei a"i duUiau priodol ei hun, er ei fod wedi ei ysgrifenu yn Seisneg. Ceir yina holl esgyrn yr iaith, nid yn uuig ar wahan, ond hefyd yn eu perth- cyssylltu ynas â'u gilydd ; a theflir goleuni ar y cymmalau bychain sydd yn yr aelodau â'u gilydd." Y Traethodydd. " Os nad ydym yn camsynied yn fawr, mae tyngedfen y Grammadeg Cymreig hwn i ddyfod yn safon grammudf^ol yv iaith Gymraeg."— Yr Haul. — Î5g tíjE same íîiitljar. Price As. GcZ., "WELSH EXEBCISES, ADAPTED TO THE • THIRD AND FOURTH EDITIONS OP ROWLAND'S GRAMMAR, WITH COPIOUS EXPLANATORY NOTES. " We have no doubt tliat this Exercise-Book will soon take its place as a standard Text-book on the subject in question, as the Author's Grammar has already done." Osicestry Advertiser. " "\Ve are pleased to find that this "Work, which is the first of the kind in the Welsh Language, is a worthy sequel to the Grammar ; and Mr. Krowland can be safely congratulated upon having brought a thorough knowledge of the rules of one of the most ancient and most interesting branches of the Celtic within the reach and powers of an ordinary' English scholar."— iVoriA Wales Chronicle. WKEXHAM : HUGHES >t SON. Bala: E. A. Sauxdersox. T'Osdo-^-. D. Nutt, 270 Strand. ; A GRAMMAR OF THE AVELSH LANGUAGE, BASED ON THE MOST APPROVED SYSTEMS, ^ítlj Copious CEiampIcs FROM SOME OF THE MOST CORRECT WELSH WRITERS. BY THOMAS ROWLAND, RECTOR OF PENNANT-MELANGELL (VIA OSWESTRY), MONTGOMERYSHIRE. JToiirtfj (Piiitt'on, ©rratlg CFnlargrîi anö ímprobrìi. Wr.EXHAM: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HUGHES & SON. LONDON : SIMPiaN, MARSHALL, & CO. D. NUTT, 270 STRAND, W.C. ;Y K 1550 — PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDmON. Great care and labour liave been bestowed on the present edition. The verbs have been rewritten, and the tenses conjugated much more fully and with greater precision than in previous editions. Manj- rules have been added in diflferent parts of the Work some new, and others taken out of the Author's Welsh Exercises. Some hundreds of the Examples have been translated into English, which will be of great assistance in understanding the rules under which the Examples are placed. Under the Syntax of Prepositions a copious alphabetical liÿt has been added of verbs and other parts of speech which are fol- lowed by particular prepositions, with examples and translations into English. Instead of reprinting the " Questions given to the Candidates for the Powis Exhibition," it was thoxiglit proper to frame new questions and adapt them to the Grammar, so that the Student may examine himself, and find answers in the Grammar to all the questions given. At the end an Index has been added, which, though somewhat so full as copious, is not we could have wished, for want of time : the Third Edition being completely out of print, the Publishers were desirous that the new edition should appear with as little delay as possible. The whole Work has been carefully revised, and there arc not many pages which have not been added to, or otherwise improved ; so that we hesitate not to say that the present edition is much less imperfect than the third. In case any persons, in writing on this branch of literature, should be induced to copy from the pages of this Work, it is but just to hope they will acknowledge whence they have taken their quotations. Pennant-Melakgell, June 23, 187G. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. This Work was undertaken with tlie view of facilitating the Btudy of the Welsh Language, and of lessening the difficulties that have been wholly passed over in silence by preceding grammarians. It is sometimes asked, whether it is possible to lay down rules that would guide a stranger in acquiring a gram- matical and accurate knowledge of the Welsh Language ; and some are inclined to answer in the negative. But surely those who have studied the language carefully will feel no hesitation in stating that it is possible to gain as perfect a knowledge of the Welsh as of any other tongue. It is admitted that its idioms and peculiarities are many ; but still they are capable of ex- planation, and are reducible to very plain and definite rules. This Grammar, or rather this attempt to lay down a founda- tion of a Grammar of the Welsh Language, was commenced about three years ago ; and it has been continued, as other em- ployments afforded opportunities, from that time up to the pre- sent. But those who are acquainted with the state and contents of our existing Grammars will, I doubt not, at once confess that a longer period of uninterrupted study is necessary to bring out a work that could pretend to the accuracy and completeness of the Latin and Greek Grammars. In its preparation, such Welsh Grammars were consulted as were likely to render the greatest aid, as those of Dr. Davies and Dr. W. 0. Purjlic ; but in " Syntax," the greatest amount of assistance was obtained from the very learned and accurate Essay of the Mev. T. J. Hughes, who, at the Aherffrcm Eisteddfod, obtained the prize offered by the Lord Bishop of St. David's, and the Rev. Charles IVilliams, of Holyhead. This Essay, independ- ently of its intrinsic worth, merits great praise, as being the first PREFACE. vii regular attempt to explain the principles of Welsli Syntax. In giving definitions of points belonging to universal Grammar, and in exhibiting correspondence of idiom between the Welsh and the Latin and Greek languages, much help was also derived from Zianpt, Kexj, Ai-nold, MatthicB, and Kiihner. All will allow that a "Welsh Grammar, superior to any of those that have been hitherto published, is very much needed; but whether the present Work surpasses its predecessors, must be determined by the reader. It wiU be seen, there is no doubt, that many deficiencies exist in this production, and that its shortcomings are numerous. However, should a second edition be called for, it is hoped that these deficiencies may be amended, mistakes rectified, and many observations added wliich have now been omitted, owing partly to want of time, and partly to \\ant of knowledge. And with this view it Avould be deemed a Idndness if Welsh critics would, either publicly or privately, lavour me with hints, emendations, and remarks, so that I may l>e enabled to send forth a second edition more systematic, more perfect, and more complete. It is my duty to state that I am under very great obligations to the Eev. Thomas Briscoe, B.D., Vice-Principal and Tutor of Jesus College, Oxford, for tlie kind assistance he has rendered me, both in looking over the Work before it was sent to the Printer, and in correcting the proof-sheets while passing through the press. Were it not for him, and the Bev. William Briscoe, M.A., Fellow of Jesus College, it is doubtful Avhether the book would ever have been published ; and if the reader derives any benefit from the Grammar, he, no doubt, Avill join me in acknowledging our gratitude to these two gentleman. THOMAS ROWLAND. Bala, Aug. 8, 1S53. CONTENTS. PART I. ORTHOaHAPHY. I'ART IT. ETYMOLOGY. Classification of words . Substantives (or nouns) Number of nouns . Formation of the plural Formation of the singul.ir from the \A Gender of nouns . Cases of nouns Adjectives Terminations of adjectives Gender of adjectives Formed (a) by inflection of vowels (6) b}' mutation of consonant; Number of adjectives Degrees of comparison Numerals Personal pronouns Eeflective pronouns Reciprocal pronouns Demonstrative pronouns llelative pronouns Interrogative pronouns Possessive pronouns Indefinite pronouns Verbs . Formation of the moods Infinitive mood Infinitive endings Finite moods Definition of the moods Tenses of verbs Present tense Imperfect Perfect . Pluperfect Future . CONTENTS. Future perfect .
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