Alla i ddim vs dw i ddim yn gallu

Welsh General / Questions
1

Hi, I grew up in Wales as a welsh ail iaith speaker. I’ve been living in Australia for 26 years now and have forgotten most of my Welsh hence doing this course.
I noticed you say “alla i ddim” for I can’t. This felt completely alien to me and I was sure I’d never said it. I then remembered that I always said “dw i ddim yn gallu”.
Can you explain this to me please? Is allai ddim more grammatically correct and my version more colloquial? I grew up around Penygroes/llandeilo (s wales) if that helps.

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2

Vic Edwards, Penbedw.
Completed challenge 1 &2 and watched DeVitrio video. Posted my photo but can’t get any further.
Instruction video too small. I get “Full screen is unavailable.”

3

Both are fine to use, Ingrid, just different ways of saying the same thing and which is used is much a matter of personal/regional preference.

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4

What is it that you’re trying to do, @victoredwards? Something here on the forum, or something to do with the course?

5

Resolved and progressing. Diolch.

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6

Hope not too early for you. I think gallai ddim is fairly common around Penygroes these days. Also Nagw i’n gallu and sain gallu, which you’ll revise later :blush:. Dwi ddim yn gallu as well of course, as you say.

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7

Thanks Siaron.

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8

Thanks John. I do remember nagw I’n gallu and Sain gallu now that you mention them. thanks for reminding me!

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9

What does everyone recommend in this situation? Should I ignore ssi and keep saying “dw I ddim yn gallu” or should I go with the flow and copy ssi?

10

Both are fine to use and you’ll hear both in use - just different ways of saying the same thing and which to use is a matter of personal/regional preference.

11

I know, but when I hear the guy ask for “I cannot” my brain wants to say “dw I ddim yn gallu”. Should I fight this urge and go alla I ? Or just do what I’m used to?

12

Just do what you’re used to. You know the other form, so it won’t throw you when you hear other people use it or when you read it but you’re free to use whichever form you prefer.

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13

What you may find is that after you hear it as alla i ddim enough times, you’ll catch yourself starting to say it.

It’s the same thing that happens naturally when you’re in a Welsh-speaking community and you hear them saying something a little differently to you. As it becomes familiar, you’ll find yourself dropping whatever you used to say and adapting to what you hear around you. It’s a natural part of the learning process, so just relax, go with what you’re comfortable with, and if it’s going to happen, it will in it’s own time :slight_smile:

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