So ‘sut’ just got introduced, and our amazing teachers ask me to say “How do you know?”
I answered “Sut wyt ti’n gwybod?” but what I’m hearing is (phonetically) “sut (o’teen) gwybod?” not “sut (oui teen) gwybod?” which is what I expected.
So is “wyt ti’n” (oui teen) is going to sound like “o’teen” when things speed up, or am I missing some kind of change in pronunciation caused by adding “sut” to the sentence?
Thanks for the help in advance!
Both are correct. Just perhaps a slight regional variation, or pronounced through talking at speed, but still the same. Pronounce it the way you feel most comfortable, or if you’re living in Wales, you could go with the sound you hear most when other speakers around you pronounce it. As long as you understand what you’re saying, and the people you’re chatting with understands what you’re saying, you’re winning!
Thank you! That settles it for me; I’ll go with what our esteemed teachers say, and be happy knowing it’s good either way.
Thanks again!
You’ll hear a lot of differences inbetween what Iestyn says and what Cat says and some of them would be even different to what you expected to hear. My advise go with what you were taught at the introduction of the new word especially at this very beginning because if you’ll mind every single difference you’ll be stuck in one lesson in no time. That’s from my own experience and believe me, I know what I’m talking about, doing approximately the same at the beginning. It’s very possible that even in affirmative sentences you can sense something like wyt ti’n instead of ti’n. (at least those are my observations)
After so much material I’ve gone through I’m starting to accept that (almost) nothing is totally wrong or totally right in Cymraeg so as @faithless78 says, go with what you feel more comfortable.
Thank you, this is very helpful. I’m in Texas (USA) so my experience with Welsh is limited to the lessons, and BBC Radio Cymru (and some music here and there on bandcamp) so I’m really relying on lestyn and Cat. Good to know if I’m hearing some “rushed” speech (you know, normal contractions of words when people are speaking naturally) it’s fine to just roll with it and not get all flustered and overthink it.
edit: I suppose my main concern is, will I be understood in Cardiff, and I don’t think that will be a problem 
I’m in Slovenia (as you might probably read from some topics) so not to close to Cymraeg and Cymru either. Even more - I’m the only one in my country (to my knowledge) who learns the language at all and my language - Slovene - is very different from Cymraeg. I have to relay on the same things as you have to for this reason.
O, yes I was frustrated when doing lessons for not only the first time but also the second and third and this frustration can be seen on quite a lot of spots here on this forum. So I’m replying to such things in warm wish no one would go through the same problems I did because most of those frustrations are totally unneccessary and only in our minds and they can only pull you back in learning.
I really appreciate your encouragement! Perhaps we should watch a bit of Pobol y Cwm some days, as well? I’ll have to see if BBC will stream it in the US for me. Or if I can find old seasons legally.
Cheers to you learning Cymraeg in Slovenia!
If you can find anyone speaking Cymraeg!!! Oh, O.K., being fair, I believe there is more growth in the language in Cardiff than anywhere else in the country, but you may still need to look a bit hard!!
There are about 40,000 Welsh speakers in Cardiff. They’re not that hard to find if you go looking for them 
Hi @wrenmoyer - it’s not just fine, it’s mandatory!
It sounds like you’re getting on well with the opening of the course, and if you’ve already discovered that you shouldn’t be worrying about details, then you will do even better over the next few lessons!
Speech is very forgiving, and one of the beauties of learning by hearing / listening is that you will easily adjust when you hear new / different patterns for what you already know. Don’t worry about not being understood, either - it will happen, because you will say stuff “wrong”, and other people will say stuff that you don’t understand or far more fun, that you will misunderstand, and give a totally random seeming answer - they’re the best conversations!). That’s another mandatory part of learning a second language, I’m afraid. But Welsh speakers generally will be used to hearing second language speakjers, and pleased to hear one (especially a Texan) happy to use their Welsh, so there will be plenty of patience on their part. As long as you can react to that by “rolling with it” and throwing yourself in with what Welsh you have, then you will have a super enjoyable and super succesful time, where-ever you visit in Wales!
I’m really hoping to speak with Aled Rheon at one of his shows when I visit Cardiff next year so I have all the motivation. At least I know where to find one Welsh speaker!
And I intend to visit Carmarthen as well so, fingers crossed!
Wonderful to hear Welsh speakers are happy to “deal with” new speakers! That’s really fortunate. My other language is ASL (American Sign Language) and what made that so fun to learn was the deaf community is so very happy to work with anyone who tries to learn ASL. Just a great experience all around, and you learn so quickly when you are able to screw up, get corrected, get corrected on your correction, finally get it and move on with the conversation without frustrating the other person 
On a personal note, thank you so much, lestyn, for everything you have contributed to SSIW. Your and Cat’s voices are becoming a very familiar part of my morning routine