Ah yes. The self appointed but anonymous one. Its all rather sad really.
1 Like
Quite so - there is no more difference between them than there is between âstartâ and âbeginâ in English actually. How annoying these idiot pedants are.[quote=âsarapeacock, post:80, topic:5591â]
two self-styled experts
[/quote]
Yes - self-styled and entirely self-appointed, as they always are. 
4 Likes
Regarding speaking Welsh being daunting (as opposed to other languages which are learned) I have to say my experience was somewhat to the opposite.
I learned Welsh just before SSIW in Welsh so did it through a period of self teaching (using various resources) , traditional class based learning (although generally on intensive courses) and just getting out and trying to speak as much as possible (generally at the beginning in arranged get togethers for learners as arranged by the mentrau iaith). So basically albeit in a sort safe learner friendly environment I started using what little Welsh I had right from the beginning and so got used of speaking and stumbling as a result.
However, over the Las couple of years Iâve started learning Spanish and used SSIS as the main means of learning. Due to not having the time or opportunity to practice for a while I âacquiredâ a lot of Spanish before ever actually using it. What I found when I first tried using my Spanish was that I seem to put a lot more pressure on myself to speak and âdoâ because I had learned so much beforehand rather than just jumping in from the very start as Iâd done with Welsh.
My experiences speaking Welsh have only ever been positive with regards to other speakers attitudes etc. The oly pressure uf any Iâve ever felt have been entirely self inflicted.
3 Likes
I agree with you daiwilliams that it is best to use what Welsh you have at the start when you have the opportunity. I get slightly nervous when I know I am about to get in to a situation where I will be speaking Welsh. I could always take the easy option and just speak English of course but the bad feeling I get from not attempting to speak Welsh when conversing with a Welsh speaker is much worse than the bad feeling I get when I make a mistake or donât understand a reply .
If I know I will be going in to a shop for example where I know the cashier is a Welsh speaker I will practice in my head what I am going to say before hand and anticipate what their response might be and try and be prepared for that too. Though Iâm sure that is what most language learners do before it becomes more natural , which Iâm happy to say is slowly starting to happen with me
1 Like
Doesnât that lead to a sort of slight panic when they say something totally unexpected? e.g. you go in for a newspaper and the chap catches a glimpse of a headline and mutters about the local team being robbed last week by the Referee who needed glasses or a place in that Sunshine Home in Dublin! 
1 Like
Hehe yes there is always that possibility but if worst comes to worst there is always " sorry nes i ddim dallt be ddides ti . Dwiân dal dysgu cymraeg ond dwin trio siarad efo pobl pan medrai i " I am starting to find more and more now though that as long as I understand the reply / question then even if I have to pause for a second I can quite often think of the response in cymraeg 
2 Likes
http://old.saysomethingin.com/welsh/images/smilies/ssiwllongydragon.gif
Also, when speaking, it is often quite possible to work around words which do not come to mind!!
1 Like
Indeed! Listening in wild conversation is harder, as there is the need to understand what is being said. Listening to Aran and Catrin, or to Radio Cymru, is easier as you donât need to understand everything straight away and you zone into the speaking style and the topic.
I have had many conversations where the response is so quick and words are often not quite in the patterns expected. Then you make clear you are a leaner and usually people slow down and speak more âformallyâ, then Iâm just about ok
2 Likes
Well pleased to report i had a great day at Nant Gwytheyrn. Spoke a fair bit of welsh and organised another meeting next Saturday.
6 Likes
Just a thought - I wonder if speaking in a learnt language (i.e. not your first language) shares the same neural pathways as public speaking (i.e. making a speech/presentation) even in your first language?
They certainly seem to produce the same kind of fear!
3 Likes
Very true
agree, also i think it is a feeling of adopting a new persona, hearing yourself in a different way. The first time can feel as odd as weaing a bow tie with a string vest and boxer shorts for a WI convention.
??? Womenâs Institute???
Yep,
Just flippantly trying to think of an embarrasing sort of situation, where I might feel unduly self conscious. There comes a point in learning how to give presentations or perhaps speaking languages where it just becomes a personal battle with conquering inner demons and less of a skill or knowledge sort of thing. It can be quite a shock, when you discover how rediculously exaggerated the fears actually were.
Isnât that part of the rationale in getting people to do silly things on some language courses, just to take you out of your comfort zone etc and overcome some inhibitions. I imagine that drama students have to do pretty much the same things initially.
2 Likes