Translation help

[Raido]

Hi,

I've been searching the excellent online Welsh newspaper resource for information about my gg grandfather Henry Parry (born Penygraigwen, Anglesey 29th July 1883, died 16th March 1962)

He had the bardic name Dyfrydog as he was from Llandyfrydog. He seems to have been involved with the Eisteddfod and the articles below relate to this. I wondered if you could give me a general impression of what they're about? I know the first one relates to his military career and both contain poems but google translate throws up a load of gibberish for most of it. The third appears to reveal what he did (A ganlyn ceir enwau yr ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus yn y gwahanol arholiadau Urdd Bardd - Follows Successful candidates are the names of the various examinations Order of Bards) and the forth I haven't a clue. Fifth, again no idea.

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3783724/ART22/dyfrydog

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3783142/ART39

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3142769/ART49

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3880258/ART192/dyfrydog%20eisteddfod

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3783664/ART35/dyfrydog%20eisteddfod
There may be other articles on there too.

Thank you

e2a: Ah yes I see now, the third link relates to this,

"Order of Bards, linguist, musician Literati - blue dress - for those who succeeded in the third examination of the Throne. Graduates who have been successful in Welsh and Welsh Literature, Music or apply for admission to this order."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/hanes/safle/themau/eisteddfodau/gorseddbeirdd.shtml

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Haven't time to do a full translation now, but some summaries will follow

The first article is a letter to a friend from the trenches in 1915, mostly about his experiences. The very last section is a comparison of the welsh, french and english words for certain terms, demonstrating the similarity of french to welsh, but not english, and thus the norman influence on the welsh language

[Mabel Bagshawe]

second is a report of  his winning the chair at Eisteddfod y Gerlan, Bethesda (out of six entrants) for a pryddest (type of poem) on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemene. The article mentions the great praise from the adjudicators, and I think the poems that follow are all written in his praise, rather than by him

[Raido]

Hi Mabel,

Many thanks for your reply and the details. They've added a bit. Many apologies as I should have replied that user hanes teulu has kindly offered to have a go at translating a lot of it, over email.

They look like really interesting letters, give a real feel for what was happening around the time which is great. :-)

second is a report of  his winning the chair at Eisteddfod y Gerlan, Bethesda (out of six entrants) for a pryddest (type of poem) on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemene. The article mentions the great praise from the adjudicators, and I think the poems that follow are all written in his praise, rather than by him

Ah I see. Didn't know that. I'm quite confused by all the terminology regards the Eisteddfod.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

As you say the third relates to his passing the exam to enter the Gorsedd

The item itself relates to the ceremony held a year before a national eisteddfod open to proclaim that it is to be held (ie this event in Llanerchymedd in 1910 related to the National Eisteddfod to be held in 1911). The event involved various pronouncements and bards reciting poems written for the event, including Dyfrydog The subjects for the 1911 competition were also announced.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Fifth similar to first.

well, at least I've given you a flavour of what will be in the full translation (which will probably be better than anything I could do, as a reasonably fluent adult learner except when it comes to poetry!)

[Raido]

Fifth similar to first.

well, at least I've given you a flavour of what will be in the full translation (which will probably be better than anything I could do, as a reasonably fluent adult learner except when it comes to poetry!)

Oh no you've really helped. I'm told the poems are particularly difficult to translate though, lots of exotic words and phrases of sorts.

May even have a go at learning Welsh one day, maybe when I'm a lot older (I'm 33) but I grew up in England so have had barely any exposure to it.