Place-Names in Wales

Does it not seem strange to you that when you enter Wales you find place-names displayed in two languages? Perhaps not, as we know that Welsh is the language of Wales , and we may also know that Welsh is the oldest language of literature in Europe .

Nevertheless, the fact that the place-names are 'translated' on the signs is rather strange, at least to me. In no other country of Europe do I know of it. So why is it thus? Possibly because it is thought that the Welsh names may be unpronounceable to foreigners, who are not aware of the phonetics of the language? The English version of the name is not so much a 'translation' as a corruption of the original.

You can imagine a visitor to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll'llandysiliogogogoch giving up in despair, though they all call it Llanfair P.G. these days. Many of these place-names are corrupted versions of the original, such as Llandovery (Llan ym ddyfri) or Carmarthen (Caerfyrddin). Even Cardiff does not escape notice, as it is originally Caer ar Daf or city/fort on the river Taf. Swansea is an exception as it was named by the Norse invaders, as well as the island of Skokholm , but its Welsh name is Abertawe. Possibly the worst example is the town of Llantwit Major. Llan in Welsh means church, and the churches were named after Celtic saints, but one could never contemplate there ever being a "St. Twit". I believe that St Athan's is actually named after St Tathan, or Tathan Sant.

So let us bring some sanity into the naming of places in Wales . There needs to be an examination of nomenclature of Welsh towns and cities, and a decision taken on correct and authentic naming. Inevitably, names such as Burry Port will be dropped for Porth Tywyn, Pembrey for Penbre, Kidwelly for Cydweli and so on. And if tourists and others choose to visit this land of mystery and enchantment they can learn to pronounce our corrected names correctly.