Language register typology matrix

In the table below, we have defined different registers found within the Welsh language. We show their distribution and related levels of the language including examples of specific terms or texts.

In collecting a corpus, it is useful to be able to recognise different types of text automatically and try to classify examples of one type in a unified way. It is possible to have several different models to classify and recognise registers. The aim of the table below is to propose a pattern to aid this work using a computer, rather than using written guidelines.

The table below is not a closed distribution, and usually there is a mixture of different characteristics in a text. The frequency of use of the different characteristics is going to aid the machine to have a better understanding of the register under consideration, rather than the simple existence of the characteristics in a specific text.

* denotes a form that has been found in the the style guide of the Welsh Government Translators but does not necessarily correspond to the descriptive typology of the different registers.

** denotes a form that has been found in Cymraeg Clir.

When referring to vocabulary, the term “safonol” here means forms that are identified in the main Welsh dictionaries.



 

Archaic

Classical

Formal

Tecnical

Neural

Simplified language/ Clear Welsh

Informal

Very informal/ spoken

Regional

Slang

Verb forms

Yr ydwyf…..

Yr wyf….

Rwyf….

Rwy….

Rwy….

Rwy….

Dw i… [*Rydw i…]

Dw i …./Wi…./I fi….

Dw i …./Wi…./I fi….

Fi….

Style dependent

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Use of the impersonal

X

Yn fwy cyffredin yn y gorff. na’r pres.

X

X

X

Periphrastic and compact

Cryno

 

Cryno

Cryno yn bennaf

Cryno yn bennaf

Cymysg. Defnyddio ‘caiff’ i oresgyn
problem cryno/cwmpasog

Cwmpasog ac eithrio rhai cyfarwydd iawn

Cymysg

Cymysg gyda’r cwmpasog yn llawer mwy cyffredin

Cwmpasog yn y gogledd, cryno anffurfiol
yn y de (e.e. es i yn lle euthum/ nes i fynd/ddaru mi fynd)

Ffurfiau amrywiol ansafonol yn
gyffredin

3rd person plural ending 

–nt hwy

–nt hwy

–nt hwy

–nt hwy

–nt hwy/-n nhw

-n nhw

-n nhw

-n nhw

-n nhw

-n nhw

Geirynnau rhagferfol

X

X

Achlysurol

X

X

Rhagenwau personol

Chwi, chwychwi

Chwi/chi [*chi]

chi

Defnydd o ffurfiau personol yn brin

chi

chi

chi

Chi/ti

Chi/ti/chdi/fe

Chi/ti/chdi/fe

Negation

Nid ydwyf….

Nid wyf….

Nid wyf….

Nid wyf/ Dw i ddim…

Nid wyf/ Dw i ddim…

Dw i ddim…

Dw i ddim…  [*Dydw i ddim….]

Dw i ddim…

Dw i’m/Sai’n…./Sana i…./Nagw i….

Fi ddim….

Long sentences, multiple clauses

X

X

X [**Dim mwy na 25 gair mewn brawddeg]

X

X

X

X

Geirfa

Gall gynnwys geiriau hynafol/
anarferedig

Gall gynnwys geiriau hynafol ond
arferedig

Geirfa gyfoes safonol

Termau technegol parth-benodol

Geirfa gyfoes safonol

Geirfa wedi’i symleiddio

Syml safonol

Syml gydag elfennau
cwtogi/cywasgu/ymwthiol

Marcwyr tafodieithol amlwg:

De: taw

ma’s/mâs, moyn, ffaelu

Gogledd: efo/ hefo, lan,rŵan

ddaru

Gall gynnwys geiriau anweddus,
rhegfeydd, llawer o eiriau Saesneg

Abbreviations

X

X

X

X

X

X

Intrusive vowels

X

X

X

X

X

X

Analogy of text and register

Note: creative literature e.g. novels can contain a number of different registers in order to convey different effects and thus are not accommodated below.

  Archaic Classical Formal Technical Neutral Simplified language/ Cymraeg Clir Informal Very informal/ spoken
Regional Slang
Extracts of old speech etc. religious texts

X

Legislation, international contracts

X

Committee reports, public administration, classical journalism

X

Technical documents/ research papers

X

Children school essays, students, press statements 

X

X

Forms, handouts, corporate websites, public campaigns 

X

X

Forms, handouts, websites, etc prescriptive language

X

Popular journalism

X

X

Private letters

X

Transcriptions of spoken language, scripts which are written to be spoken 

X

Corporate blogs

X

X

Private blogs

X

X

X

Facebook and similar social media sites

X

X

X

Twitter

X

X

X