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