Reviews

English review follows Mae pedwerydd argraffiad y gramadeg sylfaenol hwn cyn bwysiced ir dysgwr heddiw ag yr oedd yr argraffiad cyntaf bron ugain mlynedd ynghynt, ac nid ywn syndod felly na fu angen ond ychydig o fn newidiadau ers yr adeg honno, er gwaethaf y lluniau ar y clawr ag ynddynt sgrialfwrdd a chudynnau crychwallt! Er mai prin yn fwy na llyfryn ydyw, maer gramadeg hwn yn darparu crynodeb dealladwy or iaith lafar safonol, syn gyflwyniad arbennig i ddechreuwyr ac i ddysgwyr canolradd. Saesneg yw cyfrwng y gyfrol, ond cynigir enghreifftiau buddiol i egluror gramadeg yn gryno ac yn effeithiol. Nid ywn cynnwys gormod o gymhlethdod nac amrywiadau llafar, felly maer dull yn addas i bron unrhyw ddysgwr cyhyd ag y gwr ychydig dermau gramadegol. Rhaid sylwi nad ywr duedd at Gymraeg Byw (cywair safonol gwneud or iaith lafar) erioed wedi ei diwygio yn y llyfr hwn ers y saithdegau; fodd bynnag, hwn sydd fwyaf cyffredin fel cyfrwng dysgu ysgolion Cymraeg erbyn heddiw. Ar y cywair unedig hwn y maer gyfrol yn canoli yn hytrach nag ar wirioneddau tafodieithol y Gymraeg nac ar y cywair llenyddol. Er hynny, cyflwynir ychydig wahaniaethau tafodieithol ynddi ond heb fawr ddyfnder o ganllawiau penodol, am nad hyn ywr amcan pennaf. Ni chynhwysir llawer ynghylch hyblygrwydd yr iaith o ran trefnau gwahanol y frawddeg ychwaith. Gan hynny, llwyddir i osgoi gormod o gymhlethdod ir dysgwr sydd ond megis dechrau dysgur iaith. Ond er hyn oll, nid yw'n ddiddefnydd mewn unrhyw fodd i ddysgwyr profiadol. Er y byddai mynegai gwell yn fantais ir llyfr, ar lawer cyfrif arall y maen cyflwynor iaith safonol mewn ffordd syml a dealladwy heb ddim or anawsterau syn codi mewn gramadegau eraill o ganlyniad i roi gormod o fanylion ir dysgwr. Os nad oes angen cyfeirlyfr rhy gynhwysfawr, dyma lyfr o fewn deall pawb. Talat Chaudhri * * * The fourth impression of this basic grammar is still as important to the learner of today as the first edition was nearly twenty years earlier, and it is no surprise therefore that there have only been a few slight amendments since then, despite the pictures of a skateboard and dreadlocks on the cover! Although it is scarcely more than a booklet, this grammar provides an approachable summary of the standard spoken language, an excellent introduction for the beginner and for the intermediate learner. It is written in English, but useful examples are given to explain the points of grammar simply and effectively. It does not include too much complexity or spoken variation, so it is suitable for almost any learner as long as he or she knows a few grammatical terms. It should be noted that the tendency towards Cymraeg Byw (an artificial standard register of the spoken language) has never been revised in this book since the seventies; in any case, this is the most common teaching medium in Welsh-speaking schools today. The focus is on this unified register rather than on the realities of Welsh dialects or on the literary register. However, a certain amount of dialectical differences are described but without any great depth in terms of specific guidelines, since this is not the principal intention of the book. Neither is there much discussion of the flexibility of the language in its sentence structure. As a result, it successfully avoids too much complexity for learners who are still relatively inexperienced. Yet despite this simplicity, it is not by any means useless to the more experienced learner. Although a better index would be an advantage, in many other respects this book presents the standard language in a simple and understandable way without any of the difficulties arising from giving the learner too much detail. For those who are not looking for too comprehensive a reference book, this one is accessible to all. Talat Chaudhri Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. -- Welsh Books Council