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List of standardised Welsh place-names

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The list of standardised Welsh place-names is a list compiled by the Welsh Language Commissioner to recommend the standardisation of the spelling of Welsh place-names, particularly in the Welsh language and when multiple forms are used, although some place-names in English were also recommended to be matched with the Welsh. The list contains almost 3,500 entries,[1] as of November 2023.

The list is based on recommendations provided by the Place-names Standardisation Panel, convened by the Commissioner, for expert advice on the standardisation of Welsh place-names. The panel bases their decisions on a set of guidelines (currently dating to June 2023), specific to Welsh settlement names (such as those of villages, towns, and cities) and topographic features (such as lakes, mountains and rivers). The panel does not cover house or building names, although similar principles could be applied to them or on names for new developments (for which the Commissioner offers their own advice to local authorities and housing developers).[2] The panel may also have used additional guidelines.[3]

The list was first published in 2018,[4] and took years to put together.[5] Upon creation, these lists were published under the Open Government Licence 3.0.[6][7]

The list is merely a recommendation towards local authorities, which they retain the power whether to implement the recommendations. The commissioner is not tasked with enforcing the recommendations.[8]

In 2021, Ceredigion County Council announced it would consider implementing the list recommendations of the Commissioner in Ceredigion.[9]

Panel guidelines

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The following is based on the panel's guideline as of June 2023.

The panel tries to follow Welsh language orthography, and recognises the authority of Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru (The University of Wales Dictionary of the Welsh Language) on the matter, following the form the dictionary provides as much as possible. However, the panel decided to recommend the use of a circumflex (long sign) for some names, even if not a Welsh orthographical standard, to "avoid ambiguity and ensure correct pronunciation".[3]

The panel also considered closely following the "Rhestr o Enwau Lleoedd/A Gazetteer of Welsh Place-Names" by Elwyn Davies, as well as previous recommendations of the Welsh Language Board's place-names standardisation team. However, the panel recognised that some entries, since 1967, in the Gazetteer may now be out of date or not representative of the modern "linguistic climate", therefore some place-names may not have to be the same as in the Gazetteer.[3]

The guidance also explained when the panel is to recommend the use of hyphens, an apostrophe or diaeresis, one vs. two words, the use of the Welsh definite article (y/yr/'r), and its relation to emphasis, place-names named after persons, creating new names, recognising local dialects, and dual forms (closely related English and Welsh versions). For English place-names in Wales referring to saints, the guideline also recommends standardisation, for example, St Davids. The panel recommends the omission of the full stop (St.) and the apostrophe (David's), creating the standard form as "St Davids" rather than "St. David's".[3]

The guidelines recommend the standardisation of topographical names that are tautologous, where a name repeats an element. For example, "Llyn" (meaning 'lake') may appear within names, such as Glaslyn,[a] so recommends avoiding Llyn Glaslyn. However, if the tautologous name is commonly used or used to distinguish between other features (for example, between a river and a lake, Llyn Hiraethlyn and Afon Hiraethlyn), then the panel is to respect its use and maintain the name.[3]

The guideline also recommended use of a single form in both Welsh and English, in place of any existing dual forms (where the names in either language are very similar), if there is only a minor difference of one or two letters, with preference being given to the Welsh form of the name. The guidance was based on the recommendations of the Ordnance Survey[10] and highway authorities. However. the guideline states that established variations should be recognised: for example, Caeriw/Carew, Biwmares/Beaumaris, Y Fflint/Flint, and Wrecsam/Wrexham.[3]

In 2023, Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language, stated there is "a strong argument" for using only the Welsh spelling of place-names rather than two versions in English and Welsh, if there is only a minor difference of a "few letters" between them.[11] The protection of Welsh place names forms part of the Welsh Government's 2021 agreement with the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru.[11] The panel has six members.[12]

The Commissioner also advises local authorities or housing developers to avoid mutating place names and integrating the Welsh definite article (y/yr/'r), on road signs in Wales, and to maintain the unmutated form of the name in both languages on signage. For example, using "Croeso, Caernarfon" rather than "Croeso i Gaernarfon", and "Croeso, Y Bala" rather than "Croeso i’r Bala", so one form of the place-name is only needed on the sign. The Commissioner also suggested expanding the welcome phrasing from "Croeso i" (Welcome to) to something longer like "Croeso i bentref" (Welcome to the village of) as another alternative, that would also ensure only "Caernarfon" or "Y Bala" is needed, rather than "Gaernarfon/Caernarfon" and "... i'r Bala" and "Y Bala".[2]

Notable entries

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A selection of entry changes were selected by BBC News in 2018, and they were:[5]

  • Use Abermo in Welsh for Barmouth, over the two Welsh names Abermaw and Y Bermo.
  • Use Aber-porth over Aberporth in both Welsh and English.
  • Use Dyfnant over Dynfant, in Welsh.
  • Use Penlle'r-gaer over Penllergaer in both Welsh and English.
  • Use Pont-Lliw over Pontlliw in both Welsh and English.

"in Welsh" or "in English" means the names in the other language is unaffected, unless under "in both Welsh and English".

The list may have since been altered since 2018 for the entries above.

Lists

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Applications

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The Commissioner only recommends what place-names can be standardised, local authorities hold the responsibility to update signage.

In 2018, the recommendations for Pembrokeshire attracted local criticism,[14] while the Welsh name change of Barmouth, from Abermaw / Y Bermo to Abermo was criticised by a local historian.[15]

In 2023, a similar list was complied for lakes in Snowdonia (Eryri), and approved by Eryri National Park Authority.[16]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In this case, a mutated form

References

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  1. ^ "New! Welsh Place-names | Gweiadur". www.gweiadur.com. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  2. ^ a b "Technical guidance". www.welshlanguagecommissioner.wales. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Guidelines for Standardising Place-names in Wales" (PDF). Welsh Language Commissioner. 19 June 2023.
  4. ^ School, Dr Dylan Foster Evans Head of. "Definitive list of Welsh place names published". Cardiff University. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  5. ^ a b "Welsh Language Commissioner unveils place name list". BBC News. 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  6. ^ "Other resources: Place-names in Wales | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  7. ^ "Welsh Place Names". www.welshlanguagecommissioner.wales. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  8. ^ "Start referring to Welsh cities and towns by their Welsh names" (PDF). business.senedd.wales. Petitions Committee - Welsh Parliament. 15 November 2021. However, the Commissioner's role is to suggest forms and spellings for place-names, rather than to enforce them.
  9. ^ a b Gareth (2021-12-03). "Towns and villages in Ceredigion set to receive official name changes". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  10. ^ "Welsh names policy". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  11. ^ a b "Should some place names be written only in Welsh?". BBC News. 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  12. ^ "Place-names standardisation panel". www.welshlanguagecommissioner.wales. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  13. ^ "Monmouthshire County Council's Welsh Language Standards Annual Monitoring Report 1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023 - Complaints from the Public" (PDF). Monmouthshire County Council. 2023. p. 11. In February 2023 we received a complaint from a member of the public regarding signage for Devauden referring to the town as 'Devauden' only and no Welsh form. Response issued stating that we use the Welsh Language Commissioner's 'Standardised Place Names List' when creating our signage. The standardised form recommended by the Welsh Language Commissioner is 'Devauden' in both English and Welsh.
  14. ^ "Cresselly or Creseli? Pembrokeshire place names could see new standardised spellings". Western Telegraph. 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  15. ^ "Town's Welsh name disputed". Cambrian News. 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  16. ^ Forgrave, Andrew (2023-11-15). "Eryri National Park to use Welsh lake names only to 'safeguard' them for future". North Wales Live. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
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