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National park authority told to ditch name of Snowdon for Welsh language version

27 Apr 2021 2 minute read
Yr Wyddfa. The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

A national park authority has been told to ditch the name of Snowdon for the Welsh language version.

Councillor John Roberts has put forward a motion that urges park authorities to only refer to the highest mountain in Wales mountain at 3,560ft, by its Welsh name, Yr Wyddfa.

The motion, put forward ahead of a council meeting taking place tomorrow, also suggests that Snowdonia National Park Authority only refer to itself as Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri.

Roberts, who represents Corris and Mawddwy, believes ”all down to respect” for the Welsh language and Wales.

He said that he hopes a decision will be made at the meeting ”and that they don’t kick the can down the road.”

The motion, brought by Councillor John Roberts states: “That the authority hereafter uses only the authority’s Welsh name for the authority and that this becomes relevant in any language i.e. ‘Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri’ and never uses ‘Snowdonia National Park’ again.

“The same should apply to ‘Yr Wyddfa’ – never to use the name ‘Snowdon’ for it again.”

Councillor Roberts said: “Members of the authority complain about people coming here and changing house names to English ones.

“I say we should lead by example. I’m proud of being a Welshman and it’s my first language so I say we should respect it.

“If you go to France or Italy or any other country they respect their language and we should do the same.”


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Julia Francis
Julia Francis
3 years ago

Why not seems like a fair idea

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago

Dw i’n cytuno efo fo cant y cant.

James W. Soares Jones
3 years ago

Use both, always using Cymraeg first. That would be respectful to both language speakers, and teach those who aren’t familiar with Yr Wyddfa.
I didn’t know the Welsh name! Diolch.

Tasha
Tasha
3 years ago

Well said I was going to suggest that 👏 im in the Welsh valleys and all our street names and sign posts have welsh first English below

Erisian
Erisian
3 years ago

Time to take back the vast majority of place names. Nothing difficult about Abertawe is there? Perhaps road signs should have pronunciation hints rather than english names!

Medtech
Medtech
3 years ago
Reply to  Erisian

Exactly from Llandybie

Brian Coman
Brian Coman
3 years ago

The BBC and other media will still call it Snowdon..with their difficul:ties with
saying any Welsh place names.

Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas
3 years ago
Reply to  Brian Coman

Tes, they cant even pronounce Rhondda.

Pauline Evans
Pauline Evans
3 years ago
Reply to  Martin Thomas

True. Every time I hear them mispronouncing an easy Welsh name I want to scream (and also beat them round the head with a brick)

Brian Williams
Brian Williams
3 years ago
Reply to  Pauline Evans

As an Englishman living in Wales I feel the same. Now, if it was a French name …

Last edited 3 years ago by Brian Williams
Sarita
Sarita
3 years ago
Reply to  Pauline Evans

Wow beating people about the head for mispronouncing something, you need mental health help pronto before you kill someone

John
John
3 years ago
Reply to  Pauline Evans

Why would you be so angry when English people aren’t educated in Welsh spelling conventions. That seems an extreme reaction.

Tasha
Tasha
3 years ago
Reply to  Pauline Evans

Yes it drives me insane ystrad Mynach is a great one people can’t pronounce

Huw Prys Jones
Huw Prys Jones
3 years ago

What could make a real difference would be for the National Park to adopt ‘Parc Eryri’ as its only official name. This would force all official bodies – including the BBC – to use Eryri. It would also send a clear message that we are serious about defending our heritage, culture and environment.

Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis
3 years ago

Seems like a logical thing to do. Hope you achieve this soon.

Ieuan Evans
Ieuan Evans
3 years ago

About time for it to happen

Sean K
Sean K
3 years ago

A few missing facts here, like *which* council, for example (presumably Gwynedd) and whether the unnamed council has any control over what the Park Authority does anyway. Shouldn’t everything already be in Welsh?

Vivian Parry Williams
Vivian Parry Williams
3 years ago

Da iawn John. Dim ond y dechreuad i wyrdroi’r anghyfiawnder hwn yw hyn.

Mitford Williams
Mitford Williams
3 years ago

Absolutely the right thing to do. In NZ a lot of the name places have been reverted back to their original Maori.

Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas
3 years ago

Even though I can only speak Welsh typyn bach, this is a fantastic idea.

Richard Sheehy
Richard Sheehy
3 years ago

Cytuno yn llwyr!

Simon
Simon
3 years ago
Reply to  Richard Sheehy

Is that all we have to worry about during the pandemic. Well done.

Last edited 3 years ago by Simon
Lorcan
Lorcan
3 years ago

100% support Wales’s language, but I don’t see any issue in a country that’s bilingual using a name in either language for different things. I speak Irish and English, but I’m never gonna call Dublin “Baile Atha Cliadh” it’s just Dublin to me. Both terms have a different etymology, it’s not simply an anglicisation. I think Snowdonia is an absolutely epic name for a place. However if the inhabitants want it only known by the Welsh name then nobody should say otherwise, all support to celtic languages.

Anon
Anon
3 years ago

Of course you should use the Welsh name – when you’re speaking Welsh. Ironic that he referred to Italy by its English name and not the Italian.

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Some forgotten Welshnames:

Strathcyde – Ystrad Clud

Edinburgh – Caeredin

Northern England – Yr Hen Ogledd

Catterick (N. Yorkshire) – Catraeth

Welsh (or Briton) was spoken throughout Northern England, Lake District, Strathclyde

Carol Jones
Carol Jones
3 years ago

Dwin cytuno yn llwyr. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Stephen Thomas
Stephen Thomas
3 years ago

So it originally got its name from the Saxons “Snow Dun”
Is it true that Snowden in Welsh
Yr Wyddfa Fawr translates to great throne or great tomb?
The Prince of North Wales didn’t have a issue being called Lord of Snowdonia.

I’m all for countries to keep their mother tongue going and changing names of places where needed. More facts and transparency though.
Don’t be doing a tRump on us just to get your name in lights.
Bilingual with Welsh always first is just as good

Carwyn
Carwyn
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Thomas

The Welsh name ‘Yr Wyddfa’ means grave and it is believed that the giant Rhita Gawr was buried on the mountain. ‘Snowdon’ comes from Saxon “snow dune” meaning “snow hill”.
(https://www.eryri.llyw.cymru/addysg-education/primary-education/snowdonia/snowdon)

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Thomas

What’s wrong with calling it ERYRI NATIONAL PARK?

Mark Lovibond
Mark Lovibond
1 year ago
Reply to  Stephen Thomas

It never was Snowden! its Snowdon

Gethin
Gethin
3 years ago

I’m all for this, it’s not hard to say Yr Wyddda phonetically – ‘err withva’. We don’t refer to the highest peak in Europe as ‘white mountain’ after all

Shirli Meakin
Shirli Meakin
3 years ago
Reply to  Gethin

Thanks for the phonetic pronunciation. I try very hard but am making very slow progress . Writing down this way as well always helps . Diolch

Cymro ar wasgar
Cymro ar wasgar
3 years ago

We know too well that historically speaking the English have tried and tried to turn us into little copies of themselves by depriving us of the elements of nationhood. Fel y dyweda Dafydd Iwan, ” Er gwaethaf pawb a phopeth ry’ni yma o hyd. Heb iaith heb obaith. Does dim angen enwau Saesneg o gwbl yng Nghymru.

Trevor John Whitehead
Trevor John Whitehead
3 years ago

Seems perfectly reasonable to me. Why should everything be anglicised? Keep the Welsh language alive. Just for the record; I’m English.

Anest Jones
Anest Jones
3 years ago

Cytuno’n llwyr

It will always remain as Snowdon, even if changed.

It will remain as Snowdon even if changed..

Madog
Madog
3 years ago

Some forgotten Welshnames:

Strathcyde – Ystrad Clud

Edinburgh – Caeredin

Northern England – Yr Hen Ogledd

Catterick (N. Yorkshire) – Catraeth

Welsh (or Briton) was spoken throughout Northern England, Lake District, Strathclyde

Jackie Morris
Jackie Morris
3 years ago

Absolutely ridiculous. It has been and still is known the world over as Snowden. There is no need to go overboard with this absurd idea of changing the names of everything. Next you will be insisting we all change our names to a Welsh one!😡

Mar
Mar
3 years ago
Reply to  Jackie Morris

Yes I agree, it about time that they spent time and money on doing urgent things!!, like bringing Caernarfon to what it used to be, and spend money over the Aber, the Foryd, and othe other surrunding places, and like scraping Snowden for y Wyddfa, what for!! It ridiculous!!
By the way, I’m welsh born, and very proud of my welsh, but wasting time and money, come on!!! It will always be Snowden.

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Mar

I bet you can’t even speak your own language and have made no effort to learn it! Yeah let’s just change all welsh names into English.

Yr Wyddfa am byth!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Yr Wyddfa am byth!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
3 years ago
Reply to  Jackie Morris

But that’s exactly what’s happened to Wales over the centuries. They changed the names everywhere! And as for changing our own names to Welsh names, that’s a really good idea!

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Jackie Morris

What a stupid comment! People like yourself are so ignorant and disrepectful!

Mark Lovibond
Mark Lovibond
1 year ago
Reply to  Jackie Morris

It never was Snowden! its Snowdon

Edward Lloyd-Hughes
Edward Lloyd-Hughes
3 years ago

The anglicisation of Cymru is an insidious poison to be resisted at every turn. This proposal is to universally supported.

David Mundow
David Mundow
3 years ago

Drop “Wales” too based on its supposed origin but then we couldn’t enjoy that Catatonia song 🙂
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/wales/articles/find-out-how-wales-got-its-name/

Last edited 3 years ago by David Mundow
Carwyn
Carwyn
3 years ago
Reply to  David Mundow

Also I’d suggest getting rid of the word “Cardiff” because it’s just an anglosised noise! similar to Caerdydd and keep Caerdydd as the name of the main city of Cymru…. Which opens up the option for every other village, town, city etc to restore and display only the Original Cymraeg title…

Annwyn Lewis
Annwyn Lewis
3 years ago

Mae deddf yr iaith Gymraeg yn rhoi cydraddoldeb i’r ddwy iaith ond yw e? Felly na ddylai’r ddwy iaith fod yn gyfartal? Pwy sy’n mynd i dalu busnesau sy’n gorfod newid eu cynnyrch/ gwaith papur/ pamffledi? Does dim ots gyda fi’n bersonol os ydy’r Gymraeg yn unig yn cael ei ddefnyddio ond man a man gofyn y cwestiwn. Tase rhywun yn mynnu Saesneg yn unig fase ddigon o ffys a ffwdan. Does dim eisiau safonau dwbl oes e.

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Annwyn Lewis

Ond mea’n bwysig cadw enwau Cymraeg a dyle yr enw Cymraeg for yn gynta. Ac yn Saesneg dyle’r enw fod yn ‘ERYRI National Park’

stub Mandrel
3 years ago

As a Welsh person wo as lived in England, I can honestly say that if you think more than 2% of the English would notice te change, you are sady mistaken.

Grant
Grant
3 years ago
Reply to  stub Mandrel

Your probably true ,that being though 55 million people in England compared to 3.1 in Wales .. so no surprise there …

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  stub Mandrel

We don’t think this. We just want to keep Welsh names. What’s the big deal? It’s important for us. We don’t care what the 98% think.

simon king
simon king
3 years ago

Snowflakes at again.

Holger Heuss
Holger Heuss
3 years ago

As someone who seriously struggles learning Welsh…

Why is there even a debate? Be proud of your heritage, culture and language- and defend it.
There is a tendency to translate other languages- let the BBC do that if they feel like it.

For me it will always be Köln and München and no derivative of it.

kevin scallan
kevin scallan
3 years ago

Totally ridiculous when the majority of the population of Wales 1st language is English and don’t see Welsh as being there language , pandering to the minority yet again !!!!!

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  kevin scallan

Before commenting on other’s language, please learn your own language correctly first. ‘there language’ has no meaning. This is no pandering to the minority you ignorant fool.

Anon
Anon
3 years ago

That’s fine but I don’t see what all the fuss is about. I tried learning the language when I moved there, but everytime I tried to use it in shops where people clearly spoke Welsh, they switched to English, and looked at me funny. Seems the Welsh don’t want anyone else learning their language

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Anon

‘switched to English and looked at me funny’ If you are so insecure, maybe learning another language isn’t for you. Be confident and show them you are trying.

Alun
Alun
3 years ago

About time ,let’s stop the anglicisation of Welsh names in our country. Cytuno’n llwyr.

jacinta jones
jacinta jones
3 years ago

It’s hard for people to imagine a mountain as sad, but l think this one will be happy again now

Judith Gabriel
Judith Gabriel
3 years ago

All for Wales reverting back to Welsh (about time) but, is this all they have to worry about at this time. Why not use Welsh first then English (like many signs in Wales are) and everyone will be happy.

Tasha
Tasha
3 years ago

Its about time as a proud Welsh woman I feel we should have our language recognised did you know in the UK the Welsh language is classes as a foreign language the Welsh language dates back thousands of years its a compulsory subject in schools around Wales it should be recognised as a British language

Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Tasha

Some forgotten Welshnames:

Strathcyde – Ystrad Clud

Edinburgh – Caeredin

Northern England – Yr Hen Ogledd

Catterick (N. Yorkshire) – Catraeth

Welsh (or Briton) was spoken throughout Northern England, Lake District, Strathclyde

Last edited 3 years ago by Madog
Blackdog
Blackdog
3 years ago

‘The name Snowden should never be used again…’ ? Just use both eh ? Welsh speakers can address it in Welsh and the far greater number of english speaking Welsh and English people can call it Snowdon. I am Welsh by birth but not Welsh speaking and do not believe a culture is ever exclusively defined by just its language. Millions of pounds spent in Wales on sending out all governmrnt forms in both welsh and english so double the amount of paper and half of which is wasted and simply to politically appease a tiny percentage ( – 15%)… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Blackdog
Madog
Madog
3 years ago
Reply to  Blackdog

So you are advocating no written document in Welsh. Oh! Yeah great idea…
Why the disdain for your own language & culture?

William Herbert
William Herbert
3 years ago

It will still be called Snowdon by 90% of visitors.

Madog
Madog
3 years ago

But people in the US have started calling Mt McKinley Denali for some time. So what’s your point?

William Herbert
William Herbert
3 years ago

What are you going to call Mt Everest

Madog
Madog
3 years ago

Chomolungma of course.

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