"==========================================================================". Rest of header flushed. From: Dewi Evans Subject: Cymysgfa To: Multiple recipients of list WELSH-L Annwyl bawb, Efallai y byddai o ddiddordeb yng nghyswllt y cwestiwn a godwyd unwaith eto ynghylch tarddiad y gair 'Taffy' i ddyfynnu ambell ddarn o lyfr digon diddorol gan w+r o'r enw J.O. Bartley, sef _Teague, Shenkin and Sawney: Being an Historical Study of the Earliest Irish, Welsh and Scottish Characters in English plays_. Dyma dalfyriad yr awdur o nodweddion cymeriadau Cymreig mewn drama+u Saesneg cynnar (1592-1659): According to English notions the Welsh were emotional and fiery. They were filled with national and family pride, claimed descent from the Trojans or Greeks, and were much exercised about pedigrees. Their names contained 'ap' and were lengthy. They habitually addressed other Welshmen, and often persons who were not Welsh as 'cousin'. They were addicted to thievery and litigation. Their main drink was metheglin [h.y. meddyglyn = medd], but they also used perry and whey. The leek was their emblem, and was also eaten, as were onions and garlic. They loved cheese passionately, especially when toasted. They were armed with the Welsh hook or forest bill. Their instrument was the harp and they had a famous song called 'sidanen'. They were very proud of the 'great organ' at Wrexham. When they visited London, they liked to see Saint Paul's. Their favourite oaths were "by Saint Taffy" and "Cats plutter a nail". They dwelt among mountains which harboured conies and where they kept goats. They had small cattle called 'runts'. They manufactured and wore frieze and flannel. Ceir digon o gyfeiriadau at St. Tavy neu St. Taffie am Ddewi/Ddafydd Sant, ac ymddengys mai "God's blood and his nails" oedd ystyr yr ebychiad arall uchod (nad yw'n digwydd ond mewn dwy ddrama). Mae'n ddiddorol sylwi fod yr ymadrodd "look you" yn gyfarwydd yn Saesneg y Cymry, hyd yn oed yr adeg yma. Am yr iaith ei hun: The use of Welsh in the plays shows that this language was much better known in England than Gaelic, and indeed it is so freely used as to suggest that a smattering of Welsh was to be counted on in a theatre audience - perhaps as much as the smattering of French which seems to be expected from a London audience to-day. Not only do many Welsh words and phrases occur, but in _Patient Grissil_ there are complete exchanges in Welsh, to say nothing of the Welsh dialogue missing from _Henry IV_. ... There are also a few examples of a word or two of Welsh being introduced where there is no reference to Wales. On the whole the Welsh is remarkably correct, though there are one or two very obscure passages. Dyma rai enghreifftiau: "Belly the ruddo whee: wrage witho, Mandag eny mon du ac whellock en wea awh" [Pa le yr ydych chwi, wraig weddw, mae'n dda genny, myn Duw, eich gweled yn wych] "A breath vawer ar no tee" [Y frech fawr arnat ti] "Tawson en ennoh twewle" [Taw (a+) son, yn enw'r diawl] "Avedera whee comrage" [A fedrwch chwi Gymraeg]. Ar destun hollol wahanol: i'r rhai ohonoch oedd yn meddwl prynu gramadeg newydd Gareth King, mae gramadeg arall newydd ei gyhoeddi yn ddiweddar, sef David A. Thorne, A Comprehensive Welsh Grammar / Gramadeg Cymraeg Cynhwysfawr. Fe'i cyhoeddir gan Blackwell am bymtheg punt. Fe'i hysgrifennwyd yn Saesneg, ac mae'n ymddangos i mi yn llawer gwell na'r llall. Cofion, Dewi.