Catchphrase 2001 - ail gyfres: Wythnos 61

Week 61, Monday.  Today we’ll learn:
am

I want to draw your attention to one small word in Welsh: am.  Unfortunately, it’s impossible to translate a preposition in one language exactly into another language because their meaning always depends on context.  You can often translate am however as about in English.  I want you to listen to what some of our characters have said in recent Catchphrase programmes to give you idea of the meanings of am.  This is what Guto said last time.

Listen to the dialogue:
Guto - Peidiwch a phoeni am y llungopio am y tro...

Don’t worry ABOUT the photocopying for the moment - AM y llungopio.  Now listen to what Rhys said last week:

Rhys - Dw i wedi bod yn meddwl am fy nghwrs i...

I’ve been thinking ABOUT my course - AM fy nghwrs i.  When Guto wanted to get the new office recruit, Tom, to do some photocopying, he said:

Guto - Beth am Tom?  Dydy e’n gwneud fawr ddim ar hyn o bryd...

What ABOUT Tom? He’s not doing much at the moment - beth AM Tom?  A few weeks ago, Catrin asked for Rhys’ help to get something down from the top shelf in her new kitchen because it was too high for her.

Catrin - Dyna’r peth gwaetha am y gegin newydd ‘ma...

That’s the worst thing ABOUT this new kitchen - y peth gwaetha AM y gegin newydd ’ma.  Remember when Guto was telling the new office recruit, Tom, about Bethan’s foibles? 

Guto - Mae hi’n fwy diog na phawb arall yn y swyddfa.  Mae hi wastad yn cwyno am bethau...

She’s lazier than everyone else in the office.  She’s always complaining ABOUT things - cwyno AM bethau.  Now let’s go back to what Guto said about photocopying:

Guto - Peidiwch â phoeni am y llungopio am y tro...

Am y tro - (FOR the moment).  Am often translates as for as well as about - AM y tro. Here’s another example, when the reporter thanked Rhys for providing his damning quotes on the health service:

Gohebydd - Diolch yn fawr am eich amser chi.

Thank you very much FOR your time - diolch yn fawr AM eich amser chi.  So am often means in English for or about.  But remember it all depends on context.  If you want to say this book is for you - mae’r llyfr ’ma i chi.  This is because ‘is for’ refers to people - we always use i.  And if about means approximately, it’s tua.  Mae tua deg gyda fi - (I’ve got about ten).  There’s another important use of am which we haven’t mentioned - in connection with time.  This is what Guto told Bethan a couple of weeks ago:

Guto - Bethan, rhaid i fi fynd i gyfarfod pwysig iawn am un ar ddeg o’r gloch y bore ’ma...

I’ve got to go to an important meeting AT eleven o’clock this morning - AM un ar ddeg o’r gloch.  Don’t let these different meanings confuse you.  They are in fact quite easy to learn.  The best thing is always to learn words in context.

Week 16, Tuesday.  Today we’ll learn:
amdana i, gweld ein gilydd, dim cymaint, newid cyfeiriad, dw i’n feddwl

We’ve seen that the Welsh word am can have different meanings according to context.  Like ar, am also changes its form according to the person that follows.  You will remember we say arna i for on me.  Am changes to amdana before i.  Beth amdana i? - (what about me?)  Wyt ti’n meddwl amdana i? - (are you thinking about me, or thinking of me).  A quick look at some vocabulary.  You’ve met it all before, but not quite in the same context.  Cyfeiriad is an address, but it can also mean direction.  You could use it with the verb newid - to change - newid cyfeiriad - (to change direction).  Very early in last year’s Catchphrase course we heard the phrase ’dyn ni ddim yn siarad a’n gilydd - (we’re not talking to each other).  So ein gilydd means each other.  Therefore, gweld ein gilydd, a phrase you’ll hear later, means... yes, to see each other.  ’Dyn ni’n gweld ein gilydd yn aml - (we see each other often).  Cymaint is a word we’ve seen in the sense of so much or so many.  Mae cymaint o bobl yma - (there’s so many people here).  Dim cymaint has the meaning of not so much, or not as much.  You’re very familiar with dw i’n meddwl - (I think).  This could also be translated as I mean.  Rhys is talking to Diane on the phone and explaining his planned career change.

Listen to the dialogue:
Diane - S’mae, Rhys, sut wyt ti?  Wyt ti wedi bod yn meddwl amdana i?
Rhys - Ydw.  Yy, Diane... Dw i wedi penderfynu newid cyfeiriad.
Diane - Beth wyt ti’n feddwl, Rhys?  Newid cyfeiriad?
Rhys - Nyrsio, dw i’n meddwl.  Dw i wedi diflasu arno fe.  Dw i eisiau bod yn newyddiadurwr.
Diane - Fyddi di’n gadael y coleg?
Rhys - Bydda, debyg.
Diane - Fyddwn ni ddim yn gweld ein gilydd?
Rhys - Dim cymaint, efallai.
Diane - Beth amdana i?  Dwyt ti ddim yn poeni amdana i, wyt ti? 
Rhys - Ydw... yy... wrth gwrs … yy …

Oh dear, sounds as though Rhys is in a bit of a pickle!  Diane asks him: wyt ti wedi bod yn meddwl amdana i? - (have you been thinking about me?)  The answer is, naturally, ydw - (yes), I have.  Now comes the awkward bit.  Dw i wedi penderfynu newid cyfeiriad - (I’ve decided to change direction).  Diane is not sure what he means.  Nyrsio, dw i’n meddwl - (Nursing, I mean - dw i’n meddwl).  Dw i wedi diflasu arno - (I’m bored with it).  Dw i eisiau bod yn newyddiadurwr - (I want to be a journalist).  Fyddi di’n gadael y coleg? - (will you be leaving college?)  Bydda, debyg - (Yes I will, I suppose).  Fyddwn ni ddim yn gweld ein gilydd? - (won’t we see each other?)  Dim cymaint, efallai - (not much, I suppose).  Beth amdana i? - (what about me?)  Dwyt ti ddim yn poeni amdana i - (you don’t worry about me.) 

Week 16, Wednesday.  Today we’ll learn:
amdanat ti, amdanoch chi, aros am

’Dych chi’n meddwl amdana i? - (are you thinking of me?)  Before ti, am becomes amdanat - amdanat ti.  Dw i’n meddwl amdanat ti - (I’m thinking of you).  Maen nhw’n ysgrifennu amdanat ti - (they’re writing about you).  Darllenodd hi amdanat ti - (she read about you).  Ti is the familiar form of you, of course.  Before chi, am becomes amdanoch - amdanoch chi.  Beth amdanoch chi? - (what about you?)  The verb aros, to wait, is another that tends to be followed by am.  Aros am - (to wait for).  ’Dych chi’n mynd i aros amdana i? - (are you going to wait for me?)  Arhosodd e ddim amdanoch chi? - (he didn’t wait for you?)  The next conversation takes place between Catrin and her mother-in-law, Glenys.  Notice that Catrin continues to address her mother-in-law, whom she actually calls Mam - (Mother) - as chi, the polite formal form of you.  Chi is a term of respect, especially among older generations.  Most young people now call their parents ti.  In turn, Glenys calls Catrin ti, not because she doesn’t respect her - here, it is the normal way of addressing your offspring, or someone in the family you are close to. Catrin and Glenys are comparing notes on their health.

Listen to the dialogue:
Catrin - Helo, Mam. ’Dych chi’n teimlo’n well?
Glenys - Ydw, diolch.
Catrin - Ro’n i’n meddwl amdanoch chi ddoe, a dweud y gwir.  Ro’n i’n darllen am bobl sâl mewn 
cylchgrawn.
Glenys - O, hyfryd.  Diolch am feddwl amdana i!  Gyda llaw, beth amdanat ti?  Ro’t ti’n sâl hefyd...
Catrin - O’n, ond dw i’n llawer gwell, diolch.
Glenys - Wyt ti eisiau mynd i siopa gyda fi, te?
Catrin - Ydw.
Glenys - Bydda i’n aros amdanat ti yma.
Catrin - Iawn.

’Dych chi’n teimlo’n well? - (are you feeling better?)  Ydw, diolch - (yes thanks).  Ro’n i’n meddwl amdanoch chi ddoe - (I was thinking about you yesterday ) - a dweud y gwir - (to be honest).  Ro’n i’n darllen am bobl sâl mewn cylchgrawn - (I was reading about ill people in a magazine).  What a nice thought!  O hyfryd, Glenys says - lovely!  Diolch am feddwl amdana i - (thank you for thinking about me).  Gyda llaw - (by the way) - beth amdanat ti? - (what about you?) - ro’t ti’n sâl hefyd - (you were ill as well).  O’n - (yes I was).  Ond dw i’n llawer gwell, diolch - (but I’m a lot better, thanks).  Sounds like the perfect opportunity to Glenys - she asks: wyt ti eisiau mynd i siopa gyda fi? - (do you want to go shopping with me?)  Ydw - (Yes I do).  Bydda i’n aros amdanat ti yma - (I’ll wait for you here). 

Week 16, Thursday.  Today we’ll learn:
amdano fe, amdani hi, yn lle, yn ei le fe, dim eto

So far, we’ve met these forms of the preposition am: amdana i, amdanat ti, and amdanoch chi.  We’ll look at fe and hi today, he and she.  Before e am becomes amdano.  Amdano fe.  Beth amdano fe? - (what about him?)  The form before hi is amdani.  Amdani hi.  Beth wyt ti’n mynd i ysgrifennu amdani hi? - (what are you going to write about her?)  We’ve had the phrases beth bynnag and beth bynnag am hynny before - they mean anyway.  Beth bynnag am hynny is often shortened in speech to beth bynnag am ’ny.  A new phrase: yn lle - (instead of).  Yn lle gyrru, ’dyn ni’n mynd i gerdded - (instead of driving, we’re going to walk).  If, however, you want to say instead of him, for example, you have to use the possessive form. Yn ei le fe - (instead of him).  ’Dw i’n mynd i yrru yn ei le fe - (I’m going to drive instead of him).  Guto is heaping more work on Bethan in the office.  How will she react?

Listen to the dialogue:
Guto - Iawn, Bethan, dyma ragor o waith llungopio i ti.
Bethan - O, Guto!  Dim eto!  Rhaid i’r adran ’ma dalu amdano fe i gyd, ti’n gwybod?
Guto - Dw i’n gwybod.  Paid â phoeni amdano fe.  Bydda i’n gofalu amdano fe.
Bethan - Beth bynnag am ’ny, bydd rhaid i ti aros amdano fe.  Dw i’n mynd i gyfarfod gyda Mr Huws.  
Guto - Hm. Dw i’n mynd i ysgrifennu adroddiad amdani hi.  Ond, am y tro, dw i ddim yn gallu aros.  
Tom, wyt ti’n gallu gwneud y gwaith yn ei lle hi?
Tom - O’r gorau.

Dyma ragor o waith llungopio i ti - (here’s some more photocopying for you).  Notice Guto says, gwaith llungopio for photocopying, literally photocopying work.  Bethan doesn’t sound very pleased to get it.  Dim eto - (not again).  Rhaid i’r adran ’ma dalu amdano fe i gyd, ti’n gwybod - (this department has got to pay for it all, you know).  Guto is not concerned.  Paid â phoeni amdano fe - (don’t worry about it). Bydda i’n gofalu amdano fe - (I’ll look after it, I’ll take care of it).  Bethan is not going to be cornered like that.  Beth bynnag am ’ny - (anyway) - bydd rhaid i ti aros amdano fe - (you’ll have to wait for it).  Dw i’n mynd i gyfarfod gyda Mr Huws - (I’m going into a meeting with Mr Huws).  Guto wonders how he can get his own back: dw i’n mynd i ysgrifennu adroddiad amdani hi - (I’m going to write a report about her). Ond, am y tro - (but for the moment) - dw i ddim yn gallu aros - (I can’t wait).  So he asks a favour of the new office recruit.  Wyt ti’n gallu gwneud y gwaith yn ei lle hi? - (can you do the work instead of her?), or simply: can you do the work instead?

Week 16, Friday.  Today we’ll learn:
amdanon ni, amdanyn nhw, o’i le, ein gilydd, hunanol, trin

There are just two forms of am left to learn.  Before ni, am becomes amdanon - amdanon ni.  Beth amdanon ni? - (what about us?)  Before nhw it becomes amdanyn - dw i’n meddwl amdanyn nhw - (I’m thinking about them).  We can now go through all the forms of am.  Amdana i, amdanat ti, amdano fe, amdani hi, amdanon ni, amdanoch chi, amdanyn nhw.  Remember the phrase: fyddwn ni ddim yn gweld ein gilydd - (we won’t see each other).  Ein gilydd means each other when you’re talking about us.  If you’re talking about them, you say ei gilydd - fyddan nhw ddim yn gweld ei gilydd - (they won’t see each other).  Earlier on this course we had the phrase dod ymlaen gyda’i gilydd which means to get on with each other.  Maen nhw’n dod ymlaen gyda’i gilydd - (they get on with each other).  Again, ei gilydd can only refer to them.  If you’re referring to us, you have to say ein gilydd.  ’Dyn ni’n dod ymlaen gyda’n gilydd - (we’re getting on with each other).  Remember the phrase: beth sy o’i le? - (What’s wrong?)  O’i le can be used in other places, too, meaning wrong.  Literally, it means out of place.  Dw i ddim yn gwneud dim byd o’i le - (I’m not doing anything wrong).  A couple of completely new words: hunanol - (selfish).  And trin - to treat (a person).  Mae Catrin eisiau siarad â Guto... 

Listen to the dialogue:
Catrin - Guto, dw i eisiau gair gyda ti.
Guto - Am beth?
Catrin - Am y teulu.
Guto - Y teulu?  Beth am y teulu?
Catrin - ’Dyn ni ddim yn dod ymlaen gyda’n gilydd.
Guto - Dw i ddim yn gwneud dim byd o’i le!
Catrin - O, Guto! Paid â bod mor hunanol.  Rwyt ti’n ymosod ar Rhys trwy’r amser.
Guto - Fi?  Mae pobl eraill yn trin eu plant nhw yr un fath.
Catrin - ’Sdim ots amdanyn nhw.  Dw i’n siarad amdanon ni, Guto.

Dw i eisiau gair gyda ti - (I want a word with you).  Am beth? -  (About what?)  Am y teulu - (about the family).  ’Dyn ni ddim yn dod ymlaen gyda’n gilydd - (we’re not getting on together).  Guto is on the defensive: dw i ddim yn gwneud dim byd o’i le! - (I’m not doing anything wrong!)  Paid â bod mor hunanol, Catrin tells him - don’t be so selfish.  Rwyt ti’n ymosod ar Rhys trwy’r amser - (you’re attacking Rhys all the time).  Mae pobl eraill yn trin eu plant nhw yr un fath - (other people treat their children the same). ’Sdim ots amdanyn nhw - (it doesn’t matter about them).  Dw i’n siarad amdanon ni - (I’m talking about us).