Research on the acquisition of grammatical gender has shown that in many languages children gain an early command of gender. Often in these languages gender marking is quite overt and provides a clear one-to-one correspondence between a marker and the gender encoded. In Welsh, however, gender marking is more complex. It is marked by mutations, a set of morpho-phonological changes that affect the initial consonants of words, and the mapping between mutation and gender is quite opaque. Two mutation types are used to mark feminine gender: both feminine nouns modified by the definite article and adjectives following feminine nouns undergo soft mutation, and the feminine gender of the possessive adjective ‘ei’ is marked by aspirate mutation of the modified noun. This paper presents two studies that examine children’s and adults’ productive command of gender as expressed in the mutation of nouns modified by the definite article, and adjectives modifying nouns. Children, between the ages of 4½ and 9 years old, and adults were invited to take part in the studies. First, a semi-naturalistic study was conducted to obtain knowledge about speakers’ usage of gender marking. A Cloze procedure was then used to elicit speakers’ production of masculine and feminine forms, with both real words and nonsense forms, in a variety of linguistic contexts. Some of these contexts provided cues to gender status, some did not. The data obtained indicated that the acquisition of the Welsh gender system is a long drawn-out process, and children have not mastered the system even by 9 years of age. Welsh speakers, even in adulthood, pay little or no attention to the possible cues present in the input. Results suggest that when a language has a complex gender system that is marked by opaque morpho-phonological processes the course of development is protracted and variable.
(The nature of language acquisition processes in children: Marking grammatical gender in Welsh)
The effects of language frequency on adults knowledge of the Welsh plural system
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of quality and quantity of linguistic input (i.e. to what extent are individuals exposed to a language from different sources during their lives) on Welsh-English bilingual adults’ acquisition of the Welsh plural system. Previous research found differences between bilingual children from different language backgrounds. While it is possible to reduce the difference with an increase in exposure to the language, however, when the structures are complex how quickly (if at all) can any difference be reduced, especially when the system is used inconsistently across adults. However, to what extent these differences reduce is unclear, as no research has been conducted on individuals over age 11. The aim of the study was to assess Welsh-English bilingual adults’ abilities to create plural words in Welsh, in order to trace the extent the differences seen between children have reduced over time.
The psychological foundations of reading fluency: a review
Forty years of research into reading has elucidated many of the psychological processes underpinning the reading process, but until recently, the cognitive underpinnings of fluency have been relatively unknown. In this review, a description is provided of reading fluency as a cognitive and neurobiological phenomenon, including the research that has gone into understanding this process. My own and my colleagues’ work has focused heavily on this area, and I outline our main findings to date. I end by outlining the implications of this work for our understanding of reading fluency in normally developed and dyslexic adults.
‘Nudging is as important as the right to use the language’: behaviour change and Welsh language policy
A behavioural approach to policy has already been applied to a range of public policy challenges. This article explores and develops the relationship between a behavioural approach to policy and the field of language policy and planning. The Welsh Government’s recent language strategies offer some evidence of an embryonic relationship between the two fields, with the ambitious target of a million Welsh speakers offering policy imperative to the application of behavioural insights in support of revitalization efforts. This article explains that efforts to revitalize the Welsh language have depended on an understanding of behaviour that emphasizes the rational characteristics of behaviour. It is argued that this dependence neglects alternative understandings of behaviour and associated nudge policies.
Rôl ataliad mewn dwyieithrwydd
Mae'r prosiect yma yn anelu at edrych ar sut mae pobl ddwyieithog (sy'n rhugl neu yn datblygu eu Cymraeg) yn cael gafael ar ac yn defnyddio pob un o'u hieithoedd. Ar ben hynny, bydd yn edrych ar y rhyngweithio rhwng y ddwy iaith ac, yn benodol, sut mae cael ail iaith (Cymraeg) yn dylanwadu ar berfformiad yn eu hiaith gyntaf (Saesneg). Mae hyn yn bwysig nid yn unig achos bydd yn rhoi mewnwelediad i rôl ataliad mewn prosesu iaith ddwyieithog, ond bydd hefyd yn taflu golau ar sut mae siaradwyr Cymraeg yn dysgu'r iaith ac integreiddio i mewn i'r geiriadur meddwl mewnol, a allai, yn ei dro, yn arwain at strategaethau addysgol a all gynyddu effeithlonrwydd dysgu Cymraeg fel ail iaith. Yr astudiaeth hon yw'r cyntaf i archwilio rôl ataliad mewn pobl ddwyieithog Cymraeg/Saesneg a'r rhai sy'n dysgu Cymraeg fel ail iaith a disgwylir iddo fod yr astudiaeth gyntaf mewn rhaglen ymchwil barhaus. Ariannwyd y gwaith gyda chymorth grant bach gan y Coleg Cymraeg
Performance Anxiety Questionnaire
This resource is designed to provide sports psychology support through the medium of Welsh to Welsh-speaking athletes. The aim is to fully understand performance anxiety.