Francis B
This is going to sound really stupid, but...
An experience i keep having as i learn Welsh:
I see a word like, for example, awdurdod (authority) and think "oh that's weird, why has it got the word for author in it, is got nothing to do with authors" and then half a second later I'm like, "oh, doh! The English word has author in it too..."
But as an English speaker that never stuck out to me in the same way.
I guess it's an exercise in etymology.
Apr 27, 2022 at 7:40pmWeb
Show threaddelythApr 27, 2022
@madarch I do this too, and I learnt Welsh at primary school (a very long time ago). I also do it with words in French and German. It makes language so much more interesting.
Show threadKateApr 27, 2022
@madarch So true! I've noticed exactly the same thing!
Show threadFrancis BApr 27, 2022
@griffinkate @delyth I'm glad it's not just me!
I don't recall having quite the same kind of mental trip-up when I've learned other languages, but my brain was younger then 😉
Show threadKateApr 28, 2022
@madarch @delyth But the older you are when you learn a language, the more it benefits you! Fact!
Show threadAngharadHafodApr 27, 2022

@madarch Happened to me the other day, slightly differently. Not a word I'd just learnt, but my mind was wandering.

Cyd-destun. Context.
Testun - text

But it's more than that. Cyd means together. Con is Italian (and therefore I guess Latin, or derived from) for together, or with.

Show threadFrancis BApr 27, 2022
@AngharadHafod yes, the con prefix is Latin, indicating together, i believe, or adding emphasis in some contexts. I am finding it quite hard to navigate through all the Welsh words starting with cyd- or cyf- and remember what means what. But i will get there! It's a much more regular language than English, so no complaints from me.