Cyfres Amdani: Croesi'r Bont

by Zoe pettinger

A book for Welsh learners, Intermediate Level. A collection of short stories with a good pinch of humour, by an author who has learnt Welsh herself.

Genres: Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2022

Reviews

[Berengaria]

4 stars

short review for busy readers:
A Canolradd (intermediate/B1) reader for learners of Welsh. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 It contains 5 fairly decent stories based on Welsh idioms in various genres, often with a bit of humour. Some grammar and phrases are from Uwch (advanced/B2) so might be a bit challenging for those just entering Canolradd.

in detail:
I found a few of the stories hard to follow in places because some details didn't seem to make sense... until the end when the twist arrives. THEN it all makes sense, but it made me question how well I was understanding the text while reading.

That's perhaps not entirely helpful for learners who may be struggling with the level, as I was a bit.

Language:
Some forms are used quite often, including the conditional (baswn/taswn), future perfect (she will have done/bydd hi wedi gwnaed) and a few other grammar elements found in Uwch, which probably will be unfamiliar to Canolradd level readers.

The vocabulary is also a few steps beyond what one is used to in Sylfaen with a number of abstract or idiomatic words and phrases being used that you might find in newspaper articles or blogs by native speakers.

In general, this collection of stories will be challenging material for new Canolradd readers, but they are very likely to finish the book with an excellent understanding of the conditional and a good amount of new vocabulary!

[Robyn]

My Canolradd tutor assigned a story from this each week as gwaith cartref, then we discussed in class. She wasn't terribly happy at some of the grammar construction used, as she said it's Uwch level, and I wasn't ecstatic over the amount of unfamiliar vocabulary I had to keep stopping to look up. But at least the stories covered a wide range.

[Elizabeth]

My first Amdani Canolradd read! Honestly quite surprised this hasn't been reviewed yet. I met the author at my chosen Cwrs Dwys this year, where she gave a fascinating talk on her journey learning Welsh in the noughties (which also led to becoming a tutor with the course provider that taught her) so I wanted to read this not long after completing my summer studies.

Croesi'r Bont is recommended at Uned 4 of the official Intermediate course. Even though I haven't technically started Canolradd yet, short stories are easier to digest and I felt rather emboldened by Sgŵp and the other recent books I've completed (even if some of them were aimed at kids). Well, it's definitely a step up from Sylfaen! I wasn't checking the GPC app for every other page, but there was enough there to keep it on stand-by. Lots of De dialect too, rather than Gogledd - I don't struggle too much with those differences usually but I did have to re-read and sound out a few sentences particularly in the last story.

Zoe Pettinger has used Welsh idioms as prompts for the five stories and it's easy to see where they relate. Most are quite light-hearted with the exception of the first, which is pretty sinister, and most of the themes are quite commonplace in learners' literature.

The first entry did have a very unique take on the 'moving home' topic, which I liked. I also enjoyed the third entry, and really liked the canteen scene in the fifth one purely for its OTT humour. The issue is (and I can only speak for myself) is that I often caught myself thinking "right, another pub trip/Welsh class/dodgy git in a posh suit encroaching on the local community, everyone's all present and correct including the haughty bloke, the swot, the shy one, the knobhead, etc". Even a Star Wars parallel or a haunted house (or the aforementioned canteen scene) wasn't really enough to stop me thinking it. I certainly don't disagree with making the story relatable or bringing political issues to light, far from it, but I've read so many short stories on these themes now (from the same points-of-view) that they're starting to wear a bit thin. Absolutely fine if it works for you - again, just one reader's opinion here - but it did affect my rating on this occasion.

But it is a keeper, and I'll certainly revisit in Canolradd.

3.5/5

[Robyn]

Audible audiobook discounted | the GoodReads librarians are too far behind to ask them to add the audio edition, so I'm just using this. After reading each story in text, I listened to it on audiobook, to improve my auditory comprehension. Good recording, clear and with good emphasis.

[Mark Phillips]

As a Welsh Learner at Canolradd (Intermediate) level, I found “Croesi’r Bont” to be an excellent opportunity to develop my Welsh vocabulary, to learn about the construction of spoken Welsh phrases and to understand more about idioms and proverbs in Welsh. As I found out, the literal translation is not always a word for word translation.
The vocabulary was quite challenging but that was generally a plus as it encouraged me to learn many new words and phrases. There is a dictionary at the end of the book, which is very helpful, but for me it could have been expanded. The words in the dictionary at the end of the book, are also detailed at the bottom of the page that they are used in. This is really useful as it means that you don’t have to keep referring to the end of the book every time you run into an unfamiliar word.
The five short stories in the Book were all readable, enjoyable and mostly light hearted. For me, I was more interested in the use of the language within the stories than the stories themselves.
All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone at an intermediate level or beyond, and as the author was herself a Welsh learner, it shows what can be aspired to.

[Nicola Michelle]

My first Canolradd book! I was a little hesitant because I was worried it may be a massive step up for me but it wasn’t too bad at all! I surprised myself and even though it was a challenge, it was the perfect amount not to discourage me whilst teaching me lots of new vocab too that I hadn’t come across yet.

The story itself was interesting enough to hold me whilst providing a valuable teaching and learning opportunity as I went a long. I’ve honestly been surprised at how much my reading has come along lately and I’m excited to carry on and keep learning / shaping this skill! (My speaking Welsh however currently leaves a lot to be desired! We’ll get there!)

[Elisabeth]

Storiau byr a gwahanol ar gyfer dysgwyr lefel sylfaen, gan awdir sydd wedi dysgu Cymraeg ei hunan. Llyfr bach neis!

[Gary Williams]

This is a collection of five short stories. The stories aren't related to each other. I liked this a lot because the level seemed right for the middle of lefel Canolradd. I had tried to read it earlier but it was just a little too difficult to be enjoyable, but by half way through the Canolradd course it was just right. I had to look up some words but not so many as the flow of the story was lost. I also enjoyed the stories, especially the one that had a bit of a sci-fi link. There aren't many sci-fi books for learners, or I haven't found them, so that was a plus. The stories are interesting in themselves, I must admit I stopped reading some learners books because the story wasn't my thing. All these books have a geirfa in the back, and this book also has some nice illustrations. Definitely one of the better books in the series.

[Martin Pavey]

My first Welsh Canolradd (Intermediate level) read. I really enjoyed this collection of five short stories inspired by well known Welsh idioms. They are well written, with engaging characters and stories and a particularly good sense of humour. Each story is just the right length to comfortably read in one sitting. I found the selection of new vocabulary at the bottom of each page extremely helpful, together with further translations at the back of the book. As I read each story I felt my reading confidence and understanding markedly improve. I highly recommend this book for Welsh learners making the transition from classroom learning to reading Welsh writing for pleasure. It was a most enjoyable and fun read!

[Kitty]

mul on selle kohta öelda vähe sellist, mida ma nende Amdani raamatute kohta juba öelnud poleks - iiigaaav. siin on lühijutud, millel on isegi pretensioon mingile puändile, aga kõik on nii tobedad kuidagi. on üks armastuslugu, üks ulmeambitsiooniga lugu (kuigi see kosmoselaevade osa seal oli ju lihtsalt unenägu?), üks, mis püüab vist olla põnevuslugu... ikka on kõik ühesugused. suuremas osas on oluline roll kõmri keele õpingutel - tegutsevad keelekursuslased ja nende õpetajad. okei, see üks lugu, kus oligi mees, kes läks keelekursustele ja pidi seal toime tulema iga grupikaaslase keelealaste erihuvidega, oli isegi natuke naljakas JA aitas mutatsioone meelde jätta.

[J.C.]

An English version follows this short review. As ever, Welsh speakers, please excuse mistakes!

Ro'n i'n mwynhau i “Croesi’r Bont” gan Zoë Pettinger (lefel Canolradd), er gwaethaf llawer o eiriau newydd. Ro’n i’n hoffi ei harddull hi, ei doniolwch mwyn, y gwiriondeb ei chymeriadau. Mae’r teitl “Croesi’r Bont” yn glyfar; mae e’n ymddangos ym mhob un o’r storïau (sef un, dw i’n credu), chwith go iawn, neu yn symbolaidd. Mae pob stori yn cael ei deitl yn ddihareb:
Does unman yn debyg i gartref - roedd e’n stori ddiniwed, oce.
Fy hoff stori oedd yr ail, Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon. Ro’n i’n meddwl bod y stori yma yn ddoniol iawn. Mae’r awdur wedi defnyddiol ‘Tarth Lleidr’ a ‘Tywysoges Lleucu’ i olygu’r ymladd ar gyfer yr iaith Cymraeg, a'r wlad Cymru. Roedd y stori yn hollol wallgof, ond roedd e’n llwyddiannus, yn fy marn i! Clyfar a diddorol.
Stori 3, yn eithaf doniol, a mwyn eto: Hawdd cynnau tân ar hen aelwyd. Ond dim pont!
Nid aur yw popeth melyn stori fwgan, ychydig o ‘boncers’, ond gyda phont wir!
Roedd Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg yn ddifyr, dysgwr sy’n gwneud camgymeriadau - ychydig o anawsterau gyda threigladau (fel fi!).

English rendering:

I enjoyed "Croesi'r Bont" by Zoë Pettinger (Intermediate level), despite the many new words. I liked her style, her gentle humour, the ineptness of her characters. The title “Crossing the Bridge” is neat; the 'bridge' appears in all the stories, except one, I believe, either real, or symbolic. Each story is uses a proverb as its title:
There's nowhere like home - this was an innocuous story, but with some interest value.
My favorite story was the second, A nation without language, a nation without a heart. I thought it was very funny. The author has used 'Darth Vader' and 'Princess Lea' to symbolise the fight for the Welsh language, and the culture of Wales. The story was completely crazy, but I thought it worked well! Clever and interesting.
Story 3, quite funny, and mildly entertaining, again: Easy to light a fire in an old hearth. But no bridge that I can recall!
All that glitters is not gold a ghost story, a bit 'bonkers', but with a real bridge!
Dyfal donc a dyr y carreg was entertaining, a learner who makes mistakes - a few difficulties with mutations (like me!). The proverb is something like 'steady perseverance breaks the slate'.