Consider the page Wrexham Glyndŵr University. Why is there a circonflex on the w? Does this exist in Welsh spelling?
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6This is a forum about English, not Welsh!– Kate BuntingCommented May 1, 2020 at 11:03
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3Welsh is not a dialect of English, either. I suggest this question ought to be closed or removed altogether.– Hack SawCommented May 1, 2020 at 11:23
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2I’m voting to close this question because it is not about English.– Michael HarveyCommented May 1, 2020 at 11:25
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1The question about whether 'Wrexham Glyndwr University' is acceptable in English articles when referring to what is seen here as 'Wrexham Glyndŵr University' is on-topic, unless it boils down to POB. Nationalism can be tricky, but in England we don't worry too much about our co-fighters against COVID across the Channel calling our capital city Londres.– Edwin AshworthCommented May 1, 2020 at 11:26
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2It's perfectly reasonable for the English name of an institution (especially based in Wales!) to use the "native" form of a person's name. However, asking about that native language itself is off-topic here.– Andrew Leach ♦Commented May 1, 2020 at 11:37
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1 Answer
Yes, the circumflex exists in the Welsh spelling:
The circumflex is known as hirnod "long sign" or acen grom "crooked accent", but more usually and colloquially as to bach "little roof".
It lengthens a stressed vowel (a, e, i, o, u, w, y), and is used particularly to differentiate between homographs; e.g. tan and tân, ffon and ffôn, gem and gêm, cyn and cŷn, or gwn and gŵn.
However the circumflex is only required on elongated vowels if the same word exists without the circumflex - "nos" (night), for example, has an elongated "o" sound but a circumflex is not required as the same word with a shortened "o" doesn't exist.
the circumflex,
due to its function as a disambiguating lengthening sign, is used in polysyllabic words with word-final long vowels. The circumflex thus indicates the stressed syllable (which would normally be on the penultimate syllable), since in Welsh, non-stressed vowels may not normally be long.
This happens notably where the singular ends in an a, to, e.g. singular camera, drama, opera, sinema → plural camerâu, dramâu, operâu, sinemâu; however, it also occurs in singular nominal forms, e.g. arwyddocâd; in verbal forms, e.g. deffrônt, cryffânt; etc.
(Wikipedia)
answered May 1, 2020 at 11:15
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1While the question might just be on-topic (should the circumflex be used when referring to say the university in an English article), your answer deals with the requirements when one is using Welsh. Commented May 1, 2020 at 11:22
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1@EdwinAshworth - I think my answer fits what the OP is asking. And that’s fine for me. Commented May 1, 2020 at 11:25
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2So you'd have been happy about the time a person asked here about the best way to keep a goldfish? Admittedly, they asked the question using the English language. ELU has pretty reasonable regulations: no questions about how to raise animals, construct face-masks, or use Welsh. Commented May 1, 2020 at 11:34
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@EdwinAshworth - I thought this was a site about the language/s spoken by natives in the UK. Commented May 1, 2020 at 11:41
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1@Hachi - this site is about English language and usage. English is just one of the languages spoken by natives and immigrants in the UK. Commented May 1, 2020 at 12:08