Pennod 2 - Y Llawysgrif Gymraeg gyntaf (sydd wedi goroesi!)

Yr Hen Iaith

Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin, Llyfr Taliesin, hanes ysgrifennu Cymraeg a natur llawysgrifau: Dechreua’r bennod hon drwy ystyried rhai o’r enghreifftiau cynharaf o ysgrifen Gymraeg sydd wedi goroesi, a nodi bod yr iaith wastad wedi bod yn gyfrwng i drafod dysg o wahanol fathau, gan gynnwys gwyddoniaeth. Trafodwn dechnoleg ysgrifennu’r cyfnod canoloesol, gan bwysleisio bod y llawysgrifau’n bethau prin, bregus a gwerthfawr. Wedyn, rydym ni’n oedi cryn dipyn ynghylch Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin, y llawysgrif Gymraeg – h.y., yn gyfan gwbl Gymraeg o ran iaith – sydd wedi goroesi. Pwy oedd y mynach a aeth ati i gynllunio a chreu casgliad o farddoniaeth Gymraeg, llawer ohoni’n gysylltiedig â’r bardd Myrddin chwedlonnol a roes ei enw i’r lle, yn ôl y stori? A yw’n bosibl dweud bod Myrddin yn ymryson â’r bardd chwedlonol arall hwnnw, Taliesin, am oruchafiaeth yn y traddodiad llenyddol? A beth am y llawysgrif bwysig honno â gyslltir ag ef, sef Llyfr Taliesin? Pam fod cymaint o’r farddoniaeth Gymraeg hon yn broffwydol, a beth yw dehongliad ‘pobl Pen’mynydd’ yn sir Fôn o’r Mab Darogan? *** The Black Book of Carmarthen, the Book of Taliesin, the history of writing Welsh and the nature of manuscripts: This episode begins by considering some of the earliest examples of Welsh writing which have survived, and noting that the language has always been a medium for discussion various kinds of learning, including science. We discuss medieval writing technology and emphasize that manuscripts are rare, fragile and valuable. Then we take some time with the Black Book of Carmarthen, the earliest surviving Welsh manuscript – that is, the earliest surviving manuscript written entirely in the Welsh language. Who was the monk who planned and created this collection of Welsh poetry, much of it connected to the legendary poet Myrddin for whom the place was supposedly named? Is it possible to say that Myrddin competes with that other legendary poet, Taliesin, for supremacy in the literary tradition? And what about that important manuscript connected with the competitor, the Book of Taliesin? Why is so much of this Welsh poetry prophetic in nature, and how do people from Penymynydd in Anglesey interpret the Mab Darogan or prophesied saviour? Cyflwynwyd gan: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a'r Athro Richard Wyn Jones Cynhyrchwyd gan: Richard Martin Cerddoriaeth: Might Have Done gan The Molenes Dilynwch ni ar Trydar: http://www.twitter.com/YrHenIaith Tanysgrifwch yn eich hoff ap podlediadau i derbyn y pennod nesaf ar cyhoeddiad. Darllen pellach: - Ifor Williams, The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry (Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1980) - A. O. H. Jarman (gol.), Llyfr Du Caerfryddin (Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1980) - Marged Haycock (gol. a chyf.), Legendary Poems from the Book of Taliesin (Aberystwyth: Cyhoeddiadau CMCS, 2007) - Patrick Sims-Williams, ‘The uses of writing in early medieval Wales’, yn Huw Pryce (gol.), Literacy in Medieval Celtic Societies (Caergrawnt: Gwasg Prifysgol Caergrawnt, 1998) - Daniel Huws, Medieval Welsh Manuscripts (Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 2002) *** Further Reading: - Ifor Williams, The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry (Cardiff: UWP, 1980) - Meirion Pennar, The Black Book of Carmarthen (Llanerch Press,1989) - Marged Haycock (ed. and trans.), Legendary Poems from the Book of Taliesin (Aberystwyth: CMCS Publications, 2007) - Patrick Sims-Williams, ‘The uses of writing in early medieval Wales’, in Huw Pryce (ed.), Literacy in Medieval Celtic Societies (Cambridge: Cambridge Universit y Press, 1998) - Daniel Huws, Medieval Welsh Manuscripts (Cardiff: UWP, 2002)