![Iwan Rees BA, MPhil, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3268?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Iwan Rees BA, MPhil, PhD, FHEA
Senior Lecturer and Director of the Cardiff Centre for Welsh American Studies
- Welsh speaking
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
My research interests encompass a number of interrelated linguistic fields, including:
- Geographical and social dialectology;
- Phonetic and phonological variation and change;
- Language pedagogy (in Wales and Patagonia especially);
- Welsh grammar (including regional varieties);
- The historical development of Welsh and its scholarship.
I joined the School of Welsh in 2012 when I was appointed a Research Associate on a project which examined the acquisition of Welsh as a second language in the Welsh for Adults (WfA) sector. I have subsequently been a Lecturer at the School since 2014 and am currently the Director of the Cardiff Centre for Welsh American Studies.
Before joining Cardiff University, I was awarded an AHRC scholarship which allowed me to complete my doctoral thesis at Aberystwyth University on aspects of phonological variation and change in two distinctive dialects of mid Wales.
The phenomenon of dialect contact, i.e. the linguistic outcomes of dialect mixing, has always been of great interest to me. In addition to my articles and resources on the nature of the linguistic transitions found in mid Wales between the two main varieties of Welsh, namely Northern Welsh and Southern Welsh, I am also working on an ongoing project which focuses on the understudied variety of Welsh that is spoken in Patagonia, Argentina from a historical and synchronic perspective. Another related field of interest of mine is the development of new dialects of Welsh in Wales and the role that the education system plays in their formation.
Publication
2023
- Rees, I. W. 2023. Casglu Elfennau o'r Tafodieithoedd Cymraeg Heddiw: Sut y gallwch chi ddechrau ar waith maes. In: Naylor, A., Roberts, L. and Foster Evans, D. eds. Beth yw'r Gymraeg?. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, pp. 89-94.
2022
- Rees, I. W. 2022. Hunanieithoedd Cymru heddiw. O'r Pedwar Gwynt 18, pp. 9-12.
- Uhl, K. G. and Rees, I. W. 2022. Audio recordings of the Welsh words in ‘Cadi & the Cursed Oak’. [Online]. Lost Art Press. Available at: https://blog.lostartpress.com/2022/03/27/audio-recordings-of-the-welsh-words-in-cadi-the-cursed-oak/
- Rees, I. W. 2022. Adolygiad o: AmrywIAITH: Blas ar Dafodieithoedd Cymru (2020) gan Guto Rhys [Book Review]. Journal of Celtic Linguistics(23), pp. 193-200.
- Beltrachini, L., Cercignani, M., Morris, J., Rees, I., Papageorgiou, A. and Simpson, I. 2022. Gwylia dy dafod / Watch your Welsh. [Online]. Prifysgol Caerdydd / Cardiff University. Available at: https://gwyliadydafod.org/cy/index.html
2021
- Rees, I. W. 2021. Hispanicization in the Welsh settlement of Chubut Province, Argentina: some current linguistic developments. In: Perez, D. and Sippola, E. eds. Postcolonial Language Varieties in the Americas. Koloniale und Postkoloniale Linguistik / Colonial and Postcolonial Linguistics (KPL/CPL) Vol. 18. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 239-269.
- Rees, I. W. 2021. The Welsh in diaspora: Patagonia. In: Morgan, W. J., Bowie, F. and O'Connell, J. eds. Social Anthropologies of the Welsh: Past and Present. The Royal Anthropological Institute's Country Series (Series Editor: Dr David Shankland) Canon Pyon: Sean Kingston Publishing, pp. 123-144.
2020
- Morris, J., Rees, I. W. and Prys, M. 2020. Amrywio. In: Cooper, S. and Arman, L. eds. Cyflwyniad i Ieithyddiaeth. Caerfyrddin: Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, pp. 139-180.
2019
- Rees, I. W. 2019. Casglu'r tafodieithoedd Cymraeg heddiw.. ond at ba ddiben?. Y Casglwr(125), pp. 10-11.
2018
- Rees, I. W. and Morris, J. 2018. Astudiaeth o ganfyddiadau tiwtoriaid Cymraeg i Oedolion o anawsterau ynganu ymhlith dysgwyr yr iaith. Gwerddon 27, pp. 39-66.
- Rees, I. W. 2018. Dilysu tafodieithoedd cyfredol yw’r flaenoriaeth. Y Dinesydd(426), pp. 12-13.
- Rees, I. W. 2018. Length and quality in Welsh mid vowels: new evidence from Mid Wales. Journal of Celtic Linguistics 19(1), pp. 157-208. (10.16922/jcl.19.6)
2017
- Rees, I. W. 2017. Modern Welsh: A Comprehensive Grammar (3rd edition; 2016) by Gareth King. [Book Review]. The Journal of Celtic Linguistics 18, pp. 234-240. (10.16922/jcl.18.8)
- Rees, I. W. 2017. Cyflwyno Tafodieithoedd Cymraeg y Wladfa. [Online]. Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://llyfrgell.porth.ac.uk/Default.aspx?catid=528
2016
- Rees, I. W. 2016. 'Dim Sôn am Dduw na Dyn': Ar Drywydd yr 'U Ogleddol' yng Nghanolbarth Cymru. (“No Mention of a Duw or a Dyn”: Investigating the ‘Northern U’ vowel in mid-Wales). Gwerddon(22), pp. 47-74.
- Rees, I. W. 2016. Tafodiaith.. [Online]. Esboniadur y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php/Tafodiaith
2015
- Rees, I. W. 2015. Phonological variation in Mid-Wales. Studia Celtica 49(1), pp. 149-174.
- Rees, I. W. 2015. Cyflwyno Tafodieithoedd y Gymraeg: Canllawiau i Actorion a Sgriptwyr.. [Online]. Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://llyfrgell.porth.ac.uk/Default.aspx?catid=487
- Rees, I. W. 2015. Ffordd iawn o siarad Cymraeg?. [Online]. BBC Cymru. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/34325522
2013
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Adolygiad o John Morris Jones gan Allan James.. Y Traethodydd. CLXVII(707), pp. 273-276.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Adolygiad o Ambell Air ac Ati gan Tegwyn Jones. Barn(609), pp. 48-49.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Adolygiad o Rhint y Gelaets a’r Grug: Tafodiaith Sir Benfro gan Wyn Owens. Barn(609), pp. 48-49.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Chwedl. Taliesin(149), pp. 84-85.
- Rees, I. 2013. Astudiaeth o amrywiadau ffonolegol mewn dwy ardal yng nghanolbarth Cymru. PhD Thesis, Prifysgol Aberystwyth.
2012
- Rees, I. W. 2012. Gwreiddiau’r Gymraeg. Tu Chwith(36), pp. 89-102.
2011
- Rees, I. W. 2011. "Labordy gwag" y Gymraeg: Beth yw’r dyfodol?. Barn 582(3), pp. 78-79.
- Rees, I. W. 2011. Tafodieitha. Llafar Gwlad(112), pp. 22-23.
2010
- Rees, I. W. 2010. Adolygiad o Y Proffwyd a’i Ddwy Jesebel gan Gareth Miles. Y Traethodydd(165), pp. 183-186.
Articles
- Rees, I. W. 2022. Hunanieithoedd Cymru heddiw. O'r Pedwar Gwynt 18, pp. 9-12.
- Rees, I. W. 2022. Adolygiad o: AmrywIAITH: Blas ar Dafodieithoedd Cymru (2020) gan Guto Rhys [Book Review]. Journal of Celtic Linguistics(23), pp. 193-200.
- Rees, I. W. 2019. Casglu'r tafodieithoedd Cymraeg heddiw.. ond at ba ddiben?. Y Casglwr(125), pp. 10-11.
- Rees, I. W. and Morris, J. 2018. Astudiaeth o ganfyddiadau tiwtoriaid Cymraeg i Oedolion o anawsterau ynganu ymhlith dysgwyr yr iaith. Gwerddon 27, pp. 39-66.
- Rees, I. W. 2018. Dilysu tafodieithoedd cyfredol yw’r flaenoriaeth. Y Dinesydd(426), pp. 12-13.
- Rees, I. W. 2018. Length and quality in Welsh mid vowels: new evidence from Mid Wales. Journal of Celtic Linguistics 19(1), pp. 157-208. (10.16922/jcl.19.6)
- Rees, I. W. 2017. Modern Welsh: A Comprehensive Grammar (3rd edition; 2016) by Gareth King. [Book Review]. The Journal of Celtic Linguistics 18, pp. 234-240. (10.16922/jcl.18.8)
- Rees, I. W. 2016. 'Dim Sôn am Dduw na Dyn': Ar Drywydd yr 'U Ogleddol' yng Nghanolbarth Cymru. (“No Mention of a Duw or a Dyn”: Investigating the ‘Northern U’ vowel in mid-Wales). Gwerddon(22), pp. 47-74.
- Rees, I. W. 2015. Phonological variation in Mid-Wales. Studia Celtica 49(1), pp. 149-174.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Adolygiad o John Morris Jones gan Allan James.. Y Traethodydd. CLXVII(707), pp. 273-276.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Adolygiad o Ambell Air ac Ati gan Tegwyn Jones. Barn(609), pp. 48-49.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Adolygiad o Rhint y Gelaets a’r Grug: Tafodiaith Sir Benfro gan Wyn Owens. Barn(609), pp. 48-49.
- Rees, I. W. 2013. Chwedl. Taliesin(149), pp. 84-85.
- Rees, I. W. 2012. Gwreiddiau’r Gymraeg. Tu Chwith(36), pp. 89-102.
- Rees, I. W. 2011. "Labordy gwag" y Gymraeg: Beth yw’r dyfodol?. Barn 582(3), pp. 78-79.
- Rees, I. W. 2011. Tafodieitha. Llafar Gwlad(112), pp. 22-23.
- Rees, I. W. 2010. Adolygiad o Y Proffwyd a’i Ddwy Jesebel gan Gareth Miles. Y Traethodydd(165), pp. 183-186.
Book sections
- Rees, I. W. 2023. Casglu Elfennau o'r Tafodieithoedd Cymraeg Heddiw: Sut y gallwch chi ddechrau ar waith maes. In: Naylor, A., Roberts, L. and Foster Evans, D. eds. Beth yw'r Gymraeg?. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, pp. 89-94.
- Rees, I. W. 2021. Hispanicization in the Welsh settlement of Chubut Province, Argentina: some current linguistic developments. In: Perez, D. and Sippola, E. eds. Postcolonial Language Varieties in the Americas. Koloniale und Postkoloniale Linguistik / Colonial and Postcolonial Linguistics (KPL/CPL) Vol. 18. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 239-269.
- Rees, I. W. 2021. The Welsh in diaspora: Patagonia. In: Morgan, W. J., Bowie, F. and O'Connell, J. eds. Social Anthropologies of the Welsh: Past and Present. The Royal Anthropological Institute's Country Series (Series Editor: Dr David Shankland) Canon Pyon: Sean Kingston Publishing, pp. 123-144.
- Morris, J., Rees, I. W. and Prys, M. 2020. Amrywio. In: Cooper, S. and Arman, L. eds. Cyflwyniad i Ieithyddiaeth. Caerfyrddin: Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, pp. 139-180.
Thesis
- Rees, I. 2013. Astudiaeth o amrywiadau ffonolegol mewn dwy ardal yng nghanolbarth Cymru. PhD Thesis, Prifysgol Aberystwyth.
Websites
- Uhl, K. G. and Rees, I. W. 2022. Audio recordings of the Welsh words in ‘Cadi & the Cursed Oak’. [Online]. Lost Art Press. Available at: https://blog.lostartpress.com/2022/03/27/audio-recordings-of-the-welsh-words-in-cadi-the-cursed-oak/
- Beltrachini, L., Cercignani, M., Morris, J., Rees, I., Papageorgiou, A. and Simpson, I. 2022. Gwylia dy dafod / Watch your Welsh. [Online]. Prifysgol Caerdydd / Cardiff University. Available at: https://gwyliadydafod.org/cy/index.html
- Rees, I. W. 2017. Cyflwyno Tafodieithoedd Cymraeg y Wladfa. [Online]. Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://llyfrgell.porth.ac.uk/Default.aspx?catid=528
- Rees, I. W. 2016. Tafodiaith.. [Online]. Esboniadur y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php/Tafodiaith
- Rees, I. W. 2015. Cyflwyno Tafodieithoedd y Gymraeg: Canllawiau i Actorion a Sgriptwyr.. [Online]. Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://llyfrgell.porth.ac.uk/Default.aspx?catid=487
- Rees, I. W. 2015. Ffordd iawn o siarad Cymraeg?. [Online]. BBC Cymru. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/34325522
Research
Linguistic variation and change in Patagonian Welsh
Following initial field trips (made possible by Banco Santander and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol) in Chubut Province, Argentina, I am currently working on a project which focuses on the understudied variety of Patagonian Welsh from a historical and synchronic perspective.
One of the main aims of this project is to establish how exactly a new dialect of Welsh was formed in South America as a result of contact between different dialect varieties from Wales, and thereby challenge previous interpretations of new dialect formation processes in other colonial varieties around the globe. Another objective is to investigate some of the outcomes of language contact, i.e. the Spanish influence on this Welsh variety, with particular emphasis on the implications of current cross-generational changes for the pedagogical practices and resources of the British Council’s Welsh Language Project in Chubut Province.
Introducing the dialects of Welsh to actors and scriptwriters
Having been awarded a grant from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, I have created an educational resource, aimed at familiarising actors and scriptwriters with the various dialects of Welsh. Cyflwyno Tafodieithoedd y Gymraeg: Canllawiau i Actorion a Sgriptwyr contains several audio and audio-visual clips (on the Coleg’s website), in addition to detailed commentaries on several varieties of spoken Welsh. This resource has led to invitations to collaborate with numerous non-academic stakeholders on various projects, e.g. Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (the Welsh-language National Theatre), BBC Cymru and the National Centre for Learning Welsh, as well as several popular fiction authors. I have also been invited to lead several master classes alongside the coach and award-winning actress Rhian Morgan.
The acquisition of Welsh as a second language
Having led a project on the acquisition of Welsh as a second language, I recently published an article (with Dr Jonathan Morris) on tutors’ perspectives of learners’ pronunciation difficulties in the Welsh for Adults sector. Several of this article’s recommendations are currently being implemented by the newly established National Centre for Learning Welsh.
Teaching
BA Welsh
- CY1600 Iaith ac Ystyr (Leader)
- CY1602 Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes
- CY2450/CY3450 Tafodieitheg (Leader)
- CY3750 Cyfieithu Proffesiynol (Leader)
- CY2700/CY3700 Sgriptio
- CY3900 Blas ar Ymchwil
- CY3905 Ymchwilio Estynedig
MA Welsh and Celtic Studies
- CYD400 Academic and Professional Research
- CYD401 Special Subject 1
- CYD402 Special Subject 2
- CYD403 Extended Research Project
Biography
Professional memberships
- Member of British Council Cymru’s Welsh Language Project Board
- Member of the National Centre for Learning Welsh’s Pronunciation Project Forum
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Current Departmental Service
- Director of the Cardiff Centre for Welsh American Studies
- Chair of the Examination Board and Complaints Officer
- Director of Admissions and Recruitment
- Library Officer
Supervisions
Current supervision
Mr Jack Pulman-slater
Research student
