20th September 2009, 06:19 PM
Be careful about trying to translate placenames without first collecting earlier examples of the name and variants of the spelling. In literary Welsh North Walian forms became the standard through the influence of the translation ofthe bible in the 16th and 17th century. Various dialects remained in use and are still in use and placename evidence is important for mapping isoglosses. Some placenames were sanitised in the 18th century through the influence of non-conformity, 19th century antiquarians sometimes romanticised placenames or gave them false etyma. Finally the orthography was revised by Sir John Morris Jones in the early 20th century and has been simplified since.