Learning to pronounce Welsh

The Welsh alphabet has no k, q, x, z or v. (Not even English needs the first four absolutely - cing, cween, ecsecution and sip would work fine. More on the v sound below).

It also has several letters not found in the English alphabet. There are 8 diphthongs - 

ch, dd, ff, ng, ll, ph, rh, th.

Ll is famous and though certainly hard to pronounce can be mastered.

Ch is always as in loch not chin.

Ph and th are obvious, as is ng to some extent.

The Dd is used for voiced th. In English we make no distinction in writing between the sound th, as in thin, and th (or dd) as in this (with a word like cloth, I'm never sure which is correct).

The ff is necessary as f is pronounced like an  English v. Even in English the difference applies in the words of and off, pronounced ov and off.

'E 've gone far

I was in South Wales yesterday and I was talking to someone who went to the same school. As we were talking he said by way of self-deprecation "so as you can see I haven't gone far". It reminded me of the way in Wales "to go far" is often used as a synonym for success. The basic idea is that if you leave your home behind then you must be successful or rather that to be successful you need to leave home. Geography and success are intertwined. Firstly, it's not true and secondly, it's probably not a good concept to have either. You can learn a lot when you go far but there is no merit in the move itself.

Cymraeg

I am not competent to cover this properly but I hear Welsh spoken and I notice any number of little phrases knocking about that appear to be buried under layers of mystery.

Examples

1. Esgob Dafydd - Translates Bishop David, probably a euphemism for Esgyrn Dafydd (David's bones) I guess.

2. Rargian Dafydd or Rargian fawr (Yr argian fawr) - No idea but possibly form of Lord David or omen of David or Great Lord or Great omen (Arglwydd or Argoel) 

3. Bobl Bach Y Bala - Translates Little people from Bala, probably some sort of euphemism

4. Nefi wen, nefi bliw - This is something to do with the Welsh word heavens (nefoedd). Nefoedd wen would be blessed heavens.

5. Boys bach - another bit of English in there but really bys bach, little finger, I would guess, not that that explains anything.