Geiriadur Bangor (The Bangor Dictionary) steps into the breach

The BBC’s Welsh English dictionary is back in its new incarnation thanks to Bangor University’s centre for Welsh Language services and research, Canolfan Bedwyr.

When the BBC’s dictionary was taken down from the web due to the retirement of its old software, a number of people were sad to lose it. Although there are now a number of other on-line Welsh English dictionaries in existence, many users, including Welsh learners, liked its simple, easy to use interface. Its combination of general vocabulary and the latest technical terms was also very popular. The Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr, as original creators of the dictionary, were asked if they could reinstate it and publish it on the university’s website.

Dewi Bryn Jones and Gruffudd Prys therefore worked to update the dictionary’s interface and search facilities. The dictionary combines Cysgair, Bangor University’s general purpose dictionary, with Y Termiadur Addysg, a specialist technical terminology dictionary for schools and colleges of further education in Wales, developed for the Welsh Government. It also exists in a popular app version, the Ap Geiriaduron.

Dr Llion Jones, Director of Canolfan Bedwyr said, “At a time when the Welsh Government, language planners and supporters of the Welsh language are all agreed that emphasis needs to be placed on increasing use of the Welsh language in both the social and professional context, we hope that the appearance of this dictionary can be viewed as a small contribution towards that aim.”

To celebrate the fact that the university is now taking responsibility for the upkeep of the dictionary, it has been renamed Geiriadur Bangor – the Bangor Dictionary. It will now be available at http://geiriadur.bangor.ac.uk and it is hoped to add new features and material to it in future.

Publication date: 27 November 2014