Raised on Anglesey, I received my early education in Wales before going to England for university. My undergraduate degree was in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies at Queens’ College at the University of Cambridge, where I specialised in medieval Welsh language and literature, and old Germanic language and literature, particularly Old English. I also completed an MPhil in this field in 2004, writing my dissertation on Old English semantics (on different words for horses).

After working briefly as a researcher in the School of Welsh at Bangor University, in 2005 I started a PhD in Linguistics at Bangor, supervised by Professor Margaret Deuchar; I graduated in 2010. The focus of my PhD research was on bilingualism and code-switching, which is the phenomenon of inserting words from one language into sentences from another language - something particularly common in informal Welsh speech.

I have been a member of teaching staff in Linguistics at Bangor since 2009, initially as a Welsh-medium Teaching Fellow, then from September 2012 as a Lecturer in Welsh Linguistics, in both cases primarily funded by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. In 2016 I was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Linguistics (Bilingualism). I am currently a member of staff of the Department of Linguistics, English Language and Bilingualism within the School of Arts, Culture and Language.

I primarily teach Welsh-medium modules at the School, particularly related to bilingualism, plus English-medium modules on sociolinguistics, Welsh Linguistics and/or Historical Linguistics, depending on their availability. The subjects I teach include general overviews of the grammar and linguistics of Welsh, aspects of bilingualism (both grammatical and social), historical linguistics and language change, and sociolinguistics.

I prefer to supervise dissertation topics in the above fields and/or in fields related to my research interests (as described elsewhere on this page), and am especially interested in supervising students on topics in Welsh grammar, change in the Welsh language and/or bilingualism in a minority language context.

My research interests focus on bilingualism (primarily in the Welsh context), especially relating to Welsh-English code-switching and on contact linguistics, specifically the effect of language contact on minority language grammar, with a particular focus on Welsh. In general I am interested in sociolinguistics, particularly grammatical variation, and have published on grammatical variation and change in Welsh due to contact with English. I also have an interest in historical linguistics, primarily in the Celtic and Germanic languages.

Additionally I am an author, primarily in Welsh. My book of cosmic horror Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi was published in spring 2022.

I am willing to supervise a PhD

2024

• PublishedCysgod y Mabinogi
  Webb-Davies, P., 15 Jul 2024, Talybont: Y Lolfa. 415 p.
  Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

2023

• Accepted/In pressInitial consonant mutation in Welsh
  Webb-Davies, P., 13 Feb 2023, (Accepted/In press) The Palgrave Handbook of Celtic Languages and Linguistics. Eska, J., Nurmio, S., Ó Muircheartaigh, P. & Russell, P. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan, 17 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• PublishedNorthern Welsh: Illustrations of the IPA
  Bell, E., Archangeli, D., Anderson, S., Hammond, M., Webb-Davies, P. & Brooks, H., Aug 2023, In: Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 53, 2, p. 487 - 510 24 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Accepted/In pressSociolinguistic aspects of children’s Welsh
  Webb-Davies, P., 23 Nov 2023, (Accepted/In press) The acquisition of Celtic languages. Chondrogianni, V., O'Toole, C. & Thomas, E. (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 21 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2022

• Published'Still here’: Welsh world cup song Yma o Hyd and how the language is adapting to survive
  Webb-Davies, P., 22 Nov 2022, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
• PublishedPumed Gainc y Mabinogi
  Glyn, P., Apr 2022, Talybont: Y Lolfa. 222 p.
  Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

2020

• PublishedAmlieithrwydd
  Webb-Davies, P., Cooper, S. & Arman, L., Nov 2020, Cyflwyniad i Ieithyddiaeth. Cooper, S. & Arman, L. (eds.). Caerfyrddin: Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, p. 181-214
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• PublishedCategory-specific effects in Welsh mutation
  Hammond, M., Bell, E., Anderson, S., Webb-Davies, P., Ohala, D., Carnie, A. & Brooks, H., 3 Jan 2020, In: Glossa. 5, 1, 1.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDefnydd hanesyddol a chyfoes o mynd i yn y Gymraeg: Astudiaeth o ramadegoli fel newid Iaith
  Webb-Davies, P. & Shank, C., Mar 2020, In: Gwerddon. 30, p. 23-39
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSwitchmate! An electrophysiological attempt to adjudicate between competing accounts of adjective-noun code-switching
  Vaughan-Evans, A., Parafita Couto, M. C., Boutonnet, B., Hoshino, N., Webb-Davies, P., Deuchar, M. & Thierry, G., 17 Nov 2020, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 11, 549702.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• PublishedBuilding and using the Siarad Corpus: Bilingual conversations in Welsh and English
  Deuchar, M., Webb-Davies, P. & Donnelly, K., 15 Jan 2018, John Benjamins Publishing Company. 199 p. (Studies in Corpus Linguistics; no. 81)
  Research output: Book/Report › Book

2017

• PublishedAgweddar ar Ddwyieithrwydd
  Thomas, E. & Webb-Davies, P., 6 Aug 2017, Caerfyrddin, Wales: Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
  Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
• PublishedTesting Alternative Theoretical Accounts of Code-Switching using Event-related Brain Potentials: A Pilot Study on Welsh-English
  Parafita Couto, M., Boutonnet, B., Hoshino, N., Webb-Davies, P., Deuchar, M. & Thierry, G., 1 Feb 2017, Bilingualism and minority languages in Europe: Current trends and Developments. Lachlan, F. & Del Carmen Parafita Couto, M. (eds.). Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 240-254
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• PublishedWelsh schools: an approach to bilingualism that can help overcome division
  Webb-Davies, P., 23 Jun 2017, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

2016

• PublishedAge variation and language change in Welsh: Auxiliary deletion and possessive constructions
  Webb-Davies, P., 11 Dec 2016, Sociolinguistics in Wales. Durham, M. & Morris, J. (eds.). London: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 31 60 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2014

• PublishedAuxiliary deletion in the informal speech of Welsh–English bilinguals: A change in progress
  Webb-Davies, P. G., Davies, P. & Deuchar, M., 30 Mar 2014, In: Lingua. 143, p. 224-241
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedBuilding bilingual corpora
  Webb-Davies, P., Deuchar, M., Herring, J., Parafita Couto, M. & Carter, D., 9 May 2014, Advances in the Study of Bilingualism. Thomas, E. & Mennen, I. (eds.). Bristol: Multilingual Matters, p. 93-110
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedFactors influencing code-switching
  Parafita Couto, M. D., Webb-Davies, P. G., Carter, D. M. & Deuchar, M., 9 May 2014, Advances in the Study of Bilingualism. Thomas, E. M. & Mennen, I. (eds.). 2014 ed. Bristol: Multilingual Matters, p. 111-140
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2011

• PublishedA systematic comparison of factors affecting the choice of matrix language in three bilingual communities.
  Webb-Davies, P. G., Carter, D., Deuchar, M., Davies, P. & Parafita Couto, M. C., 1 Sept 2011, In: Journal of Language Contact. 4, 2, p. 153 – 183
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

• PublishedA corpus-based analysis of codeswitching patterns in bilingual communities.
  Webb-Davies, P. G., Carter, D., Davies, P., Parafita Couto, M. C. & Deuchar, M., 1 Jan 2010, In: Revista Española de Lingüística.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedFactors determining code-switching patterns in Spanish-English and Welsh-English communities.
  Webb-Davies, P. G., Parafita Couto, M. C., Carter, D., Davies, P. & Deuchar, M., 1 Jan 2010.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• PublishedUsing the Matrix Language Frame model to measure the extent of word-order convergence in Welsh-English bilingual speech
  Webb-Davies, P. G., Deuchar, M., Breitbarth, A. (Editor), Lucas, C. (Editor), Watts, S. (Editor) & Willis, D. (Editor), 1 Jan 2010, Continuity and Change in Grammar. 2010 ed. John Benjamins Publishing, p. 77-96
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2009

• PublishedCode switching and the future of the Welsh language
  Deuchar, M. & Webb-Davies, P. G., 1 Jan 2009, In: International Journal of the Sociology of Language. 2009, 195, p. 15-38
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2023

• Presentation to Cylch Llenyddol Glannau Clwyd

  I gave a 1 hour talk to the local literary society, in Trefnant near Dinbych, north Wales, about my own creative research (Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi etc.) and its links to both medieval Welsh literature and modern American horror fiction. The audience was about 40 members of the public. I had been invited to give the talk as part of their regular series. The whole event was in Welsh.

  4 Dec 2023

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)
• The “missing Branch” of The Mabinogi? Welsh myth and Lovecraftian horror in modern fiction.

  Discussing my fiction (Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi, Cysgod y Mabinogi) and the historical and contemporary interpretations of horror fiction deriving from the work of the American author H. P. Lovecraft.

  Online conference.

  26 Oct 2023

  Links:

  • https://medievalisms.org/conferences/
  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Author interview in the Pabell Len in the National Eisteddfod

  I was invited along with author Llyr Titus to be interviewed about our writing by Iestyn Tyne. The public event (for those with an Eisteddfod ticket) was held in the Pabell Len / Literature Tent during the day.

  The event was later released as an episode of the PenRhydd podcast series.

  11 Aug 2023

  Links:

  • https://x.com/LlenCymru/status/1689961455582425088?s=20
  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)
• Welsh Linguistics Seminar 2023

  I was the co-organizer / chair of the conference.

  Conference on linguistic research in Welsh and related languages. The event was held hybrid, with most attendees in Bangor but some attending online.

  26 Jun 2023 – 27 Jun 2023

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Organiser)
• Review of Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi (O'r Pedwar Gwynt)

  Review by Eve Johnson of 'Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi' (authored by Peredur Webb-Davies) in the magazine O'r Pedwar Gwynt (also on its online version).

  1 Mar 2023

  Links:

  • https://pedwargwynt.cymru/adolygu/tu-hwnt-ir-llygad
  Activity: Other (Contributor)

2022

• Review of Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi (Nation Cymru)

  Review by Jon Gower on Nation Cymru website of Welsh book "Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi", authored by Peredur Webb-Davies

  29 Nov 2022

  Links:

  • https://nation.cymru/culture/review-pumed-gainc-y-mabinogi-by-peredur-glyn/
  Activity: Other (Contributor)
• Review of Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi (Medievally Speaking)

  Review by Dr Simon Rodway of Pumed Gainc y Mabinogi on his blog 'Medievally Speaking' (described as "an open access review journal encouraging critical engagement with the continuing process of inventing the middle ages")

  28 Sep 2022

  Links:

  • https://medievallyspeaking.blogspot.com/2022/09/glyn-pumed-gainc-y-mabinogi.html
  Activity: Other (Contributor)

2019

• Testing the effects of lexical frequency and category on soft mutation

  Paper reporting on the latest findings of the research grant on mutation held by the co-authors (joint RCUK-NSF)

  1 Jul 2019

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Welsh Linguistics Seminar 26 / Seminar Ieithyddiaeth Gymraeg 26

  Annual conference for research in aspects of Welsh Linguistics.

  1 Jul 2019 – 2 Jul 2019

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Organiser)
• Book launch and presentation

  Presentation about our research on Welsh-English code-switching to a public audience and an introduction to our recently-published monograph (Deuchar et al 2018)

  13 Feb 2019

  Links:

  • http://www.bangortalk.org.uk/
  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Speaker)

2018

• Talk on the Welsh language

  Talk (abouy 60 mins) to festival guests on the Welsh language in terms of its history and grammar

  7 Sep 2018

  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition (Contributor)
• Welsh grammar rules in Welsh-English code-switching

  Presentation on state of the art on Welsh-English code-switching and relating to upcoming publication of Deuchar et al (2018) monograph on the subject.

  17 Jul 2018

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Welsh Linguistics Seminar 25 / Seminar Ieithyddiaeth Gymraeg 25

  Co-organizer of conference.

  16 Jul 2018 – 17 Jul 2018

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Organiser)
• Millennials destroyed the rules of written English – and created something better

  Interviewed for quotes in a Mashable article on language change. Multiple quotes included.

  2 Apr 2018

  Links:

  • https://mashable.com/2018/04/02/millennials-written-english/?europe=true
  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)

2017

• Taro'r Post: Oxford Dictionaries word of the year 2017

  Spoke for 5 minutes on morning show Taro'r Post on Radio Cymru about the 2017 word of the day (youthquake) in my capacity as senior lecturer in Linguistics; Bangor University namechecked.

  15 Dec 2017

  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)
• Grammaticalization of 'mynd i' in Welsh: A corpus linguistic study of historical change

  31 Aug 2017

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• New Approaches to Brittonic Historical Linguistics Symposium. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

  Newid yn nefnydd mynd i yn y Gymraeg I fynegi’r dyfodol: Astudiaeth gorpws o ramadegoli hanesyddol.

  31 Aug 2017

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Speaker)
• Lansio llyfr Agweddau Ar Ddwyieithrwydd [Book launch]

  Lansiad y llyfr newydd Agweddau ar Ddwyieithrwydd i'r cyhoedd, ar stondin Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, gyda chyfweliad gan Ifor ap Glyn gyda' awduron, Enlli Thomas a Peredur Webb-Davies.

  Public book launch of Welsh textbook about bilingualism, at the stall of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, featuring an interview by Ifor ap Glyn with the authors, Enlli Thomas and Peredur Webb-Davies.

  9 Aug 2017

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Welsh Linguistics Seminar

  Co-organized and co-chaired the conference.

  20 Jul 2017 – 21 Jul 2017

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Member of programme committee)
• Welsh possessive constructions

  The role of extralinguistic factors in variation

  20 Jul 2017

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2016

• The NSF-RCUK Arizona-Wales Welsh mutation project: Overview and objectives

  4 Jul 2016

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Welsh linguistics Seminar 23

  Co-organized and co-chaired the conference.

  4 Jul 2016 – 5 Jul 2016

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Member of programme committee)

2015

• Age variation in possessive constructions in Welsh

  7 Jul 2015

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
• Welsh Linguistics Seminar 22

  Co-organized the conference.

  6 Jul 2015 – 7 Jul 2015

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Member of programme committee)

2014

• 21st Welsh Linguistics Seminar, Gregynog, Wales

  The development of ‘mynd i’ as a future construction in Welsh: A case of language contact grammaticalization?

  16 Jun 2014

  Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Speaker)

• Welsh Consonant Mutation

  01/09/2015 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)

• The nature of prosodic difficulties in second language learning

  01/10/2014 – 30/09/2015 (Finished)