Is the Welsh national anthem 'Land of MY Fathers' or 'Land of OUR Fathers'?

zbeckabee

"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" usually translated as "Land of Our Fathers" -- meaning literally "old country of my fathers" is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_national_anthem Jul 26 07, 11:11 AM

borisanchovy

Most sites I checked says "my". Wikipedia says "our". I'm thinking that the numbers of suggestions that it's "my" would suggest that's the correct option, but I don't know Welsh so I can't tell you for sure. Jul 26 07, 11:19 AM

zbeckabee

I suspect that it is Land of "MY" Fathers. I am also finding both versions. Anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Welsh) Land of My Fathers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales http://www.welshicons.org.uk/html/hen_wlad_fy_nhadau.html Jul 26 07, 12:11 PM

MonkeyOnALeash

My Fathers makes no sense! Land of Our Fathers makes all the sense. Plurality! Jul 26 07, 12:15 PM

zbeckabee

Monkey, Monkey, Monkey -- Here are the lyrics: Land Of My Fathers The land of my fathers is dear unto me The land of the poets, the land of the free Her patriots and heroes, her warriors so brave For freedom their life's blood they gave. Wales! Wales! Pledged am I to Wales Whilst seas surround This land so proud Oh, long may our old tongue remain Jul 26 07, 12:25 PM

MonkeyOnALeash

Duplicity does not become you ZB! Jul 26 07, 12:27 PM

zbeckabee

YES...it DOES! Jul 26 07, 12:56 PM

lanfranco

Surely we've got a Welsh member who could settle this, before Monkey and zbeck make a date to punch each other's lights out. Anybody know one? Jul 26 07, 2:38 PM

McGruff

Although this doesn't answer the question, in the line "The land of my fathers is dear unto me," I would understand "fathers" to mean "forefathers" or ancestors. Jul 26 07, 3:05 PM

Baloo55th

Fy means my. Our would be ein. The possessives are: fy - my; dy - your (thy); ei - his/her (no its in Welsh); ein - our; eich - your (plural); eu - their. So it IS Land of MY fathers. Fathers in this case includes grandfathers, great grandfathers, GGGFs, GGGGFs and so on. There is no word in Welsh for 'of' - the Prince of Wales being y Twysog Cymru. (There is also no verb 'to have' - one says 'there is a dog with the man' rather like the Gaelic use of a word translated as 'at'.) Jul 26 07, 3:06 PM

MonkeyOnALeash

Since you explaineded it that a way Baloo...It makeses senses. Not that I do!!!! Jul 26 07, 5:03 PM

miffy42

Ooh i didn't expect so much differnce of opinion when i asked this. We had the question in a pub quiz last night and they insisted that the answer was OUR when i was sure it was MY! Jul 26 07, 5:11 PM

Baloo55th

I like upsetting quiz setters..... Jul 27 07, 4:18 PM

MonkeyOnALeash

Pub quizzers like "Quizzo" here in the States are OFTEN off the mark when it comes to answers. They tend to get upset with me and my Google function on my Cell Phone as I prove them to be incorrect when the case may arise. I understand your sentiment Baloo!!!! Jul 27 07, 4:41 PM