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The first chapter reviews twentieth- century work on stress, considering stress from several points of view: as intensity, pitch and rhythm. The weaknesses of some approaches are pointed out. Some past work on isochrony is summarised and the metrical theory of stress introduced. The problem presented by stress in Welsh is introduced informally. The second chapter describes a series of measurements and experiments carried out to investigate stress in Welsh. Acoustic measurements are made of Fo, intensity, duration, and lengths of rhythmic feet. It is concluded that stress in Welsh is determined by rhythm rather than inherent acoustic cues. Statistical anal ysis of further measurements of feet reveal s the effects of syllabification and also supports the previous findings. Perceptual experiments using native speaker judgements of resynthesised speech are presented and analysed; it is concluded that Welsh stress is linked with rhythm and with consonantal length (the consonant after a stressed vowel being longer than one after an unstressed vowel), while it has no direct link with pitch- prominence as such. The third chapter outl ines a theoretical framework based on the 'metrical' theory of stress, and proceeds to apply it to Welsh . This modified framework makes use of Selkirk's 'prosodic units', but differs from the usual forms of the theory by also taking account of the semantic weight of words in the utterance context. It is agreed that this makes for a more explanatory theory, and some puzzles of English intonation are shown to be described more simply using such a theory. The patterns of intonation in Welsh are also described in this framework. The fourth chapter discusses the implications posed by the experimental results for the general theory of stress. Reference is made to some research in the psychology of stress perception, and evidence is also presented from the historical development of Welsh from ancient British times, and also from the Welsh bardic rules of versification. It is argued that Welsh has a unique contribution to make to our understanding of the nature of and possible forms taken by stress, and the conclusion is that stress in any language, and more particularly in English, may not be as straightforward a matter as has been hitherto assumed.

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Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / This thesis concentrates on the role of Welsh noblewomen in the history of Wales in the thirteenth century. Their absence from this history until quite recently is discussed, and several outstanding Welsh noblewomen have been studied in detail. The women studied include the mothers, wives and daughters of the native Welsh rulers of Gwynedd as well as noblewomen from northern Powys, Cydewain, Ceredigion, and so on. One chapter of the work is devoted to the Welsh Laws of Women which, although somewhat archaic by the thirteenth century, were still in use in some parts of Wales and help provide background. Another chapter investigates the evidence for women in the extant literature and poetry of the period. The thesis explores the themes of women’s access to power through the family and also the ability of Welsh noblewomen to take action in their own and their family members’ interests, in the public sphere, when they felt it was necessary. While the later years of the thirteenth century witnessed the final defeat of the Welsh by the Anglo-Normans after more than two hundred years, earlier in the century, Welsh leaders had been able to unite under the leadership of the rulers of Gwynedd and achieve a measure of independence from their oppressors. Welsh noblewomen played an important part in this recovery of Welsh power and their participation in this aspect of Welsh medieval history is also explored. It is clear from the evidence collected that most of the noblewomen studied owned land, in spite of the prohibition against women owning land under native Welsh law. Welsh noblewomen supported their fathers, husbands and sons, and they also took direct action themselves when the need arose.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / This thesis concentrates on the role of Welsh noblewomen in the history of Wales in the thirteenth century. Their absence from this history until quite recently is discussed, and several outstanding Welsh noblewomen have been studied in detail. The women studied include the mothers, wives and daughters of the native Welsh rulers of Gwynedd as well as noblewomen from northern Powys, Cydewain, Ceredigion, and so on. One chapter of the work is devoted to the Welsh Laws of Women which, although somewhat archaic by the thirteenth century, were still in use in some parts of Wales and help provide background. Another chapter investigates the evidence for women in the extant literature and poetry of the period. The thesis explores the themes of women’s access to power through the family and also the ability of Welsh noblewomen to take action in their own and their family members’ interests, in the public sphere, when they felt it was necessary. While the later years of the thirteenth century witnessed the final defeat of the Welsh by the Anglo-Normans after more than two hundred years, earlier in the century, Welsh leaders had been able to unite under the leadership of the rulers of Gwynedd and achieve a measure of independence from their oppressors. Welsh noblewomen played an important part in this recovery of Welsh power and their participation in this aspect of Welsh medieval history is also explored. It is clear from the evidence collected that most of the noblewomen studied owned land, in spite of the prohibition against women owning land under native Welsh law. Welsh noblewomen supported their fathers, husbands and sons, and they also took direct action themselves when the need arose.

Thesis--University of Basle. / Bibliography: p. 336-339.

Thesis--University of Basle. / Bibliography: p. 336-339.

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