Good point. Quite a few examples of that down here in South Wales. Wales Today makes for interesting listening on that point. Not very interesting mind, and only on that one tiny point.

I have no reason to be interested in how the locals pronounce it

Exactly.

the <gutteral> is the unfamiliar combination of "L" at the front of the mouth and a "being sick" noise at the back.

No, it's not at the back of the throat; it's all at the front. No phlegm is required. Just tongue in the L position and then breathe out. It's easy.

Oh and locally (in the backward, sheep-shagging West Country), Bath is pronounced like the sheep noise: Baaa-th; no "r" and the -th- is very soft as in "thither".

Cos the place is full of sh1te..... :wink:

You might need something to wipe the screen after???

I've seen Dollgelley in old Parish Registers and Censi for example.

I've heard Dol-ga-loo from tourists. I've also heard Aber-wrist-watch and Penrhyn-cock amongst others. Its sad how many people think it is funny to be completely ignorant of these things yet would take offence or be the first to correct if the shoe was on the other foot.

Just top put the record straight and get back on topic the answer is:

Dol-gell-eye, but the locals will often just use Dol, Mach or Aber for example. 'Llanfair PG' possibly being the worlds best shortening of a placename ;) Lazy bastards, us Welsh.

it is in old records as Dol-Gelli or Dolgelli (different pronunciations again)

So a student of the language might state how the written name should be pronounced might be rather different to what is said by those who live nearby.

Where I live is known as Darenfelen, Daren Felin, Darren-Felin. These all mean quite diffent things, and (by the phonetic model) should be pronounced diffently, but only those living within five miles ever get to say it, so it tends to be consistent.

Another source of variation comes from the "Correct Pronunciation" Movement of the Cardiff intellectuals and adopted religiously by BBC Wales. Compare (Molgrips will know this one) the pronunciation on the telly of "Caerleon" with that of someone who lives there. Just as in England, we all just say thing diffently.

And yes, it's true that Welsh spelling is phonetic. So it's actually very very easy to pronounce anything even if you've never heard it before, provided you make the effort with a couple of letters. Which is ironically the complete opposite of English.

PS I am from Leominster and it is indeed pronounced Lemster. Interestingly tho, old references to the place have it variously as Lymnster or Lempster. So it's actually grown AWAY from how it sounds not towards.