Small Saga

Featured Welsh Content

In Small Saga, one of the four main characters is a Welsh rat called Gwen.

Gwen’s name is of Welsh origin, with her full name being Gwenllian.

She introduces herself as “Gwenllian of Neuadd-y-duwiau-gwynion, the Hall of the White Gods”.

Although the game is not voiced, the text-based dialogue shows that Gwen speaks with a South Walian dialect. She uses Welsh words or phrasing, such as calling characters “dwt” (a term of endearment often used for small children and generally meaning “cute”), and adding “like” at the end of sentences. A couple of her lines feature a lot more Welsh language.

Gwen uses the Welsh word cachgi and its plural form cachgwn at times. This can mean “coward”, but also has a more profane meaning (literally “dog excrement”). Cachu and cachu-hole are other Welsh pejoratives used by Gwen, along with cer i grafu (“go to hell”).

Gwen and others have a tendency to refer to her as a dragon, particularly a “red dragon”, which, given her Welsh background, may be a purposeful reference to the Welsh Dragon.

One of Gwen’s weapons is called “Duw Glaive”, with duw being the Welsh word for “god”. In one instance, Gwen names a scalpel she acquires “Euryn”, a male Welsh name that can also mean “golden one”.

Some of the names of Gwen’s family are Welsh, including Owen, Efa, Jac, Reese, Ceredigion, Alys, and Harri.

A few of the save statues reference Welsh mythical figures or creatures, such as Rhiannon, Gofannon, and the pwca.

There is a small mention of “Pwyll the wise”, as well as the “Knights of Pwyll”, referencing the mythical Welsh figure Pwyll.

The sword Excalibur is interpreted as a different kind of object in Small Saga. Excalibur was the legendary blade of King Arthur that ultimately derives its name from the Welsh Caledfwlch, meaning “hard cleft”.

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