It's an exciting time for S4C as the new High Definition, or HD, channel starts broadcasting. The channel was named after S4C asked viewers to help them choose a name for the service. Clirlun (the name means: clear picture) is the name chosen.

I went on the trail of how words are coined in broadcasting and technology for Wedi 7 as a result of an appeal by S4C to the people of Wales to coin a new Welsh term for High Definition.

Choosing a name for such an important service can be extremely difficult. I investigated how some other Welsh words were coined in the technological world.

TV

On 25 May 1953 the term 'teledu' was coined for 'television'. Strangely, the word was thought of by three people independently of each other.

When Cassie Davies, Dan Richards and Urien Wiliam coined the word, they saw an opportunity to use 'teledu' as the name for the small screen as well as being a verb-noun for broadcasting on the box.

The word 'darlledu' is now being used for broadcasting on radio and television and of late for the web as well.

New terms

One feature of languages like French and English, which means that they dominate smaller languages, is that they have short, catchy words for many things that are captured verbally.

This coincides with the human tendency to be lazy when speaking. The shorter the word, the better it is! And if it's a term that captures the imagination of people, so much the better.

We shouldn't be afraid of coining new terms in Welsh. After all, it's the language of 'cynghanedd' (bound verse), not to mention the language of heaven!

Clirlun

As you can see, the existing terms for High Definition sound rough and clumsy.

'Manylder Uwch' and 'Diffiniad Uchel' tussle with the tongue as we try to pronounce them and are examples of what catchy language shouldn't be.

I had several suggestions for a name for the new channel, but given everything, Clirlun was the best choice, catchy and clear - just like 'teledu'.