Cornish Language makes massive return

"Tales from Porth"

 

 

Saturday 14th June saw the launch at Waterstones Bookstore in Truro Kernow of new children's books commissioned by MAGA. Cornwall's own Government language department. Picture of Kanker from the 'Tales from Porth' series of books  

The introductory books are aimed at teachers and parents who have little or no command of Cornish and contain stories, mainly in English, about the characters resident in Porth – a seagull, a chair, a boat, a teacher, a crab and a celebrity. Each story introduces a specific construction in Cornish in such a way that the meaning is obvious and the set builds story by story. The accompanying CD allows users to hear each phrase and includes additional vocabulary, games to extend language use and even a Cornish quiz.

Book launch

Written by Will Coleman, whose skill as a storyteller is widely known, with Cornish language input from Pol Hodge, the books are being distributed to primary schools and to year 3 children and will be offered for sale in bookshops or mail order from Willow books. INSET training for teachers is under way and a session on the Tales will be included at the teacher's day on Saturday 28th.

The launch was a massive success, and included an introduction from Mrs Terry Lello, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People for Cornwall Governing Council and remarks from Pol Hodge and Will Coleman, while everyone enjoyed one of the stories told by Will.

The Cornish Language is making a huge comeback and even public signage in Cornwall or Kernow as it should be correctly called is being dualled. Cornish is a close relative of Welsh and Breton and more distantly of Scots Manx and Irish Gaelic.

Public signage now more commonly uses both languages

The Cornish Language is making a huge comeback and even public signage
in Cornwall or Kernow as it should be correctly called is now being
dualled and has been taken on by big companies such as B&Q, Asda and
Wetherspoon Pubs who have adopted bi lingual signage by popular
demand. Cornish is a close relative of Welsh and Breton and more
distantly of Scots Manx and Irish Gaelic. Language training is being
seen as an adjunct to the ever popular Cornish History syllabus which
offers an alternative to the somewhat biaised and rather jaded
English syllabus. It is now possible to study Cornish and indeed
Celtic History right up to BA and MA level at the new Penryn Tremough
University Campus Institute of Cornish Studies where again, courses
are being fully subscribed at record rates almost before being
advertised.

Dual language signage now required and available

 

The border between Kernow and the new state of England as set in perpetuity in 936 AD between King Athelstan of the new rump Anglo Saxon state and King Hywell of the Kingdom of Cornwall