The Cornish (kernow) Language, taken from www.cornwall-calling.co.uk

[Catriona]

I thought I'd find some relevant web information to help those who have little or no idea about Cornwall, the Cornish or their history!

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Cornwall - The Cornish Language
There was a tribe callled the Dumnonii, who inhabited most of south west Britain including Cornwall. Cornish started to evolve as a separate language around 2000 BC. The Celtic languages are split into two groups - Cornish, Welsh and Breton form one group with common roots - Irish, Manx and Scots Gaelic form a second group. I can vouch for this myself as my mother is a native Welsh speaker who has tried to converse in Welsh with more sucess in Brittany than in Ireland!

Cornish continued to develop as a separate language until the 17th century, then started to decline as English became the langage that was necessary to suceed. Cornish became looked on a the language of the poorer people. The chuch acted as a further stimulus for English as the Prayer Book was only puplished in English. In fact there was a major uprising in Cornwall in 1547 nagainst the imposition of the English Prayer Book.

Eventually the last native Cornish speaker, died according to one source around 1891 near St Just in Penwith. But according to others occured much earlier in 1777 with the death of Dorothy Pentreath near MouseholeIn recent years Henry Jenner has spearheaded a move to revive Cornish, and grammars, dictionaries and magazines in the language have been published.

There are many books available now in Cornish, and there is a movement by some to have Cornish road signs. Many main roads into the county have the name Kernow as well as Cornwall.

www.cornwall-calling.co.uk

[sonic-skunk]

Theres an asda near my house with some signs in cornish in the main supermarket! its great!

[0Ash0Tree0]

So you're saying there are no more Corish speakers in Cornwall??? That's sounds a bit odd to me...