Cornish Language and Dialect (Yeth ha Rannyeth Gernewek)
There are many scholars working on the Cornish language and dialect both within Cornwall and all over the world. These range form undergraduates focusing on Cornish as a case study whenever possible in their wider studies, through a growing number of PhD and Early Career researchers to more established academics in various fields relating to both Cornish Studies and languages who are researching many different aspects of Cornish and using the language in their practice. The ICS has invited a range of these scholars to write blog pieces introducing both themselves and their work on Cornish. As you will see from these posts, there is a growing interest in sociolinguistics, language attitudes and the use of Cornish overseas, particularly in those countries associated with the Cornish diaspora. This growing visibility of the Cornish language and dialect within academia and by scholars who do not necessarily have a background within the Cornish language community is a positive step forward for the discipline and we at the ICS look forward to continuing to make links with a network of scholars at all stages of their careers who are interested in Cornish and in furthering discussions around the language.
Challenges in Learning Cornish
- The general visibility of the language
- The power of the media to influence attitudes to languages
- The use of ‘language’ as a proxy for nation, identity and othering in political rivalry and infighting
- ‘double minoritisation’: where speakers of a minoritized language may be further marginalised because of the language variety they use
- The complex situation of Revived Cornish
- The representation of minoritized languages within academia
- Reconnecting with your roots
- The challenges of being based outside Cornwall
- Indigenous language rights
- Preserving the authenticities of languages and cultures
- The commodification of Cornish language and heritage in Cornwall
- Cornish heritage in Hidalgo, Mexico
- Cornish-American and Cornish-Canadian musical communities occasionally utilize the Cornish language in conversation and in their music.
- Cornish language songs in North America have at times been adopted from traditions in Cornwall, translated from various sources, or newly composed.
- Even though Cornish language songs in North America are comparatively uncommon, they are important because they may provide inspiration for future work and opportunities to feel more connected with a sense of Cornishness.