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It is difficult – getting an official orthography for Cornish

It has not been an easy matter, getting agreement on a standard written form for the Cornish language. But Jenefer Lowe, Cornish Language Officer for Cornwall County Council, in an interview for Radyo Kernew, has said that an announcement can be expected by the end of this month (April).

Par Gwyn Griffiths pour Gwyn Griffiths le 23/04/08 19:23

It has not been an easy matter, getting agreement on a standard written form for the Cornish language. But Jenefer Lowe, Cornish Language Officer for Cornwall County Council — see ( voir notre article ) part III — in an interview for Radyo Kernew, has said that an announcement can be expected by the end of this month (April).

But we shall have to wait and see whether this will mean that from next September the language will be gradually introduced into schools and whether there will be some official documents in the language.

And although the official British government supported Cornish Language Partnership appeared some weeks ago to be coming to the opinion that the most widely used Kernewek Kemmyn (Common Cornish) would form the basis of the new orthography, supporters of other forms are reluctant to agree.

The Cornish discussion group Agan Tavas(1) (Our Tongue) are critical of the Kernewek Kemmyn orthography dismissing it as something produced by a computer with little semblance to the ancient Celtic language which is closely related to Breton and Welsh.

An ad hoc committee consisting of representatives of supporters of the various written forms of the language together met with the Norwegian linguist, Professor Trond Trosterud, who has been chosen to arbitrate in the dispute. Again, the various factions failed to agree.

While Kernewek Kemmyn is claimed to be by far the most widely used written form of modern Cornish and the form used by Kesva (The Cornish Language Board), the Agan Tavas group - its two most prominent members are based in Dublin - have some academic support, particularly from the Cornish Studies Department of Exeter University.

The general consensus seems to favour an orthography mainly based on Kernewek Kemmyn with some adjustments but this is not acceptable to all, least of all Agan Tavas.

It is hoped that the argument can be settled soon so that Cornish can have its rightful place in schools and official documents.

Gwyn Griffiths

(1) Agan Tavas : The Society for the Protection and Promotion of the Cornish Language, he Support Group for Users of the Cornish Language. http://www.agantavas.org.uk/

See the translation in French on ( voir notre article ).

Voir aussi :

Dico de poche bilingue cornique-anglais par Éditions Yoran Embanner le 06/08/2015
La Cornouaille britannique et le Finistère ont signé un partenariat par Philippe Argouarch le 26/05/2008
Le retour du cornique ou quand le droit prime sur le nombre de locuteurs par Philippe Argouarch le 22/05/2008
Cornwall - 'Resist and survive' book launch par Celtic League le 21/05/2008
Cornwall - 'Historic Moment' in language revival par Celtic League le 20/05/2008
Kernow : Devonwall police - committed to Cornish language & Cornwall ? par Celtic League le 15/05/2008
CSW - Attempt to further dissipate Cornish cultural identity par Celtic League le 07/05/2008
Kernow - Census on obstinacy continues par Celtic League le 26/04/2008

Gwyn Griffiths is an ABP correspondant in Wales. A Welsh delegate of the International Committee for the Defense of the Breton Language (ICDBL) and former journalist with BBC Cymru, he is a contributor to several Welsh newspapers and magazines – one of them is Cambria. He is the author of numerous books and articles in Welsh and English – many of them about Brittany. He is co-editor, with Jacqueline Gibson, of \"The Turn of the Ermine. An Anthology of Breton Literature\". (London, Francis Boutle Publishers, 506 p., 2006). He is a great connoisseur and friend of Brittany which he has visited on over 50 occasions.

[ See all articles from Gwyn Griffiths]

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