Children embrace Cornish language as it enjoys 'remarkable resurgence'
Nearly 200 children gathered at Go Cornish Celebration in Truro, showcasing their Kernewek skills. Cornwall Council's 10-year strategy aims for every child to have basic Cornish by the end of primary school.
Children's enthusiasm
Seven-year-old Albie, a pupil at Trewirgie infants' school in Redruth, did not hesitate when asked why he liked learning Kernewek: "We used to talk this way in the old days. And I like speaking now. I enjoy the songs we sing, the Cornish books we read, all the words. It's fun." He was one of almost 200 children who descended on Lys Kernow (County Hall) in Truro for Go Cornish Celebration, a joyous event showcasing youngsters' explorations of the Celtic language.
His teacher, Kirsten Maun, who leads the Cornish programme at the school, said the children relished learning the language. "Our school had already embraced our Cornish history. For example, our classes are named after local tin mines, but I think learning the language helps the children understand their identity more deeply. They know they're Cornish and they think that's a special thing to them. Plus, they just like learning different words." She added that the word for butterfly – tykki duw – was particularly popular.
Council strategy
The Go Cornish takeover of Lys Kernow came as Cornwall council is completing a striking 10-year strategy that envisages Kernewek as a "thriving, forever language – widely spoken, seen and heard in everyday life in Cornwall". Goals include making sure every child in Cornwall leaves primary school with a basic understanding of Cornish, establishing the first bilingual school and making sure Cornish is routinely seen and heard in civic spaces.
Council leader Leigh Frost said: "You've got to have a bit of ambition, haven't you? We're looking at what Wales has achieved in the last few decades. The Cornish language deserves that same opportunity." In January Kernewek was officially recognised under part three of the European charter for regional or minority languages, giving it greater protection. The strategy is being delivered on a shoestring – £170,000 a year.
Challenges and support
There are doubters. Reform UK councillor Sean Smith questioned whether the level of public demand justified the investment at a time when Cornwall faces significant pressure in housing, adult social care, children's services and economic inequality. However, the grand bard of Cornwall, Jenefer Lowe, insisted growing the language was crucial: "It's about a sense of place and identity. The language underpins everything." Will Coleman, of Golden Tree, which leads the Go Cornish learning programme in schools, beamed as he watched children from across Cornwall studying each other's artwork inspired by the language. "This kind of event demonstrates clearly that language enriches lives. It brings people together, it's inclusive, it's celebratory, it's forward-looking. What's not to love?"
While exact numbers of speakers are uncertain, Cornwall council figures suggest 500 advanced speakers and 2,000 with basic knowledge. The language is also gaining traction through a BBC podcast, films by Mark Jenkin, and a mass at Truro Cathedral.
