The paper gives an overview of the history and current status of the Cornish language. The Cornish language or Kernewek, a language with a long history, although considered dead since 1891, has supporters willing to fight for its revival, trying to overcome the problematic areas of the language, mainly due to the time-gap of its use and also trying to promote it and increase its use in current times. Cornish tightly related to the Cornwall people’s history, is a part of their heritage and a symbol of their identity and as such, Cornish people try not only to preserve it but also to reinstate it as a community language.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The Cornish Language
- The Cornish Language: A Historical Perspective
- Early Stages (600AD to 1200AD)
- Middle Cornish (1200AD to 1575AD)
- Late Cornish (1575AD to 1891)
- Revival Efforts
- Revival Efforts
- Early Attempts (1904-1929)
- Standardisation and Organisation (1929-2008)
- Recognition and Support (2002-2014)
- Current Status and Future Prospects
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the history and current status of the Cornish language, examining its revival efforts and its role in Cornish identity and cultural heritage. It focuses on the challenges and successes of reviving a language that has been largely dormant for over a century.
- The history of the Cornish language, from its origins to its decline and eventual revival.
- The challenges faced in reviving the language, including the lack of standardized spelling and the difficulty in finding speakers.
- The role of organizations and individuals in promoting the use of Cornish, including the Cornish Language Board and the Gorsedh Kernow.
- The current status of the Cornish language, including its use in education, media, and everyday life.
- The future prospects of the Cornish language, considering its potential for growth and the ongoing efforts to revive it.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The text traces the historical development of the Cornish language, beginning with its emergence as a distinct language in the 6th century AD. It highlights key periods of change, including the gradual replacement of Cornish by English and the subsequent efforts to revive the language in the 20th century.
The text then discusses the challenges faced by language revivalists, including the standardization of spelling and the lack of a large speaking community. It examines the role of key organizations and individuals in promoting the use of Cornish, and provides examples of its current use in various aspects of Cornish life, including education, media, and community events.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This text focuses on the Cornish language, its history, and its revival. Key terms include: Cornish language, Kernewek, Brythonic languages, language revival, language standardization, Cornish identity, cultural heritage, community language, Gorsedh Kernow, Cornish Language Board.
- Quote paper
- Elena Agathokleous (Author), 2018, Cornish in English-speaking Britain, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/995906
