Children embrace Cornish language as it enjoys ‘remarkable resurgence’

Pupils from Trewirgie school attended the event in Truro, Cornwall, to explore and celebrate the Celtic language. Photograph: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Pupils from Trewirgie school attended the event in Truro, Cornwall, to explore and celebrate the Celtic language. Photograph: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian Children embrace Cornish language as it enjoys ‘remarkable resurgence’ Go Cornish Celebration engages younger generation as council finalises strategy to boost everyday use of Kernewek Seven-year-old Albie, a pupil at Trewirgie infants’ school in Redruth, did not hesitate when asked why he liked learning Kernewek, the Cornish language. “We used to talk this way in the old days,” he said. “And I like speaking now. I enjoy the songs we sing, the Cornish books we read, all the words. It’s fun.” Albie 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,” she said. “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. “They love that.” View image in fullscreen Children at the event, who have been learning Kernewek at school, gathered to showcase their knowledge, play games and sing songs in the Cornish language. Photograph: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian 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. It says progress would include marriages and births being registered in Cornish, bilingual road signs and the development of a public service media in the language. “You’ve got to have a bit of ambition, haven’t you?” said council leader Leigh Frost as he watched the children flit around Lys Kernow, sharing songs, rhymes and stories in Kernewek. “We’re looking at what Wales has achieved in the last few decades [the Welsh language, Cymraeg, is a vital and vibrant part of Welsh life]. 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, which gives it greater protection and status. “That puts it on a par with those other Celtic languag