Some Words/Phrases from the Old Cornish Language
Modern Cornish (sometimes called Late or Traditional Cornish) is the language in which most of West Cornwall's placenames occur and in 1700 it was the subject of a serious study by the great Welsh linguist Edward Lhuyd. It differs from the medieval language in having a much simpler grammar. There are differences of vocabulary and pronunciation too, the end result being a very practical, pleasing and earthy language, one well suited to the needs of mining, fishing and agricultural communities. The spelling is very graphic, giving learners much guidance to the pronunciation. The policy of Cussell an Tavas Kernuack/ The Cornish Language Council is to use the historical spelling of Modern Cornish as found, making choices between the various native spellings when necessary. In reviving the language we rely heavily on the in-depth researches of Richard Gendall. For more than ten years he has been engaged in research into all aspects of the historical language.
Learners of Cornish should not be too alarmed by the existence of three forms of Cornish (In addition to Modern Cornish we have Unified & Common Cornish ). In Cornwall we are learning to live with our differences and find practical ways of working together. Finally, the language is the inheritance of all Cornish people whether in Cornwall or in some distant corner of the world. After all, Cornish people emigrated to many distant lands taking their mining skills with them. As we used to say, if you find a hole in the ground and watch it closely, eventually a Cornishman will climb up out of it!
Moaz aman Brea Cambern, toaz trea, | Going up Camborne Hill, coming down, |
Moaz aman Brea Cambern, toaz trea, | Going up Camborne Hill, coming down, |
An verth hethaz steag | The horses stood still, |
An rosow geath raage, | The wheels went around, |
Moaz aman Brea Cambern, toaz trea. | Going up Camborne Hill, coming down. |
E lodrow, e lodrow o gwidn, | White stockings, white stockings she wore, |
E lodrow, e lodrow o gwidn, | White stockings, white stockings she wore, |
E lodrow o gwidn, wos aith thur an jyn, | White stockings she wore, the same as before, |
Moaz aman Brea Cambern, toaz trea. | Going up Camborne Hill, coming down. |
Me oya e seera, taze coth, | I knawed her awl' faather, awl' man |
Me oya e seera, taze coth, | I knawed her, awl' faather, awl' man, |
Me oya e thaze, en band e whethaz, | I knawed her awl' man, he blawed in the band, |
Moaz aman Brea Cambern, toaz trea. | Going up Camborne Hill, coming down. |
E vuzaz an tane gen an glow, | He 'eaved in the coal in the steam, |
E vuzaz an tane gen an glow, | He 'eaved in the coal in the steam, |
E vuzaz an tane, an jyn geath adro, | He 'eaved in the coal, the steam hit the beam, |
Moaz aman Brea Cambern, toaz trea. | Going up Camborne Hill, coming down. |