 |
| Memorial to the Last Cornish Speaker |
Languages at Europe House
European Day of Languages is celebrated Europe-wide on 26 September every year. This week I trod a familiar path from Westminster Underground Station, past the Houses of Parliament, to Europe House. The walk was tinged with sadness. It could prove my last opportunity to attend an event celebrating languages, multilingualism and European culture at Europe House.
 |
| Europe House has hosted many happy language events over the years |
Celtic Languages
This year's flagship event centred on the Celtic Languages of the UK. The series of lectures and language taster classes were originally planned to coincide with the UK's Presidency of the European Union. Europe House's Language Officers Paul Kaye and Stephen Turkington carried it forward to the week of events scheduled to celebrate European Day of Languages this year. These included the Sign Languages of Europe and the annual language-based treasure hunt.
The Two Gaelics
Conchúr Ó Giollagáin was an excellent choice to open the evening's Celtic language sessions. He is a Dublin-raised Irishman based in Scotland as the Director of the UHI Language Sciences Institute in Inverness. He is currently finishing a major study on vernacular Gaelic. |
| Explaining the spread of Irish and Scottish Gaelic |
Education Policy
Irish has been subject to 4 generations of language policy, more support than any other minority language in the world. Yet, still it retains minority status. A fascinating analysis of the data followed with maps, graphs and history. The two Gaelic languages have followed different routes to the same path. Today, Scottish Gaelic has a 10,000 speaker base and Irish a 20,000 speaker base despite their active promotion in education. They lack the critical mass and new fluent speakers that sustain a minority language into the next generation and beyond.
A Chainsaw on Cultural Diversity
Linguistic action and decision-making are not carried out where the speaking population is based. History marginalises the speaker base of minority languages. There is a 'chainsaw effect' at work on cultural diversity with these two Gaelics clinging on in subordination to English. They can but envy the large Welsh speaker base by comparison.
Going, Going, Gone Forever?
 |
| Tim Saunders on Welsh and Cornish history |
Language or Dialect?
The surprise of the night came with the introduction of Ulster-Scots by Ian Crozier. It's a language not a dialect - a Germanic 'twiglet' from English rather than a Celtic language.
Cultural History and Legacy
Bard and historian, Tim Saunders, took us on a 'cavalry charge' through Welsh and Cornish history. It set my family history on both sides of the River Severn with 3 Welsh grandparents into context. So much to bear grievances for, but ultimately a blur. And we are all friends now - with the possible exception of great sporting rivalries. There's a rich cultural and literary heritage to cherish and sustain.
Celtic Language Taster Classes
Languages are about communication. To survive they need to be in active use. We enjoyed four Celtic language classes during the evening against the familiar backdrop of European flags: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Cornish.
 |
| Sandaidh NicDhòmhnaill Jones shared the soft lyricism of Scottish Gaelic |
Scottish Gaelic
You can find a few Scottish Gaelic music videos here to appreciate the beautifully soft, lyrical quality of the language for yourself. It was interesting to note how my recently discovered Scottish ancestor from Stranraer might have sounded.
Gethin Jones aptly chose to introduce his language from the Land of Song through singing. The whole class rose to sing 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes' in Welsh with the actions.
Pen, ysgwyddau, coesau, traed, coesau, traed,
Pen, ysgwyddau, coesau, traed, coesau, traed,
A llygaid, clustiau, trwyn a cheg,
Pen, ysgwyddau, coesau, traed, coesau, traed.
For those puzzled by the apparent lack of vowels in Welsh: w and y are vowels. I noticed how much easier it was for me to pick up the Welsh than the Gaelic sounds because they were introduced in childhood.
Celtic Language Classes
It was interesting to note that Gethin did all his education from ages 5-18 in Welsh. The other tutors had learnt their respective Celtic languages to fluency levels as adults. If you are interested, you can go to the London Welsh Centre to learn Welsh, or you can find a full range of Celtic languages at the City Lit.
Cornish
 |
| Paul Church and the Kings Arms during my 2017 visit |
Our tutor has been teaching Cornish at the City Lit for 41 years. She learnt Cornish as an adult. She demonstrated that a living language is first and foremost about social interaction and communication. She was on the move throughout the class to demonstrate (hence no photos).
The last original Cornish speaker, Dorothy Pentreath, was probably not the best advertisement for the language. She was a fisherwoman who apparently swore at everyone in Cornish. Next time I visit the friendly community of Paul where her memorial stands in the churchyard (see top of this blog), I will be able to ask for an apple or bag of crisps at the Kings Arms in Cornish.
English Skills for Immigrants
As I wandered back past the Houses of Parliament, a man was pushing his son in a pushchair. It reminded me that tomorrow's future minority languages are not all about our indigenous Celtic tongues. The little boy was fighting sleep against the movement of the pushchair in the night air, as my own sons once did.
The various talks demonstrated that it is far easier to save and build a dying language than to resurrect a dead one.
The evening's overriding takeaway is that the future of the UK's minority languages is not all bad news.
