Unified Cornish
Encyclopedia
Unified Cornish (Kernewek Uny[e]s, KU) is a variety of revived Cornish
. Developed gradually by Morton Nance during and before the 1930s, it derived its name from its standardisation of the variant spellings of traditional Cornish MSS. Nance's recommended spelling and grammar, based on Middle Cornish, soon supplanted Henry Jenner
's system which had been based largely on Late Cornish. Most of the older generation of Cornish users alive today would have started under this system. It was also the form used by Gorseth Kernow
originally, although they now use the new Standard Written Form
.
In the 1980s, Unified Cornish came under heavy criticism, leading to the creation of Kernewek Kemmyn
(KK) and Modern Cornish
(or Revived Late Cornish, RLC).
However, a number stayed with Unified. In the 1990s, yet another variety emerged when Unified Cornish Revised (UCR) (Kernowek Unys Amendys, KUA) was devised by Nicholas Williams
.
In May 2008 the Cornish Language Partnership agreed on a single written form of Cornish to be known as 'Standard Written Form
' (SWF), to be used by Cornwall Council authorities for the purposes of education and public life. The Cornish Language Partnership has specified that Furv Skrifys Savonek (FSS) is the SWF translation for Standard Written Form. Users of UCR and KS prefer the term Form Screfys Standard.
In September 2008 Agan Tavas re-affirmed its support for Unified Cornish, as well as for the SWF and for Kernowek Standard
.
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
. Developed gradually by Morton Nance during and before the 1930s, it derived its name from its standardisation of the variant spellings of traditional Cornish MSS. Nance's recommended spelling and grammar, based on Middle Cornish, soon supplanted Henry Jenner
Henry Jenner
Henry Jenner FSA was a British scholar of the Celtic languages, a Cornish cultural activist, and the chief originator of the Cornish language revival....
's system which had been based largely on Late Cornish. Most of the older generation of Cornish users alive today would have started under this system. It was also the form used by Gorseth Kernow
Gorseth Kernow
Gorseth Kernow is a non-political Cornish organisation, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.-History:...
originally, although they now use the new Standard Written Form
Standard Written Form
The Standard Written Form or SWF of the Cornish language is an orthography standard that is designed to "provide public bodies and the educational system with a universally acceptable, inclusive, and neutral orthography"...
.
In the 1980s, Unified Cornish came under heavy criticism, leading to the creation of Kernewek Kemmyn
Kernewek Kemmyn
Kernewek Kemmyn is a variety of the revived Cornish language.Kernewek Kemmyn was developed, mainly by Ken George, from Unified Cornish in 1986. It takes much of its inspiration from medieval sources, particularly Cornish passion plays, as well as Breton and to a lesser extent Welsh...
(KK) and Modern Cornish
Modern Cornish
Modern Cornish is a variety of the revived Cornish language. It is sometimes called Revived Late Cornish or Kernuack Dewethas, to distinguish it from other forms of contemporary revived Cornish....
(or Revived Late Cornish, RLC).
However, a number stayed with Unified. In the 1990s, yet another variety emerged when Unified Cornish Revised (UCR) (Kernowek Unys Amendys, KUA) was devised by Nicholas Williams
Nicholas Williams
Nicholas Jonathan Anselm Williams , writing as Nicholas Williams or sometimes N.J.A...
.
In May 2008 the Cornish Language Partnership agreed on a single written form of Cornish to be known as 'Standard Written Form
Standard Written Form
The Standard Written Form or SWF of the Cornish language is an orthography standard that is designed to "provide public bodies and the educational system with a universally acceptable, inclusive, and neutral orthography"...
' (SWF), to be used by Cornwall Council authorities for the purposes of education and public life. The Cornish Language Partnership has specified that Furv Skrifys Savonek (FSS) is the SWF translation for Standard Written Form. Users of UCR and KS prefer the term Form Screfys Standard.
In September 2008 Agan Tavas re-affirmed its support for Unified Cornish, as well as for the SWF and for Kernowek Standard
Kernowek Standard
Kernowek Standard is a variety of revived Cornish and a proposed set of revisions to the Standard Written Form. Developed gradually by a group called UdnFormScrefys , it was published as a proposal in a series of revisions. Its principal authors were Michael Everson, Neil Kennedy, and Nicholas...
.
See also
- Agan TavasAgan TavasAgan Tavas is a society which exists to promote the Cornish language, and is represented on the Cornish Language Partnership. It was formed in 1987 to promote the use of Cornish as a spoken language. At that time only those observed to be using the language fluently could become members by...
- Cornish Language Council (Cussel an Tavas Kernuak)
- Kernowek StandardKernowek StandardKernowek Standard is a variety of revived Cornish and a proposed set of revisions to the Standard Written Form. Developed gradually by a group called UdnFormScrefys , it was published as a proposal in a series of revisions. Its principal authors were Michael Everson, Neil Kennedy, and Nicholas...
External links
- English-Cornish Dictionary (Gerlyver Sawsnek-Kernowek) by Nicholas Williams
- Cussel an Tavas Kernuack
- Agan Tavas