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William Gwavas and the Cornish Language Revival William Gwavas (1676-1741) was an English barrister and writer who significantly contributed to the Cornish language revival during the early 18th century. Here’s a breakdown of his contributions: 1. Cornish Vocabulary Compilation and Linguistic Works: Around 1710, Gwavas collaborated with Edward Lhuyd and Thomas Tonkin to work on a “Cornu-British vocabulary,” aiming to document and preserve the Cornish language. They were known to be the main authorities in Cornwall on the old Cornish language, and were collectors of mottoes, proverbs, and idioms​【oaicite:5】​....

Thomas Tonkin and the Cornish Language Revival Thomas Tonkin (1678-1742), a Cornish landowner and historian, had a significant role in documenting and promoting the Cornish language during the early 18th century. Here’s a breakdown of his contributions: 1. Proficiency in Cornish and Welsh Languages: Tonkin made ‘great proficiency in studying the Welsh and Cornish languages’ around the period from 1700 onwards, which laid a solid foundation for his subsequent contributions to the Cornish language revival (Wikipedia)....

William Pryce and the Cornish Language Revival William Pryce, an antiquarian, surgeon, and mineralogist from the 18th century, played a significant role in the Cornish language revival through his scholarly efforts. Here’s a breakdown of his contributions: 1. Compilation and Publication of Linguistic Work: Pryce collected linguistic data by engaging with older individuals, and integrated this information with earlier works by Thomas Tonkin and William Gwavas. This compilation led to the publication of ‘Archaeologia Cornu-Britannica’ in 1790, which aimed at preserving the ancient Cornish language (Cornwall Heritage)....

Chapter I: An In-depth Look at The Ordinalia and Its Analysis The Ordinalia, a Middle Cornish trilogy likely crafted in the late 14th century, delineates the Christian narrative of salvation from Creation to Ascension. Unlike the English Corpus Christi cycles, it aligns more closely with the French Passions, omitting sections such as the Nativity, ministry and Last Judgement. The first play, Origo Mundi, serves as an elaborate Old Testament prologue, the second, Passio Domini, provides a potent portrayal of the Passion, intended for performance on the subsequent day, and the third, Resurrexio Domini, explores Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension....

Nicholas Boson was a prominent figure in the 17th century known for his efforts in preserving and promoting the Cornish language through his writings. Early Life and Background Nicholas Boson was born into a landowning and merchant family based in Newlyn, Cornwall, which was engaged in the pilchard fisheries. Interestingly, his mother prevented neighbours and servants from speaking Cornish to him during his early years. However, he only became fluent in the language later in life when he required it for business interactions with fishermen....

William Scawen was a pivotal figure in the late 17th century, notable for his contributions towards the revival of the Cornish language and his political career. Early Life and Political Career William Scawen was born to Robert Scawen of St. Germans and Isabella Nicholls, daughter of Humphrey Nicholls of St Tudy. He was known as a Cornish gentleman and held the position of Vice-Warden of the Stannaries. In April 1640, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for St Germans and East Looe in the Short Parliament....

Edward Lhuyd (1660-1709) played a significant role in the efforts to study and preserve the Cornish language during a time it was facing decline. Below are some key points about Edward Lhuyd’s involvement with the Cornish language, extracted from various sources: Initial Engagement: In the late 17th century, Lhuyd was contacted by a group of Cornish scholars led by John Keigwin of Mousehole, who were looking to preserve and further the Cornish language....

Here is a blog post about the Sacrament of the Altar that was added later by another priest, Thomas Stephyn, written in markdown code: The Sacrament of the Altar is a homily on the Eucharist that was written in Cornish by Thomas Stephyn, a Catholic priest and scholar, around 1576. It is attached to the Tregear Homilies, a collection of twelve sermons translated from English into Cornish by John Tregear, another Catholic priest and scholar, around 1560....

Nicholas Tregear was a Cornish priest and scholar who lived in the late 16th century. He is best known for his translation of twelve of Bishop Bonner’s homilies from English into Cornish, which are collectively known as the Tregear Homilies. These homilies are the longest surviving prose texts in the Cornish language and provide valuable insights into the religious, social and linguistic situation of Cornwall at the time. Nicholas Tregear was a Cornish priest and scholar who lived in the late 16th century....

Introduction Cornwall’s linguistic history is a tapestry woven with unique threads. In this blog post, we delve into the remarkable contributions of Nicholas Tregear, a pivotal figure in the revival of the Cornish language. We also explore the Tregear Homilies, a significant historical treasure that reflects the challenges and triumphs of preserving Cornish during a time of profound change. The Tregear Homilies: A Glimpse into History The earliest surviving examples of Cornish prose are the Tregear Homilies, a collection of 13 Catholic sermons....

The Cornish language, also known as Kernewek, is a Celtic language native to Cornwall. It has a rich history and cultural significance, and it’s closely related to other Celtic languages like Welsh and Breton. One fascinating aspect of Cornish history is its connection to the legendary figures of King Arthur and Merlin. In this blog post, we’ll explore the Cornish language and its mention of Henry V in “The Prophecy of Ambrosius Merlin concerning the Seven Kings....

The world of Arthurian legends is filled with mystical tales, heroic deeds, and prophecies that have captivated generations of readers and scholars. One such intriguing work is “The Prophecy of Ambrosius Merlin concerning the Seven Kings,” a poem attributed to the legendary figure Merlin, known as Myrddin in Welsh mythology. This poem, found in the “Black Book of Carmarthen,” offers a glimpse into the history and future of Britain, all through the lens of seven influential kings....

As of 2023, we can revisit the topic of the Cornish language and its revitalization efforts, including the emergence of new standard forms such as Kernewek Kemmyn and the Standard Written Form (SWF) for short. Introduction Cornish, a Celtic language with deep historical roots in Cornwall, has seen a remarkable resurgence in recent years. This resurgence is not only characterized by a renewed interest in the language but also by the development of new standard forms—Kernewek Kemmyn and the SWF—aimed at preserving and revitalizing this ancient tongue....

The Ordinalia cycle, while not considered spectacular as a whole, contains certain passages of exceptional poetry. In fact, it is suggested that a Cornish poem may have been borrowed by the author of “The Passion of Christ” and incorporated into the play. Let’s delve into this fascinating aspect of Middle Cornish literature. The Mater Dolorosa’s Poem According to Nance, a Cornish scholar, it is within the context of the Passion Play that a shorter religious poem can be found....

Since 1869, there have been four significant ‘accidental’ discoveries that have illuminated the Middle Cornish literary heritage. These findings have not only provided us with valuable insights into the Cornish language’s rich history but also ignited hope for more hidden treasures waiting to be unearthed. In this blog post, we’ll delve into these discoveries and the potential for future revelations in the realm of Cornish manuscripts. Beunans Meriasek: A Complete Play The first of these discoveries occurred with the unearthing of the entire play of Beunans Meriasek....