LEARN CORNISH
On-line classes and resources
for the Cornish language
Vocabulary
ON-LINE HERE: Gerlyver Kescows, 2nd edition, full text, completely revised, 5000 words and phrases for conversation + grammar words + 'outbursts' + place-names, easily browsed, easily searched
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ON-LINE HERE: Kescows Nebes Moy, 2nd edition, supplementary vocabulary classified by topic (work-in-progress)
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ON-LINE HERE: Minimum working vocabulary for those wishing to learn just a little Cornish, or a first step for those aspiring to greater things
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ON-LINE HERE: Unique glossary, Cornish-English, English-Cornish, dedicated specifically to the Covid-19 pandemic
Read MoreWhat's New?
First Chapters of the Classics
Click or tap here
INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET
We've started a bank of Cornish words
in IPA spelling
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GORMOLA AN BENENES
Poem by Nicholas Williams, read aloud by the author
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CORNISH-LANGUAGE PODCASTS BY NICHOLAS WILLIAMS
There are now more than 400 podcasts to choose from
Click or tap here
PASSYON AGAN ARLÙTH
In Standard Cornish spelling
But adapted to be as faithful as possible to the poetics of the original
First 160 verses now published
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DE CREATIONE HOMINIS
Bonner's First Homily
As translated by John Tregear
Now in Standard Cornish spelling
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SACRAMENT AN ALTER
New critical edition by David Frost
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CARA KERNOWEK IN THE MAKING
First 44 of planned 60 lessons
Available as working drafts
Go to Courses page and scroll down
Celebrating 140 years since the birth of A.S.D. Smith
PWYLL PRINCE OF DYFED
The First Branch of the Welsh Mabinogi
Translated by 'Caradar'
Published in full in Standard Cornish spelling for the first time
Click or tap here
Celebrating 140 years since the birth of A.S.D. Smith
BRANWEN DAUGHTER OF LLŶR
The Second Branch of the Welsh Mabinogi
Translated by 'Caradar'
Published in Standard Cornish spelling for the first time
Click or tap here
About Us
It is important to realize there are several other approaches to revived Cornish, drawing on the historical sources to strike different balances in matters of grammar and vocabulary. There are alternative spelling systems too, most publicly the Standard Written Form (SWF) favoured by Cornwall Council. Debating the merits of such differences is outside the scope of this site.
The weekly lovinglivingcornish class in Newlyn (Lulyn) has its own website kernoweklulyn.com carrying further compatible material. There is also moderncornish.net, the website of Cussel an Tavas Kernôwek who specialize in applying the later historical sources, and the associated blog Te ha Tesednow. There is a lively magazine Gweles with a majority of its content in Cornish (KS and SWF with traditional graphs). Additional material appears on its website gweles.com where you can subscribe.
Are you a prospective teacher of a class in traditional Cornish? We offer a full Scheme of Work, as well as classroom kit and logistical support. Don't hesitate to get in touch. And whether teacher or student, you can always contact us with questions about traditional Cornish grammar or vocabulary, or with queries about idiom or style.
We are not a commercial website. We are however eager to carry high-quality literature in Cornish, original or translated. We also welcome high-quality podcasts in Cornish. We accept advertising for publications in KS, and for events suitable for learners where Cornish is spoken. Click on Miscellany for our literary / audio and advertising policies.
Events
This class is for complete beginners. Mondays, 19:30, by Zoom. The course is Common European Framework of Reference A1 (Breakthrough), the coursebook is Skeul an Tavas, Standard Cornish edition, available from Amazon UK. We supplement it with a lot of additional material. Fully compatible with all the podcasts and literature on this website.
This class is for those who are no longer beginners but who would like more practice before moving past the introductory stage. Wednesdays, 19:30, by Zoom. And Tuesday and Friday evening slots are sometimes available by arrangement. The course is at the level of Common European Framework of Reference A1 (Breakthrough). New joiners welcome at any time. Contact Us to get the joining details. The class runs until the end of June 2023.
This class is currently for those progressing to Common European Framework of Reference B1 (Lower Intermediate). Thursdays, 19:30, by Zoom. The current coursebook is Cara Kernowek Book Three, with lessons available in pdf format while we road-test it. Fully compatible with all the podcasts and literature on this website. The course is planned to go as far as CEFR B2 (Upper Intermediate), subject to demand. The class will continue to meet in July and August as an on-line 'Summer School'.
This class is for complete beginners. Mondays, 19:30, by Zoom. The course is Common European Framework of Reference A1 (Breakthrough). The coursebook will be Cara Kernowek Book One, available by this summer from magazine / publisher Gweles. Fully compatible with all the podcasts and literature on this website. Meets requirements for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Go to Contact Us to book a place in this class. The class will only run if there is sufficient demand.
This class is for those who have completed a beginners course and are now progressing to Common European Framework of Reference A2 (Preliminary). Wednesdays, 19:30, by Zoom. The coursebook is Cara Kernowek Book Two, available by this summer from magazine / publisher Gweles. Fully compatible with all the podcasts and literature on this website. Go to Contact Us to book a place in this class. The class will only run if there is sufficient demand.
A residential weekend according to the Tregedna concept, combining learners and more confident speakers, where everyone commits to speak only Cornish. With plenty of activities designed to encourage conversation. Places subject to availability. Contact Us for more information.
Audio
Literature
Items are in alphabetical order of Cornish title. For items recently added you can alternatively click or tap MOST RECENTLY ADDED and follow the links from there.
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Click or tap and follow the links
Read MoreJules Verne's Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (Around the World in Eighty Days), abridged for young readers
Read MoreON-LINE: George Orwell's Animal Farm, with Cornish-English glossary (instalments from January 2021)
Read MoreThe Holy Bible (Old Testament, New Testament)
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Hans Christian Andersen's Prinsessen paa Ærten (The Princess and the Pea), with Cornish-English glossary
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Rudyard Kipling's The Crab that Played with the Sea (a 'Just So' story), with Cornish-English glossary
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Hans Christian Andersen's Fyrtøjet (The Tinderbox), with Cornish-English glossary
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Chapter 1 of Anthony Trollope's The Warden, being the first volume of The Chronicles of Barsetshire, with Cornish-English glossary
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Chapter 1 of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel, with Cornish-English glossary
Read MoreCourses
ON-LINE HERE: New coursebook (CEFR A1) for beginners: consultation draft (consultation complete: now being prepared for publication)
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: New coursebook (CEFR A2) for those who have already taken a beginners course: consultation draft (consultation complete: now being prepared for publication)
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Tentative draft of first 11 Lessons of new CEFR B1 coursebook (currently being road-tested)
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Worksheets and other material for the lessons so far
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Worksheets and other material for the lessons so far
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Worksheets and other material
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Worksheets and other material
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Newlyn Class, all the worksheets for the on-line lessons, March - June 2021 (with cumulative vocabulary)
Read MoreGrammar
ON-LINE HERE: A simplified guide to pronouncing Cornish
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ON-LINE HERE: Cornish words spelled in the International Phonetic Alphabet
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Basic verb patterns with bos, gwil, mydnas, gallos, godhvos
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Famous prose passage written 40 years ago, and how it might look if written today
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Ready-reference guide
Read MoreDrills
Playlets
Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 1
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 2
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 4
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 5
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 7
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 8
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 10
Read MorePlaylet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 12
Read MorePuzzles
Simple vocabulary crossword for Skeul an Tavas Part 1 (Lessons 1-6)
Read MoreDon't go to the key until you've attempted the crossword
Read MoreSimple vocabulary crossword for Skeul an Tavas Part 1 (Lessons 1-6)
Read MoreDon't go to the key until you've attempted the crossword
Read MoreSimple vocabulary crossword for Skeul an Tavas Part 1 (Lessons 1-6)
Read MoreDon't go to the key until you've attempted the crossword
Read MoreSimple vocabulary crossword for Skeul an Tavas Part 2 (Lessons 1-12)
Read MoreDon't go to the key until you've attempted the crossword
Read MoreSimple vocabulary crossword for Skeul an Tavas Part 2 (Lessons 1-12)
Read MoreDon't go to the key until you've attempted the crossword
Read MoreStories
ALL ON-LINE HERE
For students of Skeul an Tavas Books 1 & 2
Story for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 5
Read MoreStory for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 7
Read MoreStory for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 15
Read MoreStory for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 18
Read MoreWorksheets
ALL ON-LINE HERE
For students of Skeul an Tavas Books 1 & 2
Weekly lesson sheets to accompany on-line meetings of the Newlyn class
Read MoreWorksheet 2 for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 2
Read MoreWorksheet 3 for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 3
Read MoreWorksheet 4 for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 5
Read MoreWorksheet 5 for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 5
Read MoreWorksheet 7 for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 8
Read MoreWorksheet 8 for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 9
Read MoreExams
Academic
A critical edition with translation by Graham Thomas and Nicholas Williams (2007)
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Philip Payton's revised and updated history of Cornwall (2017)
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ON-LINE HERE: Paper by Prof Nicholas Williams (2022)
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A new edition of Henry Jenner's original monograph from 1904, underpinning all subsequent work to revive the Cornish language (2010)
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ON-LINE HERE: Paper by Rod Lyon (2007)
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A critical edition with translation by David Frost (2023)
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Two important historical texts, re-edited and translated, together with bilingual review (2020)
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Overview of historical Cornish, and of the early years of revived Cornish, by P. Berresford Ellis (1974)
Read MoreMiscellany
Please read before sending us any communication.
Read MorePlease read before submitting to us any literary work or audio item.
Read MorePlease read before submitting any advertisement to us.
Read MoreA short English-language grammar of Breton
Read MoreObservations on contemporary revived Cornish by former Grand Bard Rod Lyon
Read MoreON-LINE HERE: Diagram showing how Cornish is descended from the ancestor language, Proto-Indo European, spoken in Eastern Europe 5000 years ago
Read MoreThe ground-breaking examination of revived Cornish, first written by Nicholas Williams in 1995 (3rd edition 2006), leading eventually to Kernowek Standard (KS)
Read MoreContact us
- Click on Miscellany for our 'Contact Us' policy.