CARA KERNOWEK 4 PART TWO - lovinglivingcornish

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Revived Cornish on the principle of tota Cornicitas

Taking account of all the evidence for historical Cornish

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Level B2 (Vantage, Higher Intermediate)

LESSON SEYTH

Lesson Seven

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

artykyl m article, caslÿs f military camp / headquarters, cledhyans m excavation, codna tir m isthmus, concêvya v conceive, din m hill-fort, dûk m duke, dylabedhys dilapidated, erôsyans m erosion, gorenys f peninsula, hendhyscansek archaeological, palys m palace, pons kerdh m footbridge, pryson m prison, Spayn Spain, starneth m structure, tir meur m mainland, tourystieth f tourism, Vyctôryan m Victorian (also adjective)

An Cresvor is the Mediterranean. Uhelver Kernow is the High Sheriff of Cornwall.

Practys Udnek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty One

Imagine you are a tour guide showing a group of Cornish speaking visitors around Tintagel Castle. Provide them with an interesting commentary. Answer their various questions. Here is a little bit of background material about the site. Do some research of your own to supplement it. Perhaps you would like to recount some of the legend of Tristan and Iseult as well.

Yma Castel Tyntajel (kefrës cries Din Kernowyon) a’y sav wàr Enys Tyntajel (yw gorenys in gwir) wàr vorrep an Tir Uhel. Dell hevel, warlergh dew gledhyans hendhyscansek in 2016 ha 2017, yth o an tyller orth dallath an Osow Cres boneyl udn drigva dhe vyterneth Dewnans pò caslÿs neb arlùth a’n vro. Kefys yw lînednow a balys, hag artyclys devedhys a Spayn ha’n Cresvor Ëst. Y feu an castel derevys i’n dêwdhegves cansbledhen gans Rychat, kensa yùrl Kernow, hag Jeffry Trevenow a scrifas fatell o Tyntajel an tyller may feu Arthùr concêvys pàn dheuth y das Uther Pendragon, dre dùll, dhe wely y vabm Igern, gwreg Dûk Kernow.

Wosa termyn Rychat, nyns o an castel dhe les an yùrlys na felha. Uhelver Kernow a’n kemeras ha ûsya radn anodho rag pryson. Yth esa an starneth ow mos yn tylabedhys, ha’n codna tir, a gelmy an worenys dhe’n tir meur, o shyndys der erôsyans.

An dourystieth a dheuth dhe’n castel in oos an Vyctôryans. Saw nyns o an fordh bys i’n worenys gwelhës erna veu pons kerdh settys dhe’n tyller in 2008.

Cornish Dewnans is based on Welsh Dyfnaint, which is a remodelling of the name of the ancient Celtic territory that the Romans called Dumnonia, encompassing what is now Devon and Cornwall. Dumnonia was never integrated into Roman Britannia, and it became an independent kingdom when Roman rule lapsed. Eventually the eastern part was incorporated by the Saxons into their kingdom of Wessex, and this is now the county of Devon. Some Cornish speakers apply the name Dewnans to modern Devon as if it never included Cornwall. That is essentially to acquiesce in the original Wessex propaganda, downplaying the significance of the western part of the territory that the Saxons did not fully control. It is better to follow Nicholas Boson and use the name Pow Densher from the later English ‘Devonshire’.

Jeffry Trevenow is Geoffrey of Monmouth in English. He wrote the largely fictional Historia Regum Britanniae ‘History of the Kings of Britain’ that was very influential in his own day.

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

ablatyf m ablative, absolût absolute, aflythys implacable, alowadow legitimate, any m complaint (health), anyêhes m poor health, arethva f podium, dais, attal m repayment, barbaryan m barbarian, barnet m baronet, barthusek amazing, bewek lively, bôstya v boast, brèst m chest, bualgorn m roll call (also bugle), chaunj m change, cherya v care for, cleves m illness, disease, cothwas m old fellow, coverfu m curfew, lights out, crycket m cricket (game), cùppa m tea cup, desk m desk, dres hedna in addition, dybyta pitiless, dyskybleth m discipline, dywysycter m enthusiasm, entryng m entrance, fassyon m fashion, ferv firm, fienasow pl anxiety, fin fine, fùndyans m institution, fusyk lucky, fycsyon m fiction, gans hedna moreover, besides (also thereupon), gorweytha v overwork, grêvons m ailment, gùdhùgen f collar, gwana v pierce, gwarthek col (horned) cattle, gwyver m wire, henavak m alderman, henys m old age, hirethek wistful, nostalgic, hunek sleepy, jolyfta m sprightliness, kenseth m lobby, kersek f fen, kesudnya v combine, kevrînyas m mystic, ledry v slope, slant, marthusy remarkable, meppyk m little lad, novellyk m novella, omdednans m retirement, pathos m pathos, pendescador m head teacher, percepcyon m perception, prat m practical joke, pray m prey, prevyans m testing, rascayl m mob, remembrans m memory, recollection, rew m row, scoos m shield, senyans m sounding, ringing, sherys m sherry, smat m ruffian, smyllyng m fragrance, somona (also sompna) v summon, sqwychus jerky, tasek fatherly, tauntyans v impudence, tirwedh f landscape, tradycyon m tradition, troyllya v wind (a clock), tydnhe v tighten, intensify, vernys m varnish, vertu m virtue

Pathos in fiction

An novellyk Goodbye, Mr Chips gans James Hilton (1934) yw aswonys yn tâ in park an pathos hirethek in fycsyon. Oll an lyver re beu trailys dhe Gernowek gans an tîtel Benatuw, Mêster Chyps. Obma an kensa chaptra.

Pàn vy avauncys pell in bledhydnyow (adar clâv, heb mar), traweythyow ty a vëdh hunek, ha’n ourys ow passya, dell hevel, kepar ha gwarthek syger eus ow tremena dres tirwedh. Indelma y feu bêwnans Chyps, pàn esa Termyn Kydnyaf ow mos dh’y dhyweth ha golow an jëdh ow cot’he, bys mayth o tewl lowr, in gwir, rag anowy an gass kyns Bualgorn. Drefen y fedha Chyps, par ha neb capten a’n mor, whath ow musura an eur herwyth sînys an dedhyow coth, ha prag na? abàn esa va tregys orth Mêstres Wickett, ogas glân dhe’n scol, in tenewen aral an strêt. Nans o deg bledhen hag ev tregys worteweth ena, warlergh y omdednans dhyworth soodh an Pendescador; pùpprës y fydna ev, ha perhednes an chy ganso, attendya euryow Brookfield meur moy ès clock Greenwich. “Mêstres Wickett,” a somona Chyps, in lev sqwychus, uhel y don, ow mentêna whath myns brâs a jolyfta, “a yllyth martesen kerhes dhybm cùppa tê kyns Prep?”

Pàn vy avauncys pell in bledhydnyow, plesont yw esedha ryb an tan hag eva cùppa tê ha golsowes clogh an scol ow seny Kydnyow, Bualgorn, Prep, ha Coverfu. Y fedha Chyps pùb dëdh ow troyllya an clock warlergh an dewetha senyans-ma; ena ev a worra an scoos gwyver orth an tan, degea an gass, ha don novel helerhy dhe’n gwely. Bohes venowgh y redya dres udn folen kyns ès cùsk dhe dhos scav ha cosel, moy haval dhe gevrînyas a wra tydnhe y bercepcyon ev, ages entryng a jaunj dhe vÿs aral. Rag hunrosow a lenwy y dhedhyow ha’y nosow dhe’n keth gradh.

Ev o avauncys pell in bledhydnyow (adar clâv, heb mar); in gwiryoneth, dell vedha Doctour Merivale ow leverel, nyns esa dhodho anyêhes vëth. “Ow den ker, ty yw sawha agesof vy,” a levery Merivale, ow lemyga gwedren a sherys pàn vysytya pùb pymthegves nos adre dro. “Ty a dremenas in hans dhe’n oos may coodh pobel in clevejow uthyk; ty yw onen a’n dus fusyk a vëdh marow naturek yn tien. Mara fydnys merwel defry! Ty yw cothwas mar varthusy, ma na yllyn dargana.” Mès pàn wre Chyps anwesy pò pàn esa gwynsow a’n ÿst owth uja dre bow an Kersegy, y fedha Merivale ow côwsel pryva orth Mêstres Wickett i’n kenseth in udn whystra: “Res yw y jerya, a wosta? Y vrèst … ha’y golon a vydn gorweytha. Nyns yw grêvons arbednyk – marnas anno domini, awot any moyha mortal, wàr an dyweth …”

Anno domini … eâ, re’m fay. Genys in 1848 ha gorrys dhe’n Dysqwedhyans Brâs avell flogh nowyth ow kerdhes … tus abyl dhe vôstya a dra mar bell, nyns esa lies onen ow pêwa. Gans hedna, Chyps a berthy cov kefrës a Brookfield pàn o Wetherby pendescador. Barthusek veu hedna. I’n dedhyow-na yth o Wetherby den coth – 1870 – êsy dhe remembra dre rêson an Gwerryans Frynk-Prùssyan. Chyps a wrug ombrofya rag soodh in Brookfield wosa udn vledhen in Melbury, nag o dâ ganso, abàn veuva tauntyans lower torn warnodho i’n tyller-na. Saw Brookfield o pur dhâ ganso, dhia’n very dallath ogasty. Ev a remembras dëdh y kensa keswel – Gortheren howlek, ha’n air leun a smyllyng flourys ha’n plyck-plock a grycket wàr an gwel. Yth esa Brookfield ow qwary warbydn Barnhurst, hag onen a’n vebyon a Barnhurst, meppyk tùch tew, a bonyas cans spladn. Astranj fatl’o pëth a’n par-ma gortys mar gler i’n cov. Wetherby y honen o tasek teg ha cortes; res o ev dhe vos clâv solabrës, an den truan, rag ev a veu marow in degolyow an hâv, kyns ès Chyps dhe dhallath y kensa Termyn. Saw omvetya ha talkya warbarth a wrussons y dhe’n lyha. Y fedha Chyps ow predery liesgweyth, pàn esa a’y eseth ryb tan chy Mêstres Wickett: lyckly lowr nyns eus ken den vëth i’n bÿs a’n jeves remembrans bew a Wetherby coth … Bew, eâ; yth o pyctour menowgh in y vrës, an jëdh-na a hâv, ha’n howl ow qwana der an doust in studhva Wetherby. “Why yw den yonk, Mêster Chipping, ha Brookfield yw fùndyans coth. Dre vrâs yma yowynkes ha henys ow kesudnya yn tâ. Mar reth agas dywysycter dhe Brookfield, y fëdh Brookfield ow ry neppÿth in attal. Ha na sùffrowgh nagonen dhe wil prattys dhywgh. Dell … èr … glôwys, dyskybleth nyns o gàs creffa vertu in Melbury?”

“Wèl, nag o, pàr hap, a syra.”

“Ny vern; why yw cowl-yonk; dre vrâs yth yw mater a experyens. Y fëdh dhywgh ken chauns obma. Kemerowgh cowntnans ferv i’n kensa dëdh, ot oll an kevrîn.”

Martesen. Ev a berthy cov a’n kensa prevyans uthyk a venystra Prep; howlsedhas a vis Gwydngala nans o hanter-cansbledhen; Hel Brâs leun a varbaryans yagh aga crefter, parys dhe lebmel warnodho avell pray alowadow. Y yowynkes, fresk y fâss, uhel y wùdhùgen, ha’y varv scovarn (fassyons coynt a’s teva i’n dedhyow-na), in peryl pymp cans smat heb conscyans, mayth o piga descadoryon nowyth creft fin dhedha, sport bewek, ha tradycyon teg. Gwesyon onest, onen hag onen, saw – avell rascayl – only dybyta hag aflythys. Y feu taw sodyn pàn esedhas ev orth y dhesk wàr an arethva arâg; asper y semlant rag cudha an fienasow esa aberveth; y feu an clock hir adrëv dhodho, ha’n odours a veu ink ha vernys; an dewetha dewydnow, mar rudh avell goos, ow ledry dhe’n leur dre fenestry a weder lyw. Y whrug nebonen gasa gorher desk dhe godha – uskys! res o sowthanas pùb huny; res o showya na vëdh ganso flows vëth. “Ty ena i’n pympes rew – ty ha’th vlew rudh – py hanow?” – “Colley, syra.” – “Wèl, Colley, scrif cans lînen.” Ny veu trobel vëth wosa hedna. Ev a wainyas y kensa fyt.

Ha lies bledhen a’y wosa, pàn o Colley henavak dhe’n Cyta Loundres ha barnet ha tysk taclow erel, ev a worras y vab (rudh y vlew yn kehaval) dhe Brookfield, hag y fedha Chyps ow leverel: “Colley, dha das o an kensa scolor a wrug avy pùnyshya pàn dheuth vy obma nans yw pymp bledhen warn ugans. Ev a’n dendylas i’n prës-na, ha ty orth y dhendyl i’n eur-ma.” Assa veu aga wharth warbarth, hag assa wharthas Syr Richard pàn wrug y vab screfa an whedhel i’n nessa lyther Sul!

Dres hedna, warlergh lies bledhen moy, y feu ges gwell vëth. Rag ken Colley a dheuth nowyth i’n scol – mab dhe’n Colley-na o mab dhe’n kensa Colley. Hag y fedha Chyps ow leverel, ow poyntya y eryow gans an emf-èm bian o lebmyn ûsadow ganso: “Colley, ty yw – emf – ensampyl bryntyn in – emf – tradycyon erytys. Yth esof ow perthy cov a’th sîra wydn – emf – bythqweth ny wor convedhes an Ablatyf Absolût. Gwas gocky o dha sîra wydn. Ha’th tas kefrës – emf – th’esof ow perthy cov anodho ev – esedhys orth an desk pell-na ryb an fos – ev ny veu meur gwell naneyl. Saw dell gresaf – ow Colley ker – ty yw – emf – an moyha fol intredhans oll!” Ha wharth pùbonen owth uja.

Ges brâs o indelma mos yn coth – mès ges trist, inwedh, neb fordh. Ha pàn esa Chyps a’y eseth ryb y dan, ha’n awellow a gydnyaf ow crehylly an fenestry, an todnow a hûmour hag a dristans a scubya dresto yn pòr venowgh, bys may codha dagrow, ha Mêstres Wickett, devedhys gans y gùppa tê, ny wodhya mars esa va ow wherthyn nag owth ola. Na ny wodhya Chyps y honen.

Notes

Ablatyf absolût is a Latin grammatical construction. An Gwerryans Frynk-Prùssyan is the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71). Barv scovarn means ‘side whiskers’. Gweder lyw is ‘stained glass’.

The usual plural of kersek is kersegow. But an older plural Kersegy is seen in the Cornish name of the Cambridgeshire Fens.

ny wodhya mars esa va ow wherthyn nag owth ola

Note this usage of na(g) ‘nor’ to mean ‘or (not that but) rather’.

Practys Dêwdhek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Two

Fatell eus ‘pathos hirethek’ ow sordya in mes a’n kensa chaptra a Benatuw, Mêster Chyps? Gwrewgh gortheby, moyha gyllowgh, in Kernowek.

Taking care with collective nouns

Gwarthek is the latest collective noun to be introduced to our vocabulary. All collective nouns are referenced by plural pronouns in Cornish. In English this is also the case for the word ‘cattle’, so it will not be surprising that Cornish says, for instance, yma an gwarthek ow pory – ymowns y ow pory ‘the cattle are grazing – they are grazing’. But learners of Cornish sometimes also pick up an idea all collective nouns form a singulative ending in en. It is not correct. Many collective nouns do make such a singulative, so we say, for example blew ‘hair’ and blewen ‘a single hair’. But gwarthek is one of the collective nouns that has no singulative. There is also a general belief that every singulative has a plural ending in ednow. This is almost right. But gwelen (from collective gwel ‘sticks’) has plural gwelyny and gwredhen (from collective gwrëdh ‘roots’) has plural gwredhyow; while mynysen has plural mynysow and is not actually a singulative at all; some speakers of revived Cornish have reasoned the existence of a collective mynys, but this would be inconsistent with the treatment in Cornish of all other measurements of time.

Blew is one of the collective nouns about which we must be careful for a different reason, because in English we do not employ a plural pronoun when referencing hair. So Cornish says, for instance, hy blew yw pòr hir – yth yns y pòr hir ‘her hair is very long – it is very long’.

Here are some other collective nouns we already know that require a plural pronoun although their English equivalent accepts singular reference: beler, brows (and brewyon in the same sense), cala, cunys, ewon, eythyn, grug, gwels, gwlân, idhyow, kenyn ewynak, keser, kewargh, kyffewy, luhes, mebyl, mùllyon, persyl Cathay (and simple persyl ‘parsley’), tewas, vytel (though English would employ a plural pronoun when taking the sense as older ‘victuals’ rather than simply ‘food’), ÿs ‘corn’ (as in pop-ÿs and ÿs wheg).

Sometimes English uses both singular and plural forms with nearly identical meaning: lusow ‘ash(es)’, for example. This does not affect the collective nature of the Cornish word. Sometimes English opts for a distinctly countable singular: for instance, ‘a moustache’ where the Cornish minvlew literally means ‘(uncountable) lip hair’.

A Cornish collective may sometimes correspond to an English plural and sometimes to an English singular, depending on the context. Onyon may be ‘onions’ or, as an uncountable ingredient when cooking for example, simply ‘onion’; contrast onyonen ‘a single (countable) onion’. Likewise cawl, letys, etc. But such nouns, being grammatically collective, will always require a plural pronoun in Cornish. Similarly, collective derow ‘oaks’ may also be used for uncountable timber ‘oak’; but predn derow is an ordinary singular.

The origin of brewyon is transparently the plural noun formed from adjective brew ‘bruised, broken’; this was recharacterized as a collective when the sense was ‘crumbs, fragments’ because of singulative brewyonen ‘a crumb, a fragment’, and because the reclassification did not trigger any change of pronoun reference.

Finally, it is worth noting that the classification of collective nouns is dependent to some extent on the approach of individual lexicographers. Mebyl for example is understood by many not as a collective at all but as an ordinary masculine singular noun just like its near-synonym gùtrel.

Practys Tredhek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Three

How would you say the following in Cornish?

Lettuce is an important ingredient in any salad – indeed, I think it is an essential ingredient. We wear wool in winter – yes, in winter we wear it always. This sand will protect the house from flood water – can you help him fill some bags with it? That lightning is amazing – it’s lighting up the whole sky. The straw in the stable (stâbel) is very dirty – it must be changed.

More about inflected imperfects

In Lesson Twelve of Book Three we learned that inflected imperfects follow one of two patterns. The second pattern, exemplified by dallath, involves affection of the final vowel of the stem. It will now be useful to gather together the principal verbs that have an inflected imperfect according to this second pattern.

First, we can note that all verbs with a verb-noun ending in el employ the second pattern. The affection already occurs in the verb-noun itself and is replicated in the imperfect forms. Thus with verb-noun lebmel (stem labm), for example, we have imperfect forms lebmyn, lebmys, lebmy, lebmyn, lebmewgh, lebmens.

Verbs with a verb-noun ending in es employ the second pattern. Thus with verb-noun gweles (stem gwel), for example, we have imperfect forms gwelyn, gwelys, gwely, gwelyn, gwelewgh, gwelens. There is never any affection in verb-nouns ending in es. But one such verb, clôwes, does exceptionally follow the first pattern, having imperfect forms clôwen, clôwes, clôwa (also clôwo – an alternative unique to this verb, but there is no difference in pronunciation), clôwen, clôwewgh, clôwens. And of course we do not include bones, dones, mones here because these are merely strengthened forms of the primary verb-nouns bos, dos, mos.

Verbs with a verb-noun formed with suffix y adopt the second pattern for their inflected imperfect tense. But we noted in Lesson Nine of Book Three that such verbs borrowed from Breton or Welsh very rarely inflect at all.

All verbs with a verb-noun formed with suffix he employ the second pattern. Thus with verb-noun crefhe, for example, we have imperfect forms crefhyn, crefhys, crefhy, crefhyn, crefhewgh, crefhens.

Finally, here is a checklist of other important verbs that adopt an imperfect of the second pattern: abma (with affected stem ibm), aswon, dallath (with affected stem daleth), danvon (with affected stem danven), dôwys, dybarth (with affected stem dyberth), dyfen, don (with affected stem deg), dylla, wherthyn (with same affected stem wherth), gonys (with stem gonedh) ‘cultivate’, govyn (with stem govydn), hùmbrank (with stem hùmbronk), lavasos ‘venture’, omlath (with affected stem omledh). Folwherthyn, genwherthyn, minwherthyn inflect like wherthyn. And you can see that the imperfect tense of gallos (with affected stem gyll) that we have known since Book One likewise belongs to the second pattern.

Practys Peswardhek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Four

How would you say the following in Cornish? Employ an inflected imperfect form wherever possible?

He was waiting for a week. She was speaking for an hour. You used to visit more often. Were they laughing or crying? We were exploring the castle. I didn’t use to smoke more than one or two a day. Were you watching? You weren’t listening. He said that (fatell) we would fight. I was leading them like lambs to the slaughter!

Cornish does not require any prepostion in the first two sentences. In the last sentence use latty m ‘slaughterhouse’.

Practys Pymthek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Five

Write an email in suitable Cornish to a local plumber about replacing a toilet flush that no longer works. You attach a photograph of the inside of the cistern. You wish to know whether the plumber can do the job, how soon, and how much it will cost.

You will need dowrargh f cistern, gweythor plobm m plumber, gwythresa v operate, function, tedn dowr m flush.

**********

LESSON ETH

Lesson Eight

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

airbosor m barometer, Appalachyan Appalachian, branch m branch (often figuratively), bryck m brick, clos f lattice (also grid, rack), crùllya v curl, cùgol m hood, culyak gwyns m weathercock, cùrun f crown, decernya v distinguish, dyskevelsys disjointed, eth m vapour, fay m fairy, gwartha m top, summit, hudol magical, Iselalman Dutch, lentry v shine, gleam, provyns m province, pùnyon m gable, pùrpur purple, regardya v regard (also bear in mind), to m roof, trevesygor m settler, colonist, trigor m inhabitant, uhelder m height, whedhy v swell

Derevel ‘rise’ is also used transitively to mean ‘raise, construct’. Dowr Hudson is the Hudson River of what is now New York State. Ena is an alternative form of enef. As in English, Holland means either Holland in a strict sense or the Netherlands (an Iseldiryow) more generally. Tâl is often used to refer the ‘front’ or ‘end’ of something.

Practys Whêtek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Six

Obma an kensa dew baragraf a’n whedhel berr Rip Van Winkle gans Washington Irving (1819), trailys dhe Gernowek. Wosa aga redya, gwrewgh descryvyans sêmly a neb tre pò treveglos in tirwedh dhynyak yw kerys genowgh why.

Pynag a wrella viaj Dowr Hudson ahës, ny alsa hedna ankevy an Menydhyow Kaatskill. Yth yns y branch dyskevelsys a’n teylu Appalachyan brâs, dhe weles a’n tu west dhe’n ryver, hag ymowns ow whedhy bys in uhelder bryntyn, hag ow lordya dres an pow i’ga herhyn. Yma pùb chaunj a’n sêson, pùb chaunj a’n awel, pùb eur a’n jëdh iredy, ow try neb chaunj in colours ha formys hudol an menydhyow-ma, hag anjy regardyes gans oll an gwrageth ty, ogas ha pell, avell airbosoryon perfeth. Pàn vo an awel teg ha sur, ymowns y gwyskys blou ha pùrpur, ow pryntya aga lînednow poos wàr ebron gler an gordhuwher; saw traweythyow, an dirwedh pàn vo heb cloud ogasty, y fedhons ow cùntell cùgol êthow loos adro dh’aga gwarthavyon, ha brav y wolow bryght kepar ha cùrun glory.

Orth goles an menydhyow gis fayes-ma, y hyll an viajyor decernya an mog scav ow crùllya mes a dreveglos in bàn, hag estyll an tohow ow lentry in mesk an gwëdh i’n keth le may ma arlywyow blou an uheldir ow tedha in glasny fresk an dirwedh yw nes. Otta treveglos pòr goth, fùndyes gans parcel a’n drevesygoryon Iselalman in oos avarr an provyns, orth dallath governans Peter Stuyvesant mas (re bo cres dh’y ena!), hag i’n tyller-ma kyn pedn bohes termyn y feu derevys nebes a’n treven a longya dhe’n drigoryon wredhek, byldyes a vryckys melen bian o drës dhia Holland, ha clojow dh’aga fenestry ha pùnyons dh’aga thâlyow, ha culyak gwyns wàr bùb anedha.

Verbs that are exclusively intransitive

Many verbs that are often used intransitively (without any expressed or implied direct object) may also be used transitively with such an object.

We have just encountered derevel meaning ‘raise, construct’ (transitive) as well as ‘rise’ (intransitive). Another common instance is dallath: something may begin (intransitive); or someone may begin it (transitive with direct object, which will frequently be a verb-noun); or the sense may still be transitive though the verb is used on its own, as in a simple statement like ev a dhalathas ‘he has begun’ (with context alone telling us what he has begun).

A further example would be metya, which is transitive in my a’n metyas ‘I met him’, but intransitive in ny a wrug metya ‘we met’ and my a wrug metya ganso ‘I met [with] him’.

A few verbs, however, are treated in everyday modern Cornish as more or less exclusively intransitive. The commonest of these are entra, esedha, growedha, hedhy, powes, sevel. We must take this into account when we wish to say something transitively with these verbs. For example, ‘I sat him down’ will be my a wrug dhodho esedha, literally ‘I made to him a sitting down’.

Compounds of sevel are not subject to the same restriction. Hence drehevel ‘rise’ but also ‘raise, construct’ (it is a parallel form of derevel); and dysevel ‘upset, knock over’.

We should also note that reflexive verbs formed with prefix om may optionally take an ‘internal object’ formed with honen: for example, yth esa hy owth omhowla hy honen ‘she was sunbathing’. But omwheles ‘overturn’ may be either reflexive or fully transitive in meaning, so we can say, for instance, na omwhel an kert kyns ès drehedhes top an vre, which is equivalent to English ‘don’t upset the apple cart’.

Practys Seytek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Seven

How would you say the following in Cornish?

To stop the bus you must ring the bell. You have to take a ticket at the barrier before you can enter the car park. I laid the injured child carefully on the bed. I paused the video while I quickly went to the loo. I stopped the video because it was much less interesting than I had expected.

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

acownt rentys ha mona spênys m income and expenditure account, alwhedhor m treasurer, arhansek financial, bledhednek annual, cafosyans m acquisition, draghtya v draw up, draft, eseleth m membership, frankwober m honorarium, gwain m gain, oker m interest (on deposit or loan), pëth m asset(s), rentya v rent, hire, scrif balans m balance sheet, stock m stock

Boton is both a button and a (bumper) badge. The verb derivas ‘report’ is also employed as a masculine noun with the same meaning.

Practys Êtek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Eight

Why yw alwhedhor dhe neb clùb bian, Kernowek y davas. An cùntellyans kebmyn bledhednek a wher a verr spÿs, ha why a res darbary derivas arhansek dhe’n esely. Gwrewgh draghtya acownt rentys ha mona spênys, ha scrif balans, rag dysqwedhes yn kempen an manylyon a sew.

Dres an dewetha bledhen an clùb a recêvas £740 awos ragprenow eseleth; £110 rag royow; £244.50 profyt awos gwertha gwara (lyfryow, cappys, botodnow), ha £49.76 rag oker arhanty. An clùb a spênas £350 rag rentya rom dhe’n lies metyans; £400 rag frankwober (in le a astevery costow gwir) o tylys dhe vysytyoryon a veu gelwys rag arethya dhe’n clùb; £80 rag coffy, tesednow, ha haval. An gwain ytho i’n vledhen o £314.26. Pëth an clùb wàr dhallath an vledhen o £1,115.38 i’n acownt kesres orth an arhanty, £3,000 i’n acownt erbysy, ha stock gans valew (còst cafosyans) a £530. An pëth wàr dhyweth an vledhen o £1,674.64 i’n acownt kesres, £3,000 i’n acownt erbysy, ha stock gans valew a £285 warlergh gwertha gwara in valew £415 ha prena £170 a wara nowyth. Nyns esa kendon vëth, nag orth dallath na wàr dhyweth an vledhen.

An income and expenditure account is not the same as an account of receipts (mona recêvys) and payments (pêmons) that merely records all sums in and out. A business will usually have a profit and loss account instead, acownt profyt ha coll, showing items such as interest paid (oker pës), tax (tollow), depreciation (dybrîsyans) and amortization (amortîsans).

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

batalyas v battle, fight, brâstir m continent, caslan f battlefield, consecrâtya v consecrate, denethy v beget, bring forth, euver futile, gwerryans bredereth m civil war, hegof memorable, lyberta m liberty, moghhe v augment, increase, powesva f resting-place, strîvya v strive, struggle, tireth m terrain, territory

Oratory

Rhetoric (Cornish arethyk) is the art of persuasion. It lies at the heart of oratory (Cornish arethorieth), the art of effective public speaking. One of the most famous examples of oratory is the address given by President Abraham Lincoln when he visited the battlefield where the Unionists had just won a great victory in the American Civil War (1863). Here is that speech in Cornish translation.

Seyth bledhen ha peswar ugans alebma, y whrug agan tasow denethy wàr an brâstir-ma nacyon nowyth, concêvys i’n Lyberta, ha sacrys dhe’n tybyans pùb den oll dhe vos formys kehaval. I’n eur-ma, yth eson ny omgelmys in gwerryans bredereth, gwerryans brâs, ow prevy mar kyll an nacyon-na, bò py nacyon pynag concêvys indelha ha sacrys indelha, durya termyn hir. Omvetys yth eson ny wàr gaslan vrâs i’n vresel-na. Devedhys on ny rag sacra radn a’n gwel batel-na in powesva dhewetha dhe’n re a ros obma aga bêwnans, bêwa may halla an nacyon-na. Yn very ewn y tegoth dhyn ny gwil hebma. Saw, in styr moy efan, ny yllyn ny sacra – ny yllyn ny sona – ny yllyn ny consecrâtya – an tireth-ma. An dus colodnek, bew ha marow, myns a strîvyas obma, an re-ma re’n consecrâtyas, dres ha a-ugh agan gallos gwadn addya bò lehe. Scant ny vëdh an bÿs ow merkya, nag ow perthy pell in cov, an pëth a leveryn ny obma, saw nefra ny yll ev ankevy an pëth obma a wrussons ynsy. Y coodh dhyn ny kyns, an dus a vêw, dhyn ny y coodh bos sacrys obma dhe’n whel avauncys ahës, heb colenwel kyn fe, gans seul a wrug batalyas obma maga fryntyn. Y coodh dhyn ny kyns, dhyn ny y coodh bos obma sacrys dhe’n ober brâs usy ow cortos genen – rag may whrellen ny kemeres, dhyworth an dus varow onorys-ma, devôcyon moghhës dhe’n ken may rosons y an dewetha musur leun a dhevôcyon dhodho – rag may fednyn ny obma ervira, uhel agan brës, na veu an re-ma marow yn euver – rag may caffa an nacyon-ma, in dadn Dhuw, genesygeth nowyth a franchys – ha rag nag ella governans a’n bobel, gans an bobel, dhe les an bobel, nag ella hebma dhe goll dhywar an bÿs.

Practys Nawnjek warn Ugans

Exercise Thirty Nine

Fatell wrug Presydent Lincoln gorra gallos ha nerth dh’y areth wàr an gaslan? Prag yth yw hy mar hegof? Styryowgh, kebmys a yllowgh, in Kernowek.

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

bora m morning (poetical), brêwy v bruise, wound, caradow m beloved, cosoleth m quiet, stillness, crowsya v crucify, cùruna v crown, deglena v tremble, quiver, drùshya v thresh, dyfethya v lay waste, dyvarrans m pruning, fusta v thresh (also beat), glenans m clinging, golia v wound, gosa v bleed, gover m brook, gwynder m whiteness, manal f manallow sheaf, medhelder m softness, tenderness, melyas v grind, nothhe v strip naked, pejadow m prayer, perhedna v possess, plysk col husks, plyth pliant, profet m prophet, ryddya v rid, rydra v sift, sîna v sign, tranjyak m ecstasy

Oratory – continued

We find a different kind of oratory in Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (1923), which has been translated into Cornish as An Profet. In rhetorical prose coming close to poetry the prophet of the title addresses the people before taking ship to depart for home, which is a metaphor of his death.

In this extract the Prophet responds to the plea Cows orthyn a Gerensa.

Hag ev a wrug derevel y benn ha miras orth an bobel, hag y codhas cosoleth warnedha. Hag in voys brâs ev a leverys:

An gerensa pàn wrella sîna dhis, sew hy,

Kynth yw hy fordh cales ha serth.

Ha hy eskelly pàn vowns plegys i’th kerhyn, omroy dha honen dhedhy,

Kyn hyll hy lev brêwy dha hunros dhe dymmyn dell wra gwyns an north dyfÿthya lowarth. Dell wra kerensa dha gùruna, kefrÿs heb mar hy a wra dha growsya.

Dell yw hy abarth dha devyans, kefrÿs yth yw abarth dha dhyvarrans.

Dell wra hy ascendya dhe’th wartha ha chersya dha vranchys moyha medhel, usy ow teglena i’n howl,

Kefrÿs y whra hy skynnya dhe’th wrëdh ha’ga shakya i’ga glenans i’n dor.

Kepar ha manallow hy a wra dha gùntell dhedhy.

Hy a wra dha fusta rag nothhe.

Hy a wra dha rydra rag ryddya a’th plysk.

Hy a wra dha velyas bys in gwynder.

Hy a’th toos erna vy plyth;

Ena hy a vynn dha boyntya dh’y than sans, may hylly bos bara sans dhe fest sans Duw.

Ha’y gerensa a wra hemma oll dhis, may whothfy kevrîn dha golon, ha bos i’n godhvos-na tamm a golon an Bêwnans.

Saw mar ny vynnys whilas i’th own ma’s cosoleth an gerensa ha plesour an gerensa, Dhana gwell yw dhys cudha dha notha ha qwyttya leur drùshya an gerensa,

Ow mos aberth i’n bÿs heb sêson, le may hylly wherthyn, heb wherthyn oll dha wharth; le may hylly ola, heb ola oll dha dhagrow.

Ny re an gerensa ma’s hy honen, ny gemmer tra vÿth ma’s dhyworty.

Ny wra an gerensa perhenna na ny vynn bos perhennys;

Rag yth yw an gerensa lowr dhe’n gerensa.

Pàn gyrry, na lavar, “Yma Duw i’m colon,” mès “Yth esof in colon Duw.”

Na breder ty dhe rêwlya cors an gerensa: rag y whra an gerensa, mar y’th kev wordhy, rêwlya dha gors jy.

Nyns eus desîr dhe’n gerensa ma’s colenwel hy honen.

Saw mar kyrry, mar po res dhis desîrya, bedhens dha dhesîr indelma:

Bos tedhys, kepar ha gover ow cana y gân dhe’n nos.

Godhvos pain a vedhelder re vrâs.

Bos golies dre gonvedhes an gerensa i’th honen;

Ha gosa a’th vodh ha joy.

Dyfuna i’n bora hag eskelly dhe’th colon ha grassa pùb dëdh moy a gerensa.

Powes orth hanter-dëdh ha consydra tranjyak a’n gerensa;

Dos tre gordhuwher ha grassyans genes;

Ena cùsca ha pejadow gans dha garadow i’th colon ha cân a wormola wàr dha vin.

For alternative dyfëthya see dyfëth. The verb grassa more usually employs dhe with the person (or thing) that is being thanked. Compare optional but frequent dhe with abma.

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

Bretednek British, campyor m champion, conqwerrya v conquer, subjugate, delyverans m deliverance, liberation, dyfygya v fail, be wanting, esow m destitution, Ewrôpek European, Gestâpô m Gestapo, gwardya v guard, morlu m fleet, navy, Natsy Nazi (also masculine noun), power m power, rescous m rescue, strif m strife, struggle, tira v land

Oratory - continued

U.S. citizens learn the Gettysburg address by heart. In the UK many have a high regard for the oratory of Winston Churchill. Here in Cornish translation is the paragraph of his speech to the House of Commons in 1940 that contains perhaps his most famous sentence. Try memorizing the Cornish text of Gettysburg and of Churchill’s famous words. They will provide a useful reference point for oratorical efforts of your own.

Na fors dell yw myns brâs a’n brâstir Ewrôpek ha lies Stât meur aga hanow codhys pò in peryl a godha dhe dhalhen an Gestâpô ha dhe jynys oll an rêwl Natsy, ny vedhyn ny na diek na dyfygys. Ny a wra durya bys i’n dyweth. Ny a wra batalyas in Frynk, batalyas wàr bùb mor ha keynvor, batalyas gans omfydhyans ha crefter ow cressya i’n air, ny a wra dyffres agan enys, pynag a vo an còst. Ny a wra batalyas wàr an trethow, batalyas wàr an tyleryow tira, batalyas i’n gwelyow hag i’n strêtys, batalyas i’n breow; omry nefra ny wren ny. Hag a pe unweyth, pëth na gresaf tecken vëth, an enys-ma pò radn vrâs anedhy conqwerrys hag in esow tydn, ena y fensa agan Empîr tramor, ervys ha gwardyes gans an Morlu Bretednek, pêsya an strif bys i’n termyn, a rollo Duw dâ, may teffo an Bÿs Nowyth, hag oll y allos, oll y bower, in campyor dhe’n rescous, dhe’n delyverans, a’n Bÿs Coth.

You should stress delyverans on the second syllable.

Practys Dêwgans

Exercise Forty

Write an email in suitable Cornish to your dental hygienist, saying you’re very sorry about the short notice but you’ll have to cancel your appointment for tomorrow because you’re suddenly needed to take your mother to hospital for an MRI scan. Ask the hygienist to email back with a new appointment time: Monday to Friday but no earlier than 10:30 a.m.

Glanythor dens is a dental hygienist (optionally glanythores dens if a woman) and scanyans is a scan. Cornish IDT (imajya dassenyans tenvenek) corresponds to English MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

**********

LESSON NAW

Lesson Nine

Inflected preterite tense with ending ys instead of as

In Lesson Five of Book Two we first noted that a relatively small number of verbs have a preterite ending ys where most verbs have ending as. The verbs in question include all those with verb-noun ending in el. This checklist of the others will be useful.

aswon

brêwy

cresy

cruny

debry

dedhewy ‘promise’

demedhy

denethy

denewy

derivas

dewheles

and domhel ‘overthrow’ and omwheles

diank

affection applies, so dienkys

dystrôwy

erhy

and dynerhy ‘send greetings (to)’

godhaf ‘undergo’

affection applies, so godhevys (as for alternative verb-noun godhevel)

gorhebmyn ‘bid, wish’

pre-occlusion shifts with stress, so gorhemydnys

gortheby

hedhy

contrast hedhas ‘reached’, verb-noun hedhes

hevelly

kentrewy ‘nail’

molethy

pesy

predery

and ombredery

sensy

and omsensy

tevy

tyby

tyly

and attyly ‘repay’

yêwny ‘yearn (for)’

Just as for verbs with verb-nouns ending in el, there are some alternative preterites ending in as – debras, demedhas, ombrederas, prederas. Parallel verb destria with preterite destrias can replace dystrôwy.

An unwarranted custom developed among early revivalists of substituting dynerhy for wolcùbma. You should not imitate this practice.

Note that sedhy employs the preterite ending as; substituting ys to distinguish the preterite of sedhy from that of sedha (clipped from esedha) might seem opportune; but it is not authentic.

Practys Onen ha Dêwgans

Exercise Forty One

How would you say the following in Cornish? Use the inflected preterite tense after link particle a in each case.

They wished us joy. Who ate all the cheese? As a student she accumulated a mountain of debt. As a successful businesswoman she quickly paid back the whole amount. You tolerated all his impudence – how do you do it? The blow bruised my arm. You grew up too fast. I replied to that letter days ago. That terrorist group even overthrew the elected government. The clock stopped, never to go again, when the old man died.

Vocabulary

Here are some more new words.

alegory m allegory, atla m hoodlum (also outlaw), awedhyans m influence, honen-vewgrafek autobiographical, convertyans m conversion, dans m tooth, fang, Darwynieth f Darwinism, fylosofy m philosophy, gerys dâ respectable, Marxieth f Marxism, part … part partly … partly, wharheans m civilization

Clipped dhelergh has the same meaning as adhelergh. The retained Second State mutation helps distinguish it from the noun delergh.

Literary allegory

Darwynieth, Marxieth ha fylosofy Nietzsche o awedhyans dhe Jack London in y novel White Fang (1906). An whedhel-ma yw part alegory honen-vewgrafek a’y gonvertyans dhyworth atla yonk bys in auctour gerys dâ, part alegory moy kebmyn fatell veu mab den avauncys dhia natur dhe wharheans. Obma why a yll redya an kensa chaptra trailys dhe Gernowek. Hanow an novel in Kernowek yw Dans Gwynn; tîtel an kensa chaptra yw An Kiglergh. Kyns oll, y fëdh res istyna agas gerva in myns nag yw bian.

Ot an geryow nowyth may fëdh otham anodhans

afreal unreal, agrians m agreement, aha m awe, ancres m unrest, disquiet, ania v get on someone’s nerves, anwhecter m unpleasantness, bedhscrif m epitaph, berryk fatty, bës brâs m thumb, besow col beeches, blew lagas col eyelashes, bleydh m wolf, bodny m cluster, bùcka gwydn m ghost, bùlet m bullet, camp m camp, carg m load, carr slynkya m sled, cartryjen f cartridge, caryn m carcass, cessyans m cessation, chaunjya ervirans change one’s mind, clowyowgh m hullaballoo, colhes f bed (on the ground) – also mattress, conar f fury, coselhe v calm (down), cowrek gigantic, colossal, cramyas v crawl, cropya v force (into something), crybaj m cribbage, cûlbren m club, cudgel, dargan-drog ominous, dasleverel v repeat (something said), demondya v demand, densel v bite, chew, deray m disorder, desmyk m guess(ing), dewana v penetrate, doth discreet, tactful, dryftya v drift, dybowes restless, dydrygh indomitable, dyfaladôwder m infallibility, dylâcya v unlace, untie, dystryppya v strip, dyth m saying, dictum, dyvew lifeless, edhen corf m ghoul, encledhyas m burial, funeral, enep m surface, erya v defy, estren foreign, alien, eternyta m eternity, êthedna v steam, euvereth m futility, exaltyans m exaltation, facly v flare (up), faint faint, felder m cunning, fers fierce, fêsya v drive out, fetha v defeat, fler m stench, forest m forest, froth m stir, tumult, furneth m wisdom, fysk m rush, geler f coffin, glas m maw, golesky v scorch, singe, gorweles v hallucinate, gosêl f runner (of sled), grappa m grape, greuv m front (of body or figuratively), gròn m mass, huddle, gwallus casual, gwastyans m desolation, gway(ans) m move(ment), gwêvyans m wave (of hand etc), gwres f heat (mostly figuratively), gwrÿs m crystal(s), gwrysa v crystallize, gwyscas m covering (also layer), helgh m hunt, helghya v hunt, hernes m harness (also equipment), hewel visible, hirbedrak oblong, hos hoarse, hùbbadùllya m racket (noise), hudhes col bed coverings, hynt m hint, idhyl puny, in dadn an rewboynt below freezing, in poynt dâ in good form, inclynya v nod (head) – also incline, kedna v form a skin, kelgh m circle, kenkya v bicker, kescomûnyans m communication, kescovedhyans m sympathy, commiseration, kesqwary m interplay, kevradnak in partaking of, kynvan m wail(ing), lejer m frying pan, lenter shining, gleaming, lymder m sharpness, lymytya v limit, malbe(w) [dabm] damn all, merth m mirth, mockyans m mockery, moos f table, motta m mote, najeth (also nasweth) f needle, nàm m spot, blemish, nâsya v affect, nownek hungry, offrydna v offer up, sacrifice, ol m track, trace, ombrederus meditative, omdedna v withdraw, omdhascor v submit, parchemynek made of parchment, pengasen f stomach, plattya v crouch, squat, pock m push, prod, polansek speculative, pols m pulse, posa v lean, pyltya v harass (also pelt), qwiet quiet, rainya v reign, rebellyans m rebellion, regyth col live coals, resek v run, rewy v freeze, rusk col bark (also rind, peel), rùttya v rub, scant scarce, scriven bedh f epitaph, sê m seat, sedhor m diver, sfynx m sphinx, skyl m nook, recess, sosten m food, grub, sprûs m spruce, sprûswëdh col spruces, stêvya v race, soar, sugna v suck, sùmya v sum up, syg f tie, trace, tavadow tangible, tervans m commotion, tomder m heat (also temperature), travalya v trudge, trek, tremenyans m passing, trygh triumphant, tùchya v light (cigarette, pipe) – also touch, tap, unver unanimous, vexya v vex, annoy, whybanor m moccasin (also slipper)

Airgelgh means ‘atmosphere’ in every sense including (here) a measure of pressure. Verb-noun aspias is an alternative form of aspia. The verb kyfethya which means ‘preserve’ (food) also corresponds to English ‘tan’ in the context of leather. Nôta is a ‘note’ in the sense ‘banknote’ and also of music; nôten is ‘note’ in a more general sense. Resek is ‘run’ when referring to something inanimate; contrast ponya which is the usual verb ‘run’ for animates, though resek may also be used.

Deskerny and scrynkya both mean ‘snarl’. The former emphasizes the teeth. Owt warnedha! means ‘damn them!’ Rogh means much the same as ronk. In the original English, Henry begins with a grunt that slides into a snore. Roghwherthyn is another compound of wherthyn (with inflected forms accordingly) meaning ‘chortle’. Sens dha glap! means ‘shut up!’

The title An Kiglergh translates the English original ‘The Trail of the Meat’. It has been coined specially for this purpose and has no wider currency.

Tewl o an forest sprûs, hag asper ryb an ryver rewys a bùb parth. An gwëdh o dystryppys gans dewetha gwyns a’ga gwyscas gwynn a rew, hag yth esens ow posa, dell hevelly, an eyl dh’y gela, du ha dargan-drog, i’n golow gyllys gwann. Taw efan o rainys der an pow. Oll an pow y honen o gwastyans, dyvew, heb gway vëth, mar dhyberthys, mar yêyn, mayth esa ino spyrys nag o unweyth tristans. Hynt a wharth yth esa, mès wharth moy uthyk ès pùb tristans – wharth heb merth, kepar ha min an Sfynx, wharth yêyn, par ha’n rew, ha kevrannak i’n anwhecter longus dhe dhyfaladêwder. Yth esa furneth eternyta, meur y vêstry ha dres kescomûnyans, ow wherthyn awos euvereth an bêwnans ha lavur an bêwnans. An Dyfeth o va, gwyls, rewys y golon, Dyfeth an North.

Saw bêwnans i’n tyller yth esa bytegyns, in mes i’n pow, hag owth erya. Lînen a geun a lavurya an ryver rewys ahës, ha tùch a’n bleydh i’ga syght. An blew warnodhans o leun a rew. Yth esa an anal ow rewy i’n air kettel dheuth a’ga min, owth êthenna in ewon a veu sedhys wàr vlew aga horf ha gwrysys dhe yey. Yth esa hernes lether wàr an keun, ha stegys êns y gans sygyow lether dhe garr slynkya o dreggys dhelergh. Dhe’n carr nyns esa gosêl vëth. Ev o gwrës a rusk besow tew, hag oll y enep a’y eseth wàr an ergh. Greuv an carr o trailys in bàn, kepar ha rol barchemynek, rag constrîna myns hûjes an ergh medhel bys in danno, ha henna ow whethfy avell tonn dhyragtho. Wàr an carr, kelmys yn tiogel, yth esa box brâs, cul, hirbedrak. Yth esa taclow erel wàr an carr – lennow, bool, pot coffy ha lejer ganso; mès an dra moyha hewel, ow lenwel an moyha rann a’n carr, yth o an box brâs, cul, hirbedrak.

Arâg an keun, wàr skyjyow ergh ledan, y lavurya den. Adhelergh dhe’n carr y lavurya den aral. Wàr an carr, i’n box-na, yth esa tressa den, ha’y lavur ev o deu – an Dyfeth a wrug y fetha ha’y sqwattya bys na wre hemma gway vëth na strîvyans vëth nefra namoy. Nyns yw an Dyfeth ûsys dhe gara gwayans. An bêwnans yw despît dhodho, rag an bêwnans yw gwayans; ha porpos an Dyfeth pùb dëdh yw dystrêwy gwayans. Yma va ow rewy an ryver rag gwitha na alla resek dhe’n mor; yma ow trîvya an sùgan in mes a’n gwëdh erna vowns y rewys i’ga holon alosek; ha moyha fers oll ha moyha uthyk yma an Dyfeth ow pyltya hag ow cropya mab den dhe omdhascor – mab den, an moyha dybowes a bùb bêwnans, prest in rebellyans warbynn an dyth may fo res dhe genyver gwayans dos wosteweth dhe cessyans a’n gway.

Saw arâg ha dhelergh, heb aha, ha dydrygh, y lavurya an dhew dhen nag o marow na whath. Aga horf o cudhys in pelour ha lether kyfethys yn fedhel. Blew lagas ha bohow ha gwessyow o mar gednys gans gwrÿs an anal rewys, ma nag o gà fâss dhe weles. Rag hemma yth esa semlant dh’aga dew a warior gis tarosvanus, gwas orth encledhyas neb edhen corf in bÿs an bùckyas gwynn. Saw yth êns y tus in dann hemma oll, tus ow tewana an pow a wastyans hag a vockyans hag a daw, tus idhyl o porposys dhe unn aventur cowrek, owth offrynna gà honen warbynn gallos bÿs mar bell, mar estren, bohosak a bols avell an spâss inter an ster.

Y travalyens y heb cows, owth erbysy an anal rag whel aga horf. A bùb tu yth esa an taw, ow qwasca warnodhans gans presens o tavadow. Ev a nâsya aga brës kepar dell wra dowr lies airgelgh y dhownder nâsya corf an sedhor. Ev a’s compressa gans poos an efander dydhyweth ha’n rêwl na yller hy chaunjya. Ev a’s compressa bys in skylyow moyha aberveth aga brës, ow qwasca in mes anedha, kepar ha sùgan in mes a’n grappa, oll an fekyl-gwres ha’n exaltyans ha’n lies honen-valew nag yw gwyw i’n ena dhenyl, erna wodhyens y convedhes fatell êns y creaturs lymytys ha bian, namow ha mottys, ow môvya gwann aga felder ha bohes aga furneth in mesk gwary ha kesqwary elementys dall an gwylfos meur.

Passys veu unn our, ha’n nessa our. Y talathas fyllel golow dyscler an jëdh cot heb howl, pàn cry faint ha pell a dheuth dres cosoleth an air. Ev a stêvyas in bàn, uskys y fysk, erna wrug drehedhes y uhella nôta, le may turya, tynn ow teglena, ena mos marow yn lent. Y halsa bos kynvan enef o kellys, na ve neb conar drist dhodho ha whans nownek men. An den arâg a drailyas y wolok ha’y lagasow o lavar dhe lagasow an den dhelergh. Ena, hag intredhans an box cul, hirbedrak, an eyl a wrug inclynya dh’y gela an penn.

Y teuth secùnd cry, ow qwana an taw gans lymder kepar ha najeth. Oll an dhew dhen a wodhya tyller an son. Yth esa va dhelergh, neb plâss i’n ergh ledan a wrussons y tremena nowyth dresto. Tressa cry a dheuth in gorthyp, kefrÿs adhelergh hag aglêdh dhe’n secùnd cry.

“Orth agan helghya mowns y, Bill,” yn medh an den arâg.

Son y lev o hos hag afreal. Poos ganso, dell hevelly, veu côwsel.

“Kig yw scant,” a worthebys y goweth. “Nans yw lower dëdh na welys ol conyn vëth.”

Wosa hemma ny wrussons y cows namoy, mès sherp o gà scovarn rag criow an helgh esa whath ow sordya dhelergh.

Gans tewlwolow y a drailyas an keun ajy dhe vagas sprûswëdh wàr lann an dowr ha gwil camp. An eler, ryb an tan, a servya avell sê ha moos. Yth esa an keun-bleydhas, oll warbarth a’n tu aral dhe’n tan, ow kenkya in unn scrynkya an eyl orth y gela, heb dysqwedhes whans vëth a wandra in kerdh bys i’n tewlder.

“Dar, a Henry, mowns y ‘cortos nes dres ehen dhe’n camp,” Bill a gomplas.

Henry, neb o plattys ryb an tan rag gorra pot an coffy, ha darn rew etto, a sînas agrians. Ny wrug ev côwsel erna veuva esedhys wàr an eler ha dallath debry.

“Y a wor ple mowns y diogel,” yn medh. “Gwell yw gansa debry boos ès bos boos. Fur lowr yns y, an keun-na.”

Bill a shakyas y benn. “Ogh, nor’vy.”

Y goweth a wrug meras orto yn coynt. “Otta lavar an kensa tro ahanas nag yns y fur.”

“Henry,” yn medh an aral, ha densel an fav esa ev ow tebry in unn gùssulya, “a ny wrusta merkya fatell êth an keun in clowyowgh pàn esen vy orth aga boosa?”

“In gwir, y a wrug gwil fresca froth ès dell yw ûsys,” yn medh Henry hag assentya.

“A Henry, pan lies ky eus dhe ny?”

“Whe.”

“Wèl, Henry …” Bill a wrug hedhy tecken, rag may halla y er gwainya brâssa mênyng. “Dell esen vy ow leverel, Henry, yma whe ky dhyn. Me a gemeras whe pysk in mes a’n sagh. Me a ros unn pysk dhe bùb ky, ha, Henry, th’esa fowt dhèm unn pysk.

“Te a gomptyas yn camm.”

“Yma whe ky dhyn,” a dhasleverys an aral heb emôcyon. “Me a gemeras whe pysk in mes. Ny gafas Unn Scovarn pysk vëth. Me êth dhe’n sagh arta ha kerhes dhodho y bysk.”

“Nyns eus dhyn ma’s whe ky,” yn medh Henry.

“A Henry,” Bill a bêsyas, “ny vynnaf leverel yth êns y oll keun, saw th’esa seyth a gafas pysk.”

Henry a cessyas heb debry, rag tôwlel golok dres an tan ha comptya an keun.

“Nyns eus ma’s whe i’n eur-ma,” yn medh.

“Me a welas an aral ow ponya ’ves dres an ergh,” Bill a nôtyas, dyblans y don doth. “Me a welas seyth.”

Y goweth a wrug meras orto in kescovedhyans, hag yn medh, “Dâ vëdh genef a’m colon pàn vo an viaj-ma oll gorfennys.”

“Pandr’yw styr a henna?” Bill a wrug demondya.

“Tell usy gàn carg-ma owth ania jy, ha te ow mos ha gorweles.”

“Me a’m beus an keth preder,” Bill a worthebys yn sad. “Ytho, pàn y’n gwelys ow ponya ’ves dres an ergh, me a wrug meras wàr an ergh hag aspias y olow. Ena me a gomptyas an keun hag yth esa whe anodhans. Yma an olow dhe weles whath i’n ergh. A vynta meras orta? Me a wra showya dhis.”

Ny wrug Henry gortheby, mès densel ha tewel bys pàn dheuth in very penn an prÿs gans dewetha hanaf a goffy. Wosa glanhe y vin gans kil y dhorn, ev a leverys:

“Th’yw dha breder dhan dell veu –“

Cry hir y gynvan, trist y gonar, in mes a neb plâss i’n tewlder, a wrug goderry y gows. Ev a’n stoppyas rag golsowes; ena ev a worfennas y lavar gans gwêvyans a’y dhorn tro ha son an cry, “– onen anodhans y?”

Bill a sînas assentys. “Malbe damm a vensen cresy nampëth ken ès henna. Te dha honen a verkyas oll an tervans a wrug an keun.”

An eyl wosa y gela, yth esa criow, ha criow gortheby, ow trailya an taw dhe hùbbadùllya. A bùb tu y sordya an criow, ha’n keun a dhysqwedhy aga own, gyllys warbarth in gròn mar ogas dhe’n tan, may feu aga blew goleskys gans an tomder. Bill a dowlys moy cunys warnodho, kyns ès tùchya y bib.

“Dha spyrys, dell hevel dhèm, yw sedhys tamm isel,” yn medh Henry.

“A Henry …” Ev a sugnas y bib yn ombrederus rag nebes termyn, kyns pêsya. “A Henry, yth esen vy ow predery tell vëdh hemma fest gwynna y vÿs ès me pò te hogen.”

Ev a dhysqwedhas an ‘hemma’ dre bock wàr nans a’n bës brâs tro ha’n box mayth esens y a’ga eseth warnodho.

“Me ha te, Henry, pàn ven ny marow, gwynn agan bÿs mar pëdh meyn lowr dres agan caryn dh’y witha ev rag an keun.”

“Saw nyns eus pobel dhyn, na mona hag oll, dell esens dhe hemma,” Henry a worthebys. “Scant nyns eus mona dhèm na dhyso rag encledhyas pell dhort tyller an tremenyans.”

“An dra muskegy dhymmo, Henry, hèn yw pollat a’n par-ma, neb o arlùth pò haval in y bow y honen, ha na veu bythqweth troblys tùchyng sosten pò lennow, prag y fynna ev mellya in kenyver cornet innyal a’n nor – hèn yw an pëth na allaf ùnderstondya.”

“Y whrussa bêwa bys in henys teg mar teffa unweyth ha remainya tre,” y feu Henry unver.

Bill a egoras y anow dhe gôwsel, ha chaunjya ervirans. In le a henna, ev a wrug poyntya wor’tu ha’n fos a dewlder esa ow qwasca a bùb parth ader dro. Ny veu desmyk a form vëth i’n cowl-dhuder; nyns esa ma’s dewlagas ow colowy kepar ha regythen. Henry a dhysqwedhas gans y benn neb secùnd dewlagas, ha neb tressa. Kelgh a’n lagasow lenter a veu settys dhe’n camp in y gerhyn. Traweythyow dewlagas a wrug gwaya, pò mos mes a wel, hag apperya arta wosa tecken.

Encressys veu deray an keun, hag y a wrug ponya, desempys aga own, bys in tu ogas an tan, ow plynchya hag ow slynkya adro dhe arrow an dus. In oll an kesstrîf onen a’n keun a veu trebuchys wàr amal an tan, hag ev owth uja gans gloos hag euth, ha’n air o leun a fler y vlew goleskys. An kedrynn a wrug dhe’n kelgh a lagasow môvya rag tecken yn tybowes hag omdenna nebes kefrÿs, saw yth êth arta qwiet kettel veu an keun coselhës.

“Henry, malbe bùlettys a’gan beus.”

Bill a worfennas y bib hag yth esa va ow qwil gweres dh’y goweth rag gorra an golhes a belour ha lenn wàr scorednow an sprûs a wrug ev lêsa dres an ergh kyns soper. Henry a sonas ronk, ha dallath dylâcya y whybanoryon.

“Dro dhe’m cov, py lies cartryjen eus dhis whath?” ev a wovynnas.

“Try,” y feu an gorthyp. “Ha me ow whansa tryhans. Nena me a dhysqwa warnedha, mollath Duw i’ga glas!”

Ev a shakyas dorn yn serrys orth an lagasow pòr lenter, ha dallath posa y whybanoryon ev yn tiogel dhyrag an tan.

“Hag ow whansa spÿs an yêynder-ma dhe vos deu,” ev a bêsyas. “Hanter cans in dann an rewboynt nans yw dyw seythen solabrÿs. Hag ow whansa, a Henry, na wrussen vy bythqweth dos i’n viaj-ma. Nyns usy ow plegya màn. Th’esof owth omsensy coynt anodho. Ha me ow whansa, gweles an viaj gorfennys, ha me ha te a’gan eseth ryb an tan in Fort McGurry i’n very prÿjweyth-ma hag ow qwary crybaj – ot oll ow whans.”

Unn ronk arta, ha Henry ow cramyas ajy dhe’n gwely. Namnag esa va ow cùsca, ha lev y goweth orth y dhyfuna.

“Dar, Henry, an aral, neb a dheuth ha cafos pysk – prag na wrug an keun omsettya warnodho? Th’esof ow perthy awhêr a’n dra.”

“Awhêr dres otham, a Bill,” y teuth an gorthyp hunek. “Bythqweth ny veusta mar vexys kyns. Sens dha glap lemmyn, ha cùsca, ha ternos te a vëdh oll in poynt dâ. Dha dorr yw dystemprys, ot ancres dhis.”

An dhew dhen a gùscas, owth anella yn fen, tenewen orth tenewen, in dann an keth hudhes. An tan êth dhe lusow, ha’n lagasow lenter a glôsyas an kelgh a wrussons y tôwlel adro dhe’n camp. Yth esa an keun in unn bonny ownek, ow teskerny fassow bÿth pàn dheffa dewlagas in nes. Unweyth aga thervans a veu mar vrâs, may whrug Bill dyfuna. Ev a savas in bàn gans rach, na wrella trobla cùsk y goweth, ha tôwlel moy cunys wàr an tan. Pàn wrug henna facly arta, kelgh an lagasow a dennas pella dhyworto. Bill a worras golok wallus orth an keun i’ga gròn. Ev a rùttyas y dhewlagas ha meras ortans yn lemma. Ena ev a gramyas arta i’n lennow aberveth.

“Henry,” yn medh. “A Henry.”

Henry a wrug hanaja, ow passya a gùsk bys in dyfuna, ha demondya, “Pandr’yw camm i’n tor’-ma?”

“Tra vëth,” y teuth an gorthyp; “marnas bos seyth anodhans arta. Namnygen me a’s comptyas.”

Henry a recêvas an derivadow-ma gans ronk a slyppyas bys in rogh, hag ev ow tryftya tre dh’y gùsk.

Ternos vyttyn y feu Henry an kensa dyfunys, hag ev a fêsyas y goweth in mes a’n gwely. Golow an jëdh o pell try our whath, kyn feu whegh eur solabrÿs; hag i’n tewlder Henry a wrug parusy hawnsel, ha Bill ow rolya an lennow hag ow tarbary an carr kyns kelmy oll.

“Dar, Henry,” ev a wovynnas sodyn, “ny leversys pan lies ky eus dhe ny?”

“Whe.”

“Camm.” Bill a’n declaryas yn trygh.

“Seyth ytho?” Henry a wrug govyn.

“Nâ, pymp; gallas onen.”

“An jowl!” Henry a grias engrys brâs, ha gasa an gegynieth rag dos ha comptya an keun.

“An gwir a leverta, Bill,” yn medh wosteweth. “Gallas Berryk.”

“Hag ev êth kepar ha luhesen pàn veu unweyth dalethys. Ny welys ma’s mog.”

“Chauns vëth,” Henry a dhetermyas. “Y a’n loncas bew. Owt warnedha! Sur yth esa owth ola brâs pàn êth dh’aga fengasen aberveth.”

“Pùpprÿs o va ky fol,” yn medh Bill.

“Saw ny dal ky fol màn bos mar fol hag omladha indella.” Ev a whythras an remnant a’n parra, polansek y wolok, ow sùmya teythy pùb best dystowgh. “Sur ny vensa ken onen gwil in ketelma.”

“Ny yllyn aga herdhya gans cûlbren dhort an tan,” Bill a wrug agria. “Ha me pùb termyn ow cresy bytegyns bos nampëth camm in Berryk.”

Awotta scriven bedh ky marow wàr fordh Pow an North – le scant ès scriven bedh lies ky aral, ages bedhscrif lies den.

Practys Dew ha Dêwgans

Exercise Forty Two

Pan vaner gwel wàr an bÿs yw dhe helerhy in kensa chaptra Dans Gwynn. Gwrewgh gortheby kebmys dell allowgh in Kernowek.

Orth versus ow (owth)

If a word is both an ordinary noun and a verb-noun, then it will be preceded by orth when functioning as an ordinary noun function but by ow (owth) when functioning as a verb-noun. For example, orth dallath an vledhen ‘at the beginning of the year’ but yma ow tallath ‘it is beginning’. In the passage from Dans Gwynn we encountered encledhyas as an ordinary noun meaning ‘burial’; this word also means ‘bury’ (verb-noun). So we say orth encledhyas ow thas ‘at my father’s funeral’ but yma hy owth encledhyas an tresour ‘she is burying the treasure’. Orth is always used, of course, when any word intervenes, including any possessive pronoun. We must be careful to avoid misunderstanding. The same phrase orth y encledhyas could mean ‘at his funeral’ or ‘burying him / it’, Sometimes these might come to the same thing. Sometimes we will be guided by the context – in the case of treasure, for instance, only the second meaning makes sense.

Practys Try ha Dêwgans

Exercise Forty Three

How would you say the following in Cornish?

I helped him report the theft. I helped him with the report of the theft. There were three people at their boss’s

funeral. Three people were burying their boss. We’ll leave at dawn.

Beach conditions

Bertyl and Joana headed straight for Poldhu Cove in Lesson Five. Good luck parking the car! You should really check weather and sea conditions before visiting any Cornish beach. Here’s the sort of information you may find.

Gwethysy treth wàr dûta

Lifeguards on duty

Badhya inter an banerow

Bathing between the flags

Peryl resek a’n ladn

Risk of rip currents

Morlenel ha tryg

High and low tide

Tomder (in degrês Celsyùs)

Temperature (in degrees Celsius)

Tomder dell yw clôwys

Temperature feels like

Qwartron an gwyns

Wind direction

Toth an gwyns (in mildiryow an our)

Wind speed (in miles per hour)

Cowas gwyns bys (mildiryow an our)

Wind gust (miles per hour)

Uhelder an todnow (in mêtrow)

Wave height (in metres)

Leythter

Humidity

Lycklod glebyans

Probability of precipitation

Hewelder

Visibility

Peryl ugh-violet (UV)

UV risk

Second State mutation is usually omitted in the phrase wàr dûta.

Sixteen points of the compass

In Lesson Fifteen of Book Three we learned traditional Celtic names for the four principal compass points. We should now learn the sixteen compass points that are usually employed nowadays for precision. These are used, among other things, to indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing.

N north, NNE nor’nor’ëst, NE nor’ëst, ENE ëstnor’ëst, E ëst, ESE ëstso’ëst, SE so’ëst, SSE so’so’ëst, S soth, SSW so’sowest, SW so’west, WSW westso’west, W west, WNW westnor’west, NW nor’west, NNW nor’norwest

Spellings ëst and ÿst are always interchangeable, but the standard abbreviation is E.

Practys Peswar ha Dêwgans

Exercise Forty Four

How would you say the following in Cornish?

The temperature here on the beach at the moment is 22 degrees, and it’s even warmer in the sun; but the temperature of the water can’t be more than about 11 or 12. The wind’s very light, no more than five miles an hour maybe, and there are no gusts – blowing from the southwest, I think – really pleasant. The life guards are on duty, and there’s a notice saying we should only go in the sea between the flags. But I’ll be sunbathing for a while first. The UV’s already quite strong, so I’m using plenty of cream all over.

Some Cornish speakers employ a word tempreth for the idea of ‘temperature’. This coinage (inspired by Welsh) is not appropriate because Cornish tempra means ‘moderate’, so that tempreth would mean ‘moderation’ if it meant anything at all.

Practys Pymp ha Dêwgans

Exercise Forty Five

Write an email in suitable Cornish to your local council asking for a nasty pothole in front of your house to be repaired. You attach a photograph, with a ruler in frame showing that the hole is two inches deep. Heavy vehicles going over the pothole cause so much vibration your house literally shakes.

A pothole is toll (masculine) i’n fordh. Be careful not to confuse with toll fordh which is feminine and means ‘road tax’. The latter was originally meant to pay for repairing the former – alas, no more!

A ruler is lînednor. Use crenans for ‘vibration’. The phrase herwyth an lytheren means ‘literally’.

Alternating gender in measures of time and non-metric length

It may be useful to note as a memory aid that gender alternates in nouns for measuring time and non-metric (so called ‘imperial’) length. There are three alternating series.

Time measured by the clock: secùnd m, mynysen f, our m. Time measured by the calendar: dëdh m, seythen f, mis m, bledhen f. The third series starts with a feminine noun: mêsva f, troos’hës m, lath f ‘yard’, erow’hës m ‘furlong’, mildir f.

We can also note that nouns of metric measure are always masculine; so are nouns of non-metric weight: ùns ‘ounce’, pens, menboos (also ston) ‘stone’, canspoos ‘hundredweight’, tona ‘ton’. A ‘fluid ounce’ is ùns glëb.

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For Table of Contents, Lessons One to Six, Lessons Ten and Eleven, Lesson Twelve and the Appendix on Word Order, the consolidated Vocabulary, and accompanying spellings in the International Phonetic Alphabet, see separate entries on the Courses page of this website