George welcomes Government recognition for Kernewek – the Cornish language

Commenting on the news that Kernewek – the Cornish Language – has been officially recognised under Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, West Cornwall MP Andrew George said:

“Pur da! Spladn! This is such wonderful news for Cornwall. We’ve come so far since I took our campaign around 5 government departments in the late 1990s, until Ministers realised we weren’t going away. With the Cornish Language community, we successfully fought to secure official recognition in 2002. Alongside our success in securing national minority status in 2014, Cornwall’s distinctiveness, language and cultural history have come a long way. This further enhanced status will amplify Cornish pride.

“I remember being the first to speak Cornish in Parliament with my opening remarks in my maiden speech in May 1997. It caused quite a stir then. But now it’s considered the norm. I was then proud to introduce the Cornish oath when swearing in to the 2005 Parliament, but now it’s used by all our MPs, and with pride. Though fluent speakers are few, that doesn’t undermine the significance of this important further recognition.

“For me, this is not driven by a desire to cut Cornwall off or to become insular. Quite the opposite. It is all about cutting Cornwall into the celebration of diversity in a wider world and contributing effectively to that international celebration.”