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XXXI. On the Expiration of the Cornish Language. In a Letter from the Hon. Daines Barrington, Vice Pres. S.A. to John Lloyd, Esquire, F.S.A.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
Extract
The precise time when any ancient language ceases to be spoken by the inhabitants of a country seems to be interesting not only to the philologist, but to the antiquary; I shall therefore desire you would lay before the Society the following particulars with regard to what I conceive to be the last spark of the Cornish tongue.
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- Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1775
References
page 278 note [a] See Leland's Itin. Vol. II. and III.
page 278 note [b] Page 56.
page 279 note [c] Page 26, 27.
page 279 note [d] Page 281.
page 280 note [e] See Mona Ant. p. 317.
page 280 note [f] This name in Welsh signifies, at the end of the sand.
page 281 note [g] Dr. Borlase's words are the following; “That we may attend it to the grave; this language is now altogether ceased, so as not to be spoken any “ where in conversation.” Nat. Hist. of Cornwall,, p. 316. If Dr. Borlase had ever heard of this old woman, who lived within four miles of him he would certainly have here made mention of her, as well as compleated from her his Cornish Vocabulary. Nor was it probably the fact in 1758, (when Dr. Borlase published. his Natural History) that the language had altogether ceased, so as not to be spoken any where in conversation, because it is not impossible that the seaman who was on board Captain Barrington's ship in 1746 might be then still alive, as well as several others. It must also be recollected, that ten years after Dr. Borlase's publication two old women (neighbours to Dolly Pentraeth) understood what (he said; as also that the frequently grumbled to them in Cornish, when a proper price not offered for her fish.