A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Cornish and Manx (2024)

Davies-Deacon, M., & Sayers, D. (2024). Cornish and Manx. In S. Fox (Ed.), Language in Britain and Ireland (pp. 357-370). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108769617.021

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Davies-Deacon, Merryn; Sayers, Dave

Parent publication: Language in Britain and Ireland

Parent publication editors: Fox, Susan

ISBN: 978-1-108-47732-1

eISBN: 978-1-108-76961-7

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 17/10/2024

Pages range: 357-370

Number of pages in the book: 620

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108769617.021

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief sociolinguistic description of two Celtic languages that have experienced language death and revival: Cornish and Manx. First, their distinctive sociolinguistic position as revived languages is reviewed. There follows a structured discussion of the factors contributing to each language’s historical decline and more recent revival movement, followed by an overview of the current position of each language in terms of demographics and language policy provisions. We note that while both languages are revived, differences in timescale have left speakers with different concerns regarding reconstruction as a spoken vernacular, although both Cornish and Manx are affected by similar debates around purism and authenticity. More broadly, we emphasise that the fate of both languages is inextricably linked with the wider political landscape, and that the efforts of volunteer activists at a grassroots level are currently paramount in ensuring their visibility, in a context where more official sources of support are often unreliable.

Keywords: Cornish language; Manx language; Celtic languages; languages; sociolinguistics; language revival; language policy; linguistics

Free keywords: Cornish; Manx; new speakers; language policy; standardisation; language revival

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3