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Cornish language extinct, says UN | Cornish language extinct, says UN |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Cornish language has been branded "extinct" by linguistic experts, sparking protests from speakers. | |
Thirty linguists worked on Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, compiled by Unesco, the cultural section of the United Nations. | Thirty linguists worked on Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, compiled by Unesco, the cultural section of the United Nations. |
Cornish is believed to have died out as a first language in 1777. | Cornish is believed to have died out as a first language in 1777. |
But the Cornish Language Partnership says the number of speakers has risen in the past 20 years and there should be a section for revitalised languages. | But the Cornish Language Partnership says the number of speakers has risen in the past 20 years and there should be a section for revitalised languages. |
Saying Cornish is extinct implies there are no speakers and the language is dead, which it isn't Jenefer Lowe, Cornish Language Partnership | Saying Cornish is extinct implies there are no speakers and the language is dead, which it isn't Jenefer Lowe, Cornish Language Partnership |
Unesco's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger features about 2,500 dialects. | Unesco's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger features about 2,500 dialects. |
There are thought to be about 300 fluent speakers of Cornish. | |
But Jenefer Lowe, development manager of the Cornish Language Partnership, said there were thousands who had a "smattering" of the language. | But Jenefer Lowe, development manager of the Cornish Language Partnership, said there were thousands who had a "smattering" of the language. |
"Saying Cornish is extinct implies there are no speakers and the language is dead, which it isn't," she said. | "Saying Cornish is extinct implies there are no speakers and the language is dead, which it isn't," she said. |
"Unesco's study doesn't take into account languages which have growing numbers of speakers and in the past 20 years the revival of Cornish has really gathered momentum." | "Unesco's study doesn't take into account languages which have growing numbers of speakers and in the past 20 years the revival of Cornish has really gathered momentum." |
Last year the partnership agreed a single written form of Cornish which brought together several different forms of the language. | Last year the partnership agreed a single written form of Cornish which brought together several different forms of the language. |
It is among a group of languages that turned out not to be extinct but merely sleeping Christopher Moseley, editor-in-chief of the atlas | It is among a group of languages that turned out not to be extinct but merely sleeping Christopher Moseley, editor-in-chief of the atlas |
Mrs Lowe said: "There's no category for a language that is revitalised and revived. | Mrs Lowe said: "There's no category for a language that is revitalised and revived. |
"What they need to do is add a category. | "What they need to do is add a category. |
"It should be recognised that languages do revive and it's a fluid state." | "It should be recognised that languages do revive and it's a fluid state." |
Christopher Moseley, an Australian linguist and editor-in-chief of the atlas, told BBC News he would consider a new classification. | Christopher Moseley, an Australian linguist and editor-in-chief of the atlas, told BBC News he would consider a new classification. |
He said: "I have always been optimistic about Cornish and Manx. | He said: "I have always been optimistic about Cornish and Manx. |
"There is a groundswell of interest in them, although the number of speakers is small. | "There is a groundswell of interest in them, although the number of speakers is small. |
"Perhaps in the next edition we shall have a 'being revived' category. | "Perhaps in the next edition we shall have a 'being revived' category. |
"[Cornish] is among a group of languages that turned out not to be extinct but merely sleeping." | "[Cornish] is among a group of languages that turned out not to be extinct but merely sleeping." |