Cornish Language Shortchanged by UK Government - Cornish Council Condemns

Julian German, the Leader of the Cornwall Council, has condemned the British Government for slashing funding for Cornish Language initiatives. The latest move by London against the Cornish Language is in violation of the UK commitment to minority languages under the "Framework Convention for Minority Languages". 

In response to the cuts German stated: “Unfortunately the Prime Minister seems to have forgotten his Cornish roots” – referring to the PM’s father Stanley Johnson, who was born in Penzance – “as we have seen, the government has been criticised by the Council of Europe for not meeting its international obligations to the Cornish under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. We have also received from government a letter saying that they will not be providing any funding for the Cornish language in this financial year.”

The council leader, who is a fluent Cornish speaker himself, continued “I’ve raised this (funding for Cornish) with our MPs and have also asked government direct how they will be meeting their international obligations under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages to support and promote Cornish”

The UK government provided £200,000 for the promotion of Cornish language and culture in the 2019/20 financial year.

The Cornish people were acknowledged by the UK Government as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in 2014. National minority status is based on many things including culture, history, language and sport. Recognition under the Framework Convention empowers our people to better identify with their own cultural identity and encourage conditions in which young Cornish people can feel respected and valued in social, working and formal settings.  Cornwall Council has a working group looking at the obligations of the Framework, including for the language. - Cornwall.gov.uk

Read the Full Article Here: https://cornishstuff.com/2020/09/16/no-money-for-cornish-language-this-y...