Myttin Da: Putting The Cornish Back Into Cornwall

Cornwall officials are encouraging staff to speak a few words of Kernewek, the original Cornish language, when they answer the phone.

People ringing the council in Cornwall could be greeted by a voice saying "Myttin da" instead of "good morning" as part of a plan to bring the language back into circulation.

Kernewek is a language linked to Welsh and Breton that died out as a spoken language in the 18th century - now only 500 people out of a population of 532,300 say Cornish is their main language.

Cornwall Council wants to change that with a new draft Cornish Language Plan, to be be voted on officially in November, which notes: "Interest in Cornish is now higher than ever and the numbers of learners and speakers have increased considerably.

"Cornish is also now used widely as a mark of local distinctiveness and an integral part of Cornish cultural life."

It goes on: "Reception staff do already on occasion try to use some Cornish phrases, particularly when there are known Cornish speakers arriving for a meeting, but there is no specific provision or training offered. There is no use of Cornish within the call centre."

It recommends there be "training in key phrases and greetings for reception staff" and the council "encourage use of basic Cornish greetings by call centre staff and officers".

A council spokeswoman said: "The council recognises that Cornish is a unique cultural asset which underpins the distinctiveness of Cornwall and has an important part to play in the cultural, economic and social life of the region."

Cornish was accepted and recognised as a living language under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2002.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport provides an annual grant to Cornwall for the development of the language of £150,000, while Cornwall Council gives £30,000 annually to the cause.