The BBC has launched a new podcast called "Learn Cornish" to help revive the Cornish language, which recently gained enhanced protected status. Hosted by Radio 1's Danni Diston, the podcast aims to introduce basic phrases and promote the language's cultural significance.
A New Chapter for the Cornish Language
The podcast, which debuted on Friday, features co-presenter Sarah Buck, a fluent Kernewek speaker. Diston, originally from north Cornwall, admitted she initially knew only a few words of Cornish but is eager to learn alongside listeners. She credited her time in Cardiff for highlighting the Celtic connection between Cornish and Welsh, noting shared terms like "hireth" (similar to Welsh "hiraeth") that evoke a deep emotional longing.
Enhanced Protection and Cultural Revival
The launch follows Kernewek's upgrade to Part III status under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, requiring active government promotion in education and media. Currently, BBC Radio Cornwall offers limited public service broadcasting in Cornish, but the new podcast could pave the way for a dedicated BBC Kernow service, akin to BBC Radio Cymru or BBC Alba.
Steph Marshall, head of BBC West and South West, acknowledged that while a full service may be distant, the podcast is a promising start. She described the language as having "a sort of poetry to Cornwall."
Cultural Momentum
Cornwall's cultural revival is gaining momentum, with St Piran's Day celebrations, a growing Cornish national cinema movement, and artists like Gwenno Saunders. This year, Cornwall will be the featured nation at the Lorient Festival in Brittany, the world's largest celebration of Celtic cultures.
Beyond the studio, Diston will venture out to meet surfers and visit a primary school that promotes Kernewek among pupils. She emphasized that speaking even a few words like "dydh da" (hello) or "meur ras" (thank you) fosters a sense of community and belonging.
The podcast is part of broader efforts to preserve and promote Cornish, which was officially recognized as a regional language by the UK government in 2014.
