Name That Place!Name That Place!

Who here speaks Cornish Who here speaks Cornish every day?every day?

Answer: all of us! Answer: all of us! Liskeard! Penzance! Truro! Liskeard! Penzance! Truro!

Pendennis! Penryn! Tintagel! Pendennis! Penryn! Tintagel! Can you think of any other Cornish Can you think of any other Cornish

place names? place names? Even today the Cornish Even today the Cornish

language is all around you! language is all around you!

A Brief HistoryA Brief History

Cornish is a Celtic language (like Welsh Cornish is a Celtic language (like Welsh or Gaelic) that was spoken in Cornwall or Gaelic) that was spoken in Cornwall and Devon (up to Exeter). and Devon (up to Exeter).

Over time it was pushed further and Over time it was pushed further and further West. further West.

By the early 1700s only people in the far By the early 1700s only people in the far West (e.g. Penzance) could speak it West (e.g. Penzance) could speak it fluently – and most of those people spoke fluently – and most of those people spoke English too.English too.

It died out but was revived in the early It died out but was revived in the early 1900s.1900s.

DocumentsDocuments

You’re going to use an old Cornish You’re going to use an old Cornish dictionary, an Ordnance Survey map and dictionary, an Ordnance Survey map and a new Cornish dictionary to look at a new Cornish dictionary to look at Cornish place names. Cornish place names.

William Borlase wrote his dictionary in William Borlase wrote his dictionary in the late 1700s and Oliver Padel wrote his the late 1700s and Oliver Padel wrote his about 200 years later, in 1988. about 200 years later, in 1988.

People often try to work out the People often try to work out the meanings behind place names – this meanings behind place names – this will be your task!will be your task!

Task 1 : Document EN/2000Task 1 : Document EN/2000

In the late 1700s William Borlase wrote a In the late 1700s William Borlase wrote a dictionary which included a list of Cornish dictionary which included a list of Cornish place names. place names.

In your groups, have a look at the In your groups, have a look at the extracts with your magnifying glasses. extracts with your magnifying glasses.

How many names do you recognise? How many names do you recognise? How many meanings can you spot? How many meanings can you spot?

Task 2: Matching cardsTask 2: Matching cards

Match the modern day spellings of the place Match the modern day spellings of the place names to Borlase’s.names to Borlase’s.

Then match them both to Borlase’s definitions.Then match them both to Borlase’s definitions. If you’re struggling with the meanings, Padel’s If you’re struggling with the meanings, Padel’s

dictionary will help you. dictionary will help you. BEWARE: the meanings in Padel and Borlase’s BEWARE: the meanings in Padel and Borlase’s

dictionaries differ so you can only use them as a dictionaries differ so you can only use them as a guide.guide.

Thinking point:Thinking point: Why might the meanings Why might the meanings differ?differ?

AnswersAnswers

= Portreath: the cove of the sandy beach

= Penhale: Head of the River, or Moor

= Penryn: Head or edge of the promontory

= Pendennis: Head of the fortification

AnswersAnswers

= Polgooth: old pool /the goose pool

=Liskeard: a court or town hall for trade=Penzance:

Holy head

= Marazion: the Jew’s market

Task 3: OS mapsTask 3: OS maps

Using your maps and Padel’s dictionary, Using your maps and Padel’s dictionary, complete the worksheets in front of you complete the worksheets in front of you in your groups.in your groups.

Did you spot any other Cornish names? Did you spot any other Cornish names? Did any parts of words keep cropping up?Did any parts of words keep cropping up? E.g. ‘By Tre Pol and Pen shall ye know all E.g. ‘By Tre Pol and Pen shall ye know all

Cornishmen!’Cornishmen!’

ConclusionConclusion

You can learn parts of a language You can learn parts of a language through place names (e.g. through place names (e.g. TreTre means means homestead).homestead).

However, because place names often However, because place names often date before written records, people have date before written records, people have differing opinions on what they mean.differing opinions on what they mean.

Thinking PointThinking Point:: is it easier to find is it easier to find Cornish place names in the West or the Cornish place names in the West or the East of the county? Why might this be? East of the county? Why might this be?