Dedh Cans Pajar Ügens ha Dew

De Meurth, degves warn ügens mis Efen

Tuesday, 30th June

Ma'n flogh bian ma ow tesky maroga war y dhiwros vian. Ev a wra cressya ha nena ev a wra maroga war dhiwros vrâs. Martesen an vorr dhiwros nowydh dhort Peran Porth bys dhe Tôwynblistra a vedh diwethys. Hy hester a vedh peswardhek kilometer ha hei a wra sewya cors an vorr gleder goth. E vedh nebes ponjow nowydh (ow kemeres le a'n re-na diswres termyn an vorr gleder a veu gerys).  A vedh pons nowydh en Cooks rag beyks? Ew an ober dallathys? Whei ell gweles radn a gledren reb an trolergh. Towlys ew dhe ûsya an ponsvorr, bes ma whath gwedhen ow tevy warnedhy ha ma lies gwedhen oll adro. Pandra wra skydnya war lowarthow an düs?

This little child is learning to ride on his little bicycle. He will grow and the he will ride a big bicycle. Perhaps the new cycle path from Perranporth to Newquay will be finished. Its length will be 14 km and it will follow the route of the old railway. There will be several new bridges (replacing those destroyed when the railway was abandoned). Will there be a new bridge in Cocks for bikes? Has the work begun? You can see part of a rail by the footpath. It's planned to use the viaduct, but there is still a tree growing on it and there are many trees all around. What will happen to people's gardens?

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

an re-na those (ones)

cledren (f) rail

cors (m) course, route

diwros (f) bicycle (you can also use beyk (m))

hester (m) length

maroga ~ marhoga to ride (even if it is not on a horse!)

ponsvorr (SWFM ponsfordh) (f) viaduct

sewya to follow

skydnya war to befall, happen to

towlys planned < (verb) towla

Dedh Cans Pajar Ügens ha Wonan

De Lün, nawes warn ügens mis Efen

Monday, 29th June

Ma othom dhe nei a nerth et agan treven, bes res ew dhen consydra an ayredh. Etho thew electricita an gwella mars ew "glas". Nag eus whans dhe nei a vôg veth. E'n gwettha pres nag ew an gwedhednow ha linednow nerth pur deg, ha antel ens dhe edhyn. Ma avisyans war bub gwedhen, ow leverel "Antel a Vernans, Gwith Alebma". Bes na wôr edhyn redya. Rag hedna, an vran ma a veu tredanledhys. Bes an geryow "electricita" ha "tredan" - abele üjy anjei ow tos? Na veu ger en Sowsnek ken whetek cans, nenna Wella Gilbert a scrifas lever en Latin ha devisya ger nowydh dhort "electrum" an ger rag "amber". (Ev o fisycyon Metêrnes Elisabeth 1.) Ma hedna ow dismygya "electricita". Gwrewgh rutya tabm a amber ha gwil electricita sevylyek. Bes "tredan"? Lhuyd a scrifas "fatl'üjy colowy ha tredna". Ew "tredan" kemyskys gen "tredna"?

We need power in our houses, but we must consider the climate. So electricity is the best if it is "green". We do not want any smoke. Unfortunately the power poles and lines are not very beautiful and they are a danger to birds. There is a warning on every pole saying "Danger of Death, Keep Off". But birds don't know how to read. Therefore, this crow was electrocuted. But the words for electricity - where do they come from? There was no word in English before 1600, then William Gilbert wrote a book in Latin and coined a new word from "electrum", the word for "amber". (He was Queen Elizabeth 1's physician.) That explains "electricity". Rub a piece of amber and make static electricity. But "tredan"? Lhuyd wrote "how it lightenings and thunders". Is "tredan" (electricity) confused with "tredna" (to thunder)?

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

abele? whence?, where from?

antel (f) danger

avisyans (m) warning, notice, sign

devisya ger nowydh to coin a new word

electricita (m) electricity (alternative to tredan)

fisycyon (m) physician 

mernans (m) death

nerth (m) power

tredanladha to electrocute (kill with electricity) > tredanledhys

tredna to thunder < taran (f) thunder

Dedh Cans ha Pajar Ügens

De Sül, ethves warn ügens mis Efen

Sunday, 28th June

Mars eus lowarth dhe nebonan ma dhodho/dhedhy meur a whel dhe wül. Oll an termyn ma whynas ow tevy. Et ow lowarth ma dhebm lies redenen ha  dreys. An manegow rüdh ha'n soudoryon re worfednas bleujowa ha ma mir shiek dhodhans. My a dednas mes bern brâs. Thera kescowethyans dhebm - mola dhû ow can war welen dredan ha rüdhek ow whilas prevyon. Bes na ellama (ha na vadnama) lavürya termyn hir. Ma othom dhebm a gerdhes emesk an prasow ha gwelyow. Ello whei dismygya deffrans ysow? Garednow gwaneth ew serth ha còmpes (ha thew an gwaneth whath glas). Bes gwell ew genam an barlys - ma mir a baly po pelour, gans aga scovarnow blewek, ow qwaya e'n gwens. Ma'n barlys ow talla treylya melyn. Ha res veu dhebm mires orth an men yet arta! Ew hebma crows? 

If somebody has a garden he/she has a lot of work to do. All the time there are weeds growing. In my garden I have many ferns and brambles. The foxgloves and campions have finished flowering and they look a mess. I pulled out a big heap. I had company - a blackbird singing on an electricity pole and a robin looking for insects. But I can't (and I don't want to) work for a long time. I need to walk among the meadows and fields. Can you distinguish different types of corn? Wheat stalks are stiff and straight (and the wheat is still green). But I prefer the barley - it looks like velvet or fur with its hairy ears, moving in the wind. The barley is starting to turn yellow. And I had to look at the gate stone again! Is this a cross?

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

barlys barley

dismygya to distinguish

garednow stalks < (singular) garen (f)

gwaneth wheat

pelour (m) fur

paly (m) velvet

serth stiff

shiek messy, untidy

tredan (m) electricity

ysow types of corn,cereals < (singular) ys

Dedh Cans Trei Ügens ha Nawnjek

De Sadorn, seythves warn ügens mis Efen

Saturday, 27th June

Harri Tudur (Henry Tudor) o Kembro: ev a veu genys en Kembra. E'n jedh hedhyw thew Kembrion ha Kernowyon kescowetha, bes nag o Harri coweth a Gernow. Ev a dheuth Metêrn Henry VII Pow Sowson ha Wordhen wòja ev dhe fethas Rechat III en batel. Ev a venja mos dhe'n batel warbedn Scottlond hag e veu othom dhodho a vona.  Ev a wòrras tollyow re ûhel war an Gernowyon rag aga sten hag ev a suppressyas Consel Stenegow Kernow.  Pur engrys ens. Thera Scottlond re bell dhe vos aga haletter ha gwell o dhodhans cawas aga lahys aga honan.  Anjei a erviras dhe geskerdhes dhe Loundres gen peticyon rag an metêrn dhe lehe aga thollyow ha dascor aga Senedh aga honan. Pemdhek mil den a geskerdhas, bes nag ens ervys etta. Aga hembrenkyjy o Tobmas Flamank, lahyas, ha Mihal Josef, gov. E'n gwettha pres, an metêrn a welas hebma avel treson. Thera dhodho pemp mil den warn ügens, ervys ha parys rag battalyas ort an Scottys. Saw anjei a vattalyas ort an Gernowyon et aga le. An batel a veu seytegves mis Efen, peswardhek cans pajar ügens ha seytek. Mil Kernow a veu ladhys, an hembrenkyjy a veu cregys deg dedh môy diwedhes ha lies rebel a gollas aga thir ha peth - senjys. Hedhyw nei a's perthy cov, seythves warn ügens mis Efen. Seyth bledhen woja hedna Radolfus Ton a finsyas "Beunans Meriasek". An arthvilen ew Metêrn Teudar!

Harri Tudur was a Welshman: he was born in Wales. Nowadays Welsh and Cornish are friends, but Harri was not a friend of Cornwall. He became King Henry VII of England and Ireland after he defeated Richard III in battle. He wanted to go to war against Scotland and needed money. He imposed excessively high taxes on the Cornish for their tin and abolished the Cornish Stannary Parliament. They were very angry. Scotland was too far away to be their problem and they preferred to have their own laws. They decided to march to London with a petition for the king to reduce their taxes and give them back their own Parliament. 15,000 men marched, but they were not well-armed. Their leaders were Thomas Flamank, a lawyer, and Michael Joseph, a blacksmith. Unfortunately, the king saw this as treason. He had 25,000 men, armed and ready for battle with the Scots.  But they fought the Cornish instead. The battle was on 17th June, 1497. A thousand Cornishmen were killed, the leaders were hanged ten days later and many rebels lost their land and property - confiscated. Today we remember them, 27th June. Seven years after that Radolphus Ton finished "The Life of St Meriadoc". The arch-villain is King Teudar!

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

Consel Stenegow Kernow (m) Cornish Stannary Parliament

ervys armed < arv (m) weapon

fetha to defeat

gòrra to put, impose

hembrenkyjy leaders

Kembrion Welshmen < (singular) Kembro < Kembra Wales

laha (f) law > (plural) lahys > lahyas lawyer (m)

metêrn (m) king

sten (m) tin > stenor (m) tinner

toll (m) tax, duty, tariff  > (plural) tollyow

 Meur ras dhe Agan Tavas (ha Esther) a'n foto ma.

Dedh Cans Trei Ügens hag Etek

De Gwener, wheffes warn ügens mis Efen

Friday, 26th June

Pub dedh thera vy ow kerdhes e'n pow adro, ha pub dedh theram ow qweles neppeth nowydh. Ma vos nowydh dhe nebonan, gen afinans brâs. Pandr'ew hebma? Ew ev spyrys a Gernow po bòcka gwydn po bòcka dû? Ew ev onan a'n Bobel Vian? Ew ev grassyes? Ew ev scruthus? Ero whei kemeres own? Nag eus mir engres dhodho. Ma mir nebes còscüs dhodho. Martesen ma va ow pedery. Ma delow "An Prederor" gen Rodin ow trobla môy. Ew da geno whei whedhlow a greaturs annorel ha campyers? Whei alja redya an whedhel bian ma ha gwary gam jynn-amontya e'n kettermyn. http://moderncornish.net/game/

Shakespeare a scrifas gwary henwys "Hünros Nos Golôwan". Ma va ow compla gwedhros ha grows - pecar'an plansow ma.

Every day I walk in the countryside, and every day I see something new. Someone has a new wall, with a large adornment. What is this? Is it a Cornish pixie or good spirit or a hobgoblin? Is he one of the Little People? Is he benign? Is he scary? Are you frightened? He doesn't look angry. He looks rather sleepy. Perhaps he is thinking. A statue "The Thinker" by Rodin is more troubling. Do you like tales of supernatural beings and heros? You could read this little story and play a computer game at the same time. Shakespeare wrote a play called "A Midsummer Night's Dream". He mentions woodbine (honeysuckle) and eglantine (dog rose) - like these plants.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

afinans (m) adornment

annorel ~ annorek supernatural, weird

bòcka (m) goblin, imp, spook  

bòcka dû (m) bogeyman, bugbear, hobgoblin

campyer (m) hero, champion

còscüs sleepy, dozy, drowsy

delow (m) statue

prederor (m) thinker

scrüthüs scary, frightening

spyrys ~sperys (m) spirit

whedhel (m) story, yarn, tale

Dedh Cans Trei Ügens ha Seytek

De Yow, pempes warn ügens mis Efen

Thursday, 25th June

Thera dhebm descans spladn e'n mettin ha nena, wòja kidnyow, my eth mes. Glaw! E veu hager gowas gott. My a dreylyas a-dhelher bes distowgh hei a cessyas, etho my eth rag. My a welas keun brith en pras. Anjei a wrüg drei neptra dhe'm co! Ma dhebm dew gei brith ewedh - war an clavel. My a gerdhas adro dhe'n eglos. Pana lies tycky-Duw ellowgh whei gweles? Ma nebes, emesk an flourys, bes bian ens hag üskis. Thew an kerrys e'n vorr üskis ewedh. Na veu an dorgy (brogh) anfujik ma üskis lowr.

I had a great lesson in the morning and then, after lunch, I went out. Rain! There was a short sharp shower. I turned back but suddenly it stopped, so I went on. I saw spotty dogs in a meadow. They reminded me of something! I have two spotty dogs as well - on the mantlepiece. I walked around the church. How many butterflies can you see? There are several, among the flowers, but they are small and fast. The cars on the road are fast as well. This unfortunate badger was not fast enough.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

a-dhelher (adverb) back

cessya to cease, stop, halt, etc.

clavel (m) mantlepiece, lintel

distowgh instantly, suddenly, immediately

drei dhe co to remind 

hager gowas (f) heavy shower

kidnyow (m) lunch, dinner

mos rag to go on, go forward, continue

pana lies? how many

treylya to turn

Dedh Cans Trei Ügens ha Whetek

De Merher, pajwora warn ügens

Wednesday, 24th June

Thera nei en diberthva, bes pandr'eus môy moredhek avel gwaryellow flehes heb flehes? My a veu nebes hirethek ow honan de, drefen bos radn ow theylû war an treth ha res veu dhebm gòrtos tre. Anjei ow pur lowen e'n spladnder an howl. An dhew veppik a gar kerdhes war dreth warbarth. Bettegens, môy lowen o vy hedhyw. Thera omweloryon dhen. Anjei a dheuth dhe wary e'n lowarth, gen ombellheans cowethasek, heb mar. Bes re dòbm o an gewer, ha nag era keuj lowr, etho res veu dhodhans mos kerr arta wòja pols bian.

We are in isolation, but what is there more solitary than a children's playthings without children? I was a bit melancholic yesterday, because some of my family were on the beach and I had to stay at home. They were very happy in the sunshine. The two little boys love walking on sand together. However, I am happier today. We had some visitors. They came to play in the garden, with social distancing, of course. But the weather was too hot, and there wasn't enough shade, so they had to go away again after a short while.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

bettegens however, nevertheless

diberthva (f) isolation, separation

gòrtos tre to stay at home

gwaryel (f) plaything

heb mar of course, naturally

hirethek melancholic, sad, etc.

meppik (m) little boy < mab (+ diminutive ending)

moredhek gloomy, joyless, miserable, etc.

ombellheans cowethasek (m) social distancing

pols bian short while

Dedh Cans Trei Ügens ha Pemdhek

De Meurth, tryja warn ügens mis Efen

Tuesday, 23rd June

Golôwan ew. En Kernow thew hedna ow styrrya cres an hav. Lies bledhen alebma tho an bobel a Gernow golohyjy an howl ha herwedh an gis anjei a wrüg anowy tanjesyow e'n cottha nos. Canajow Cristyon a's ledyas dhe dreylya dhe'n nos ken degol Jôwan Baptist. Ma hedna ow rei an hanow - Gool + (J)ôwan > Golôwan. Ma lavar coth: Gwâv en Hâv terebo Golôwan, ha Hâv en Gwâv terebo Nadelik. Martesen tho an awel pub pres andhiogel. E'n vledhen ma da ew an gewer, saw na ellen nei anowy tanjes veth, etho nei a viras orth fylmys ha fotos dhort bledhednyow ew tremenys, ornys gen Agan Tavas ha Keffrysyans a Gowethasow Kernow Goth. Aga arwòdh a dherevyans ew palores.

It's St John's Eve. In Cornwall that means the middle of summer. Many years ago the people of Cornwall were sun-worshippers and according to custom they lit bonfires on the shortest night of the year. Christian missionaries persuaded them to change to the night before the feast of St John the Baptist. That gives the name - Gool + (J)ôwan > Golôwan. There is a proverb: Winter in Summer until Mid-summer, and Summer in Winter until Christmas. Perhaps the weather was always unreliable. This year the weather is good, but we can't light any bonfires at all, so we looked at films and photos from years gone by, organised by Agan Tavas (Our Language) and  the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies. Their symbol of revival is a chough.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

andhiogel unreliable, uncertain

cadnas (m) missionary > (plural) canajow

cowethas (m) society, association

derevyans (m) revival

golohyjy (plural) worshippers < (singular) golohyas (you can also use gordhyoryon < gordhyer)

keffrysyans (m) federation, confederation

ledya to lead, persuade

ornys organised < (verb) orna

tanjes (m) bonfire > (plural) tanjesyow

tremenys past, gone by