Now we've got the Bible out of the way, I'm interested to get a feel for what popular books people would like to see translated into Kernewek to attract adults to learning the language.
Here's a few for starters:
Lord of the Rings.
Anything by Terry Pratchett (one will do to start with!).
Sherlock Holmes stories.
Something by Isaac Asimov or Arthur C Clark.
Suggestions from non-speakers welcome. I'll collate any suggestions in a while and come up with a C24 wish-list!
It's light reading though, not everyone want to read about "and Hepsebiah begat Zippleding begat Argleflap begat Wippledung begat Inserthumorousname", or about war and destruction or tortuous family infighting. People learning a language will want more easily-accessible texts. Translating the humour could be a challenge though.
I'm still waiting for my copy of The New Testament in Cornish to get here! Think I ordered the Unified version. Also the new Unified Dictionary.
Anyway, I reckon any good, old fashioned whodunnit should do rather well. But instead of Agatha Christie, why not translate Debby Fowler's recent Cornish published debut that is set in St Ives and is a very pleasurable read, light but also poignant in its treatment of a widow finally coming to terms with her bottled up grief at her husband's death that she alone is convinced is a murder. As good as any novel from the big London pblishers!
I also think you could profitably translate Prof Bobbi Jones' book on the christian view and rationale for national cultures called Crist A Chenedlaetholdeb.
There's also a whodunnit by an American author called To Perish in Penzance, one of a 'cosy' puzzle series.
For kids/teens I suggest a Doctor Who title or John Wyndham!
Crist a what??? :shock: I doubt that would be a profitable translation because no-one would read it. We need popular books translated (and original ones written!) so we can show non-speakers that they will have interesting things to read when they learn Cornish.
Dr Who is a good idea, I'd go along with that! Translating some of the pseudo-science terminology would be fun!
I also agree not Agatha Christie.
As I understand it only the KK version of the New Testament is still in print as it had the highest demand, you may find that easier to get hold of.
you shouldn't knock Prof Bobi jones...he is a highly respected and well loved champion of the Welsh language and culture and an ardent nationalist which he bases precisely on his christian world view of culture and language. As a fellow Celt he is well worth listening to . And we were asked for ideas for TRANSLATION not original works on this thread which is why i thought it worth mentioning as I know it has encouraged and enthused many in Wales to adopt and promote the language. No bad thing!
This might be predictable, but what about Roy Phillip's The Saffron Eaters, Horn of Strangers and Apocalypse Dreckly.
Probably some thought has to be put into listing a mixture of books that are likely to be popular with both older and younger adults (and forgive me Kattell but although I haven't read any pratchett books or seen the film versions, that kind of stuff is obviously popular in Cornwall as elsewhere). What would be an unwise use of resources to publish stuff in Cornish that is a minority interest even in the English version. Let's not be too highbrow or anorakish about the types of books to be translated, if the idea is to get people buying and reading books in Cornish (I draw the line at Poldark books though even if still popular)
Kattell - haven't read the WATG but have read the cider house rules and hotel new hampshire and loved them along with bernieres cpt corelli There is one or two classics like germinal and crime and punishment but this would take dedication over and above the call of duty maybe.
I'm not knocking his academic credentials, just the fact that I doubt that translating Crist A Chenedlaetholdeb would attract a single additional person to learn Cornish. Don't forget that Britain is no longer a strongly Christian country so Christian books will not be read by the majority of people. We need popular works translated, and I hope that the group who put a lot of effort into translating the bible will now turn their efforts towards translating books which the general population will be keen to read cover-to-cover in Cornish.
Egloshal, are you serious? The general population doesn't read that in English and most won't even have heard of it.
'The Horn of Strangers' (Roy Phillips) sounds so isolated and romantic as a 'meaning' for Cornwall doesn't it and it gets a mention in a usefully placed article in the WMN today. Translation between languages with different structures can be more or less accurate and I wonder who came up with this one ?
Craig Weatherhill in a Cornish World article however clears things up:
'Throughout Europe, wherever the Celts have been, you will find the Indo-European stem word Gal/Wal, referring exclusively to Celtic people. So, in Asia Minor, Galatia; Wallachia in the Carpathians; Gaul (now France), Wallonia in Belgium; Galicia in north-west Spain, and Portugal. In Ireland were the Gaels'.
G and w are often interchangeable e.g. warranty/guarantee, to ward/ to guard and in addition there are the languages:
Gaelic
Gallego (Galicia) etc.
The Saxon word 'wealas' (stranger) also came from the gal/wal word.
However, to arrive at a meaning for Cornwall via the particularly indirect and culturally biased Saxon language is quite a process. It would be much easier to say
a) the name for Cornwall illustrates that Cornwall is part of an international Celtic network where Celticity is given prominence in major place names
rather than
b) the multiple-translation construction indicating insularity - Horn of Strangers
On the subject of C Weatherhill and SWF books, what about The Lyonesse Stone' etc - good fast moving books for teenagers with lots of local history
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Important Information regarding Air Southwest flights to/from Newquay Airport.
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MANX GOVERNMENT SUFFER WORST HUMILIATION BY THE UK IN LIVING MEMORY
The Isle of Man government and its Chief Minister have been shown to be inept and marginalised following comments from the United Kingdom Prime Minister and his Chancellor Alistair Darling over the past few weeks.
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It's light reading though, not everyone want to read about "and Hepsebiah begat Zippleding begat Argleflap begat Wippledung begat Inserthumorousname", or about war and destruction or tortuous family infighting. People learning a language will want more easily-accessible texts. Translating the humour could be a challenge though.
There is one or two classics like germinal and crime and punishment but this would take dedication over and above the call of duty maybe.
