Craig Wetherhill, and Nicholas Williams 2006 each give Wâd (Wadebridge), Calweton (Callington), Trê Sülyen (Tresillian).
Weatherhill is a noted toponymologist, and is author of Cornish Place Names & Language, one of the best-selling factual books ever published about Cornwall. First released in 1995, it's due for republishing in a second revised edition (and may have actually appeared by now, for all I know).
When the Kesva produced Place-Names in Corwall, Henwyn-Tyllerow yn Kernow, by K George, P Hodge, J Holmes & G Sandercock (1996), Weatherhill wrote a detailed critique of the scholarship the authors had used. In his 29-page review, entitled The Best Cornish Form of Cornish Place Names he argues convincingly that this scholarship was inadequate, superficial and unprofessional.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, given Kemyn's oft-stated disregard for historically attested orthographical forms, the KK authors appear to have been much more concerned with forcing traditional place names into the strait-jacket of KK orthographic dogma, rather than being true to the living history embodied in these ancient artefacts. This procrustean arrogance is precisely what produced abortions like the notorious KK *Kammbronn. Moreover, Weatherhill argues, many of their derivations are unsupported by (or often totally ignore) the available historical evidence, and are thus (in my words) little better than 'Just So' fables or folk etymologies.
His critique is well worth reading even if, as with me, toponyms are not a main hobby for you. The arguments he gives are lucid, cogent and compelling, though that will doubtless upset many who favour KK's conlang approach to distorting the map of Cornwall. Here's what he has to say about 2 of the place names:
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KS: selven an Furf Screfys Savonek? -- Ya, hep wow!
His book has been republished apparently (2007) I saw it at Truro books, so those interested in this sort of thing can buy and read it, and make their own opinion, instead of reading the continuing clap trap of the Climowackys ,and the rest of the gang, who seem to have been permantly un-hinged by the advent of the 'conlang' Kemmyn.
Blog Goky
pyth yw 'Agan Tavas"?, Agan Tavas yw Eddie Climo.
Agan Taves Worldwide, hunky Cornish speakers, klickeugh below Agan Taves Nowyth
Now i wouldn't dream of arguing with Mr Wetherhill he is indeed one of the best toponymologists, if not the best Cornish one...
However, As I am producing a map, I want Cornicised placenames rather than just English ones. Ponsrys makes sense to me... IT was so that translates as Rys... Then they added bridge, which is Pons.
No, those in invented use are Ponsrys and Kelliwik (although Tresulyen is good). Wadebridge never had a Cornish name to anyone's knowledge, and was originally simply Wade (OE waed, "ford") before the bridge was built.
Kelliwik, for Callington, only came about because someone suggested it as a site for the Arthurian fortress of Kelly Wig (Mabinogion) without any foundation whatsoever and, therefore, the use of "Kelliwic" for Callington is absurd and should be kicked straight into touch. The name was Calwetona in 1080,English and has always been so (meaning "farm/settlement at the Calu ["bare hill"]. Neither Wadebridge nor Callington have Cornish names as far as anyone knows and to translate them so invents, distorts and manipulates history.
Translating English place names into Cornish is a difficult one and could be argued OK as long as specified eg. Aberfal, Aberplymm.
However, we have enough Cornish names to be proud of as it is and performing these translations is a bit like re-writing history, something that we've suffered massively from.
I would go as far as to say previously Cornish names that have been Anglicised should most definitely have dual signs eg. Heyl, Hellys, Lanstefan. But wholely English ones like Wadebridge and Callington should be left alone.
There are enough Celtic fakers around and it should not be encouraged.
Ok I take your point(s) however, If people can translate Falmouth - into Aberfal then i see no harm in translating Wadebridge into Ponsrys... Taking this on board I shall point out in my final map version that some forms are just translations and not historical forms.
I like to look at my map project as, making a map for a Cornish monoglot. So perhaps I will make a note of where the English names comes from and suggesting an alternative Cornish form?
I do not want to skew history, purely provide a Cornish (language) map.
Please If you have suggestions I want to hear them.
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