The UK Government has been criticised by the Council of Europe for failing to carry out its responsibilities in promoting the Cornish language.
A new report has been published which criticises the Government’s approach to minority languages including Cornish, Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
In reference to the Cornish language the Council of Europe says that the Government should “devolve the necessary responsibilities to Cornwall Council enabling it to effectively promote Cornish”.
It said that “immediate action” was needed to devolve responsibility and provide funding to Cornwall Council to promote the Cornish language.
A series of findings have been published as part of the report on what the Council believes needs to be done to further promote Cornish.
It said: “Responsibility for the Cornish language is not yet devolved, which hampers the ability to act for the promotion of this language.
“Broadcasting in Cornish, Manx Gaelic, Scots and Ulster Scots needs to be developed with a view to effectively contributing to the promotion of these languages; similarly, there is a lack of newspapers in all regional or minority languages.”
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And the Committee of Ministers also said that the UK had “not fulfilled” some of the undertakings required by the charter drawn up by the Council of Europe.
These include:
provision of forms and means for the teaching and study of Cornish at all appropriate stages
promotion of study and research on Cornish at universities or equivalent institutions
promote mutual understanding between all the linguistic groups of the country
promote the inclusion of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to Cornish among the objectives of education and training
encourage the mass media to include respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to Cornish among their objectives
The report also made a number of further recommendations:
Ensure that existing or new administrative divisions do not constitute an obstacle to the promotion of Cornish
Provide forms and means for the teaching and study of Cornish at all appropriate stages
Take further action in order to facilitate and/or encourage the use of Cornish, in speech and writing, in public life (education, judicial authorities, administrative authorities and public services, media, cultural activities and facilities, economic and social life, transfrontier exchanges) and private life
Maintain and develop links, in the fields covered by this Charter, between groups in the State using Cornish, and establish cultural relations with other linguistic groups
Promote the study and research on Cornish at universities or equivalent institutions
Promote transnational exchanges, in the fields covered by this Charter, for the benefit of Cornish, including by giving Cornwall Council full membership in the British-Irish Council
Raise awareness of Cornish in education and training as well as in the mass media.
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