Lesson 2.2

revised Thursday 22nd October 2009

Nessa Descanz, Secund Descanz – radn deaw
SWF: Nessa Descans, Second Descans – radn dew
Second (next) Lesson – part two

Our conversations so far have been rather limited!
You might want to discuss where you live in more detail.

So, you live in Truro.
Soo, thera whei trigaz en Truru.
SWF: So, th ero’whei trigys en Triverow.

Exactly!
Poran!
SWF: Poran!

Where is Truro?
Peleh ma Truru?
SWF: Pe le ma Triverow?

Truro is between Falmouth and St. Agnes.
Ma Truru treeth Falmeth ha Brê Annik.
SWF: Ma Triverow tredh Falmeth ha Breanek.
(the ee in treeth is pronounced the same as ea in mear, it does not rhyme with teeth - between is also recorded as trez, with the same vowel sound )

Truro is near St Agnes.
Ma Truru ogoz dho Brê Annik.
SWF: Ma Triverow ogas dhe Breanek.
(the goz in ogoz and the gas on ogas sound the same because they are schwa/obscure)

No, but Falmouth and St Agnes are by the sea.
Na, byz ma Falmeth ha Brê Annik reb an mor.
SWF: Na, bes ma Falmeth ha Breanek reb an mor.

Is Truro big?
Ew Truru broaz?
SWF: Ew Triverow broas?
(pronounce as broz)

Yes, quite big (literally big enough).
Ia, broaz lowr.
SWF: Ea, broas lowr.

Falmouth is quite big as well.
Falmeth ew broaz lowr awêdh.
SWF: Falmeth ew broas lowr y’wedh.
(dh in awêdh is voiced, and unusually it is the final syllable that is stressed)

And St. Agnes. Is it big as well?
Ha Brê Annik. Ew broaz awêdh?
SWF: Ha Breanek? Ew broas y’wedh?

No. It’s quite small.
Na. Bian lowr ew.
SWF: Na. Bian lowr ew.

Do you live in a house?
Era whei trigaz en chei?
SWF: Ero’whei trigys en chei?

No, I live in an apartment.
Na, thera vi trigaz en flat (can also use radnji).
SWF: Na, th ero’vy trigys en flat (radnji).


You may have noticed that we have been using two forms of the verb “to be”.
One is used when dealing with identity and descriptions,
the other is used when dealing with locations and actions.

e.g. descriptive forms (this is what the SWF calls the “short” form):

Jammes o vi. I am James.
SWF: Jamys o’vy.(pronounced as “vee”)

Tho vi yein (or yên). I am cold.
SWF: Th o’vy yeyn.

O whei jack? Are you well?
SWF: O’whei yagh?

Piw o whei? Who are you?
SWF: Piw o’whei?
(pronounce pee-oo)

Ew Truru broaz? Is Truro big?
SWF: Ew Triverow broas?

Falmouth eu broaz lowr awêdh. Falmouth is quite big as well.
SWF: Falmeth ew broas lowr y’wedh.

e.g. locative forms (this is what the SWF calls the “long” form):

Thera vi trigaz en flat. I live in an apartment.
SWF: Th ero’vy trigys en flat.

Thera whei trigaz en Truru. You live in Truro.
SWF: Th ero’whei trigys en Triverow.

Peleh era whei trigaz? Where do you live?
SWF: Ple ero’whei trigys?

Peleh ma Truru? Where is Truro?
SWF: Ple ma Triverow?

First let us have a closer look at the Present Descriptive of BOAZ (SWF: BOS) be/being.
Then, with the aid of more adjectives, we can describe ourselves more fully.
And, since no conversation is complete without gossip, we can start to talk about other people!

Present Descriptive of BOAZ (SWF: BOS) be/being.

(RLC alternative spellings for personal pronouns Lhuydian/traditional)
I = vi or ve
he = ê or ev
she = hei or hy
we = nei or ny
you = whei or why
they = andzhei or anjei or anjy

tho vi, thom = I am
SWF: th o’vy, th o’ma

thew, thewa = it is (neuter)
SWF: th ew, th ewa

thew ê = he is (or it/m)
SWF: th ew e’

thew hei = she is (or it/f)
SWF: th ew hei

tho nei, thon = we are
SWF: th o’nei

tho whei = you are (polite sg. or pl.)
SWF: th o’whei

thenz, thenzi = they are
SWF: th ens, th en’jei

You will notice that for some persons there is a choice between two ways of saying the same thing.
One is the analytic (split) form, e.g. tho nei; the other is the synthetic (joined) form, e.g. thon.
The synthetic form is earlier in date, and is mainly used for the 3rd person, e.g. thenz.

The following form is used if the verb starts the sentence:
e.g.
Tho vi tubm. = I am hot.
SWF: Th o’vy tobm.

Thew ê jack. = He is well.
SWF: Th ew e’ yagh.

Thew hei fettu. = She is pretty.
SWF: Th ew hei fettow.

Tho nei lûan. = We are happy.
SWF: Th o’nei lowen.

Tho whei hagar! = You are ugly!
SWF: Th o’whei hager.
(pronounce to rhyme with dagger)

Thenz trawedhak. = They are sad.
SWF: Th ens truedhek.

If you start the sentence with an adjective drop the “th”.
Usually in Cornish the sentence starts with the most important idea, e.g. whether you are hot.

Tubm o vi. SWF: Tobm o’vy.

Jack ew ê. SWF: Yagh ew e’.

Fettu ew hei. SWF: Fettow ew hei.

Lûan o nei. SWF: Lowen o’nei.

Hagar o whei. SWF: Hager o’whei.

Trawedhak enz. SWF: Truedhek ens.