Petition calling for dual language signs in Cornwall
A new petition is calling for Cornish place names to appear alongside English on town and village signs across Cornwall.
The petition follows the formal recognition of Cornish, or Kernewek, under Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which places Cornish alongside other protected minority languages in Europe.
What the petition is asking for
The petition calls for place name signs in Cornwall to display both the English and Cornish versions of names. This applies to villages, towns and key geographic features.
That said, it’s not proposing everything change immediately, but rather the signs gradually change over time as and when it’s needed.
Like in Wales, English and Cornish would appear on the sign.
Many argue this is especially important for Cornwall, where many place names already come directly from Cornish words.
Why place names matter in Cornish
Cornish place names describe the landscape in a very literal way.
Rivers, hills, valleys, rocky outcrops, and bends in the land are all recorded in names that pre-date English dominance in the region.
Examples often cited include:
- Roche, from Tregarrek, meaning home of the rock
- Redruth, from Resrudh, meaning red river or ford
- Camborne, from Kammbroon, meaning crooked hill
- Brown Willy, from Bronn Gwenneli, meaning hill of the swallows
- The River Camel, derived from a Cornish word meaning crooked river
Supporters of the petition argue that bilingual signage helps explain these meanings and can lead to more understanding of the Cornish language and Cornish culture in general – which is only a good thing!
Cornish visibility
Cornish already appears in civic buildings, cultural spaces, and some existing signage.
Supporters see place names as a natural next step, because they are largely already Cornish in origin and deeply tied to geography.
How signage changes would work in practice
One of the key points raised by the petition is that signs do not need to be replaced all at once.
The proposal centres on updating signage only when signs are due for replacement or when new signs are installed.
According to people familiar with current signage contracts, signs are typically priced per unit rather than per language.
Under this system, adding Cornish does not increase the cost when a sign already needs replacing.
How to learn more or support it
The petition is hosted on Change.org and includes links to resources explaining Cornish place names, including an online Cornish dictionary maintained by Akademi Kernewek.
Supporters are encouraged to read about the meanings behind local place names and decide whether bilingual signage feels like a meaningful step for Cornwall’s future.
