2011/05/01 by Stuart Dunmore · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Historical Studies of British Isles #Scottish History and National Identity #Political Systems and Governance #Celtic languages #Linguistics #Art #Sociology #History #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.1386/corn.19.1.60_1
openalex publication_date 2011/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
This paper is based on a study conducted in 2007 and examines the varying degrees to which the Welsh, Scottish Gaelic (henceforward ‘Gaelic’) and Cornish languages are regarded as symbols of minority identity in twenty-first century Britain. In order to quantify this tripartite comparison, questionnaires were used to measure the identities, language abilities and language attitudes of young people in full-time education at schools in Ceredigion, the western Highlands and west Cornwall. The first section of the article introduces the theoretical context and provides an analysis of existing literature on attitudes to Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish, and on the role of these ‘Xish’ minority languages in the expression of ‘Xian’ cultural identities in each context. The second section outlines the methodology employed and assesses the roles assigned to Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish in the construction of identities by students in each of the three locations.