Status milestone for Kernewek, plus Scots and Gaelic
The last week has been a good one for specific regional languages in the Untied* Kingdom, namely Kernewek (Cornish), Scots and Gàidhlig (Scots Gaelic).
Firstly, Kernewek.
Cornwall County Council has announced that Kernewek will be recognised alongside Welsh, Irish Gaelic and Scots Gaelic after the government recommended it for Part III status – the highest level of protection under European treaty.
This outcome is the result of years of hard work by Cornwall Council, community groups and cultural organisations dedicated to protecting Kernewek. It officially recognises the importance of Cornish as a living language and a core part of the county’s cultural identity.
Since 2002, there has been a Kernewek revival across the county.
In 2024-2025, over a million searches were made using the online Cornish dictionary and Cornwall Council’s Cornish Language Team received more than 650 requests, translating more than 32,000 words into Kernewek – up 22% from the previous year.
In addition, more than 200 people sign up for Kernewek classes each year and almost 6,000 schoolchildren are having fun with the Cornish language through the Go Cornish for Primary Schools programme, commissioned by Cornwall Council.
“This is brilliant news for Cornwall. Achieving Part III status reflects years of hard work by Cornwall Council, our partners and the many community groups who have fought to keep the Cornish language alive. To see Cornish recognised alongside Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic is something we can all be extremely proud of,” remarked council leader Leigh Frost.
Meanwhile in Scotland the Gaelic and Scots languages have gained official status in an “historic milestone”. Nation.Cymru reports that this one of a range of measures which come into force on November 30 (which also happens to be St Andrew’s Day. Ed.) through the Scottish Languages Act.
“St Andrew’s Day is a fitting time to celebrate Scotland’s identity by recognising Gaelic and Scots as official languages,” said Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.
Ms Forbes also stated: “To support the continued growth of both languages the Scottish Government has already allocated £35.7 million for Gaelic and Scots initiatives this year, ensuring that this milestone translates into meaningful change for communities across the country.”
Other measures in the Act include supporting the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities so that ministers can better target policies to support the language.
Latest census statistics show that 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills in 2022, an increase of 43,105 from 2011, whilst the same source also reveals that 2,444,659 people in Scotland had some Scots skills in 2022, an increase of 515,215 from 2011.
* = Not a typographical error.