The Cornish accent, originating from England’s southwestern peninsula, is a distinctive dialect that becomes more pronounced as you travel westward through Cornwall[2]. This charming accent carries echoes of the region’s Celtic heritage, particularly from the ancient Cornish language that influenced local speech patterns well into the 17th century[2][6].
From the rugged north coast to the gentle southern shores, Cornwall’s accent varies significantly across its geography. The eastern parts of Cornwall share similarities with neighboring Devon, while the western regions maintain more unique characteristics, including specific pronunciations and grammatical patterns[6]. Common features include the distinctive rolling of ‘r’ sounds, dropped ‘h’s, and unique local expressions like “dreckly” (meaning eventually) and “ansum” (handsome, used as a term of endearment)[3].
Several well-known figures proudly represent their Cornish roots through their speech. Queen drummer Roger Taylor, born in Truro, and television presenter Phillip Schofield, who grew up in Newquay, both carry traces of their Cornish upbringing[7]. The accent gained widespread recognition when actor Robert Newton popularized the stereotypical “pirate accent” in Disney’s 1950 adaptation of Treasure Island, forever linking Cornwall’s distinctive speech patterns with maritime adventure[4].
For authors seeking to capture authentic Cornish dialogue, it’s crucial to understand that the accent isn’t uniform across the county. Eastern Cornwall speakers might say “foive” for five, while western speakers maintain different pronunciations, reflecting the region’s rich linguistic heritage[6]. The dialect includes unique vocabulary and grammatical structures that have evolved from both its Celtic roots and centuries of relative isolation from mainstream English influences.
Sources
[1] wordbotherers.com https://wordbotherers.com
[2] The Cornish Accent? – Dialect Blog http://dialectblog.com/2011/12/11/the-cornish-accent/
[3] Cornishisms and Cornish dialect from the West Country – Salty Songs https://www.saltysongs.com/cornishisms-cornish-dialect/
[4] Did most English pirates really talk with a West Country accent? https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/english-pirates-accent-west-country-blackbeard/
[5] Cornish dialect: Jon Mills with Alistair McGowan on BBC’s The ONE … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMJWZBzYjU
[6] Cornish dialect – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_dialect
[7] 10 Celebrities you (probably) didn’t know were born or raised in … https://tamarvalleycottages.co.uk/blog/10-celebrities-you-probably-didnt-know-were-born-or-raised-in-cornwall/
[8] West Country Accent Explained! Cornish Dialect Training – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTfAiXk1Oeg
The Cornish accent, with its distinctive West Country lilt and Celtic influences, adds rich character to any written dialogue. Here’s a comprehensive guide for writers looking to capture its unique qualities:
Vowel Sounds
Long Vowels
- The “a” sound often lengthens, especially before certain consonants
- “Paper” becomes “paaper”
- “Bath” becomes “baath”[1]
Short Vowels
- “e” sounds are often shortened
- “Pet” remains as written
- “Pen” becomes “pn” when spoken quickly[1]
Consonant Features
The Notable R
- Cornish English is strongly rhotic – pronounce all Rs after vowels
- The R is retroflex, similar to American pronunciation
- “Farm” is pronounced with a clear R sound[6]
H-Dropping
- Initial H is often dropped
- “Handsome” becomes “‘ansome”
- “Him” becomes “‘im”[4]
Regional Grammar Patterns
Distinctive Structures
- Use of “do” as an auxiliary: “I do like pasties”
- Objects often referred to as “he”: “The kettle, he’s boiling”
- Extra “y” on infinitives: “I like to gardeny”[10]
Common Expressions
Everyday Phrases
- “Dreckly” – meaning eventually or in the unspecified future
- “Proper job” – excellent or well done
- “Wasson” – what’s going on?
- “My lover/Me lover” – friendly term for anyone
- “Dearovim” – meaning “dear of him/her”[3][4]
Local Terms
- “Emmet” – tourist (from Cornish word for ant)
- “Teasy” – irritable or grumpy
- “Ansum” – handsome, used as a term of endearment
- “Smeechy” – describing a smoky, fatty cooking atmosphere[4]
Writing Dialogue Examples
Here’s how to put it all together:
"Wasson me 'ansum? I'll be there dreckly."
"Proper job you did with them teddies in the pasty."
"'E's teasy as an adder today, best leave 'im be."Regional Variations
East Cornwall
- Shares some similarities with Devon accents
- Less pronounced Celtic influence
- More standard English pronunciation[1]
West Cornwall
- Stronger Celtic influence
- More distinctive local vocabulary
- Stronger accent features[1]
Remember to use these features sparingly in writing – suggesting the accent through occasional dialect words and grammatical patterns is more effective than phonetically spelling every word differently. The goal is to give readers a flavor of the accent without making the text difficult to understand[3].
Sources
[1] Pronunciation Guide – Loving Living Cornish https://www.kernoweklulyn.com/pronunciation-guide-1
[2] [PDF] An Outline of the Standard Written Form of Cornish https://kernowek.net/Specification_Final_Version.pdf
[3] 8 Common Cornish Dialect Terms – Tamar Valley Cottages https://tamarvalleycottages.co.uk/blog/8-common-cornish-dialect-terms/
[4] Cornishisms and Cornish dialect from the West Country https://www.saltysongs.com/cornishisms-cornish-dialect/
[5] Cornish Language/Pronunciation – Wikiversity https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Cornish_Language/Pronunciation
[6] Cornish English | English Accents https://www.uv.es/anglotic/accents_of_english/01/cornish_english.html
[7] Cornish Slang: Mastering “Proper Job” & Other Local Phrases https://brandshop.co.uk/blog/cornish-slang-words-phrases
[8] Some useful Cornish phrases/idioms – Breaks in Cornwall https://www.breaksincornwall.com/2023/06/15/some-useful-cornish-phrases/
[9] Cornish strange phrases. (a bit of fun) – MacRumors Forums https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cornish-strange-phrases-a-bit-of-fun.2104149/
[10] Cornish dialect – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_dialect
