Cornish Placenames
In this four-column reference book, attractively illustrated by the late Fred Splatt of Camborne, each placename in Cornwall is set down alongside its location, traditional pronunciation and meaning. Author, June Lander, explains the problem that provoked the text in her introduction, namely that Cornwall, attracting so many non-indigenous types, is in the process of having its native pronunciations drenched by the spontaneous improvisations of visitors and incomers. Hence ‘How Do You Say…?’ informs the untutored how to get around the without maiming or bruising the argot.
Large bold capitals emphasize the sound value, making things seem a little vehement. Hence ‘Car’CLAZE’ signifies ‘grey barrow or tumulus’, not far from S’nt OR’stull, named after St. Austolus, a godson of St. Mewan - apparently the two were great friends, dying within weeks of one another. As everyone knows, old words possess a primitive magical charge, so maybe one should practice in front of the mirror before essaying these sounds in the open air. If none are offensive, some are zanily chirpy, giving the impression you’re rehearsing bird calls (R’TOO). Others have a staggering, bare-faced blatancy, (B’LOWD’a) contrasting with a crop of shy, self-effacing grunts (Up’tn). Here and there a swearing Hun intrudes (VOGE’b’loth). Oaths aside, heaps of wonderful, sludgy vowels rake up the mud from the fields (S’nt KOLL’um). Elsewhere there is a whisk of salty breezes and high gorse moors (Rus'VEEN). In particular, I’m grateful to learn Feock is pronounced FEEock − now, there’s no need for that type of language! Other than the ubiquitous saints, of course, not quite so much folklore as I expected although Chybucca (Shy'BUCK'a) reminds us of of goblins and Rosemerryn (Rus'ME'rin) is translated as 'Merlin's Hillspur'. One charming discovery was Zawn Buzz (Zawn Bus) which means 'chasm by the giant's abode'.
Not only does June provide brisk, adequate entries and derivations, but also incorporates characters, influences and relics relating to the locations. Hence there are sections on the Celtic saints, stone crosses, local differences, holy wells. Buildings, too, feature prominently. There is a splendid drawing of the house where Sir William Golding was born, at Mount Wise, Newquay (by the look of it, Victorian Tudor, but possibly older). We naturally have Daphne Du Maurier's home at Bodinnick as well as the cottage of the prizefighter, Bob Fitzsimmons, whom I'm glad is no longer around to give a walloping to anyone who gets his hometown (HELLS'tun) confused with the Devil's hothouse.
'How Do You Say...?' combines the merits of a 'fun book' with a text of patience, precision and scholarship that will prove increasingly valuable to future generations. People will continue to argue over derivations and meanings but, unless sounds are phonetically recorded, they will merge imperceptibly into something else without anyone knowing or caring. But now June has actually established a standard, it will be far easier to measure what happens to names over decades and generations. With the source word fixed, we are able to pinpoint a corruption or adaptation and create an intelligible narrative out of evolving patterns of pronunciation.
To Order:
- ACANTHUS BOOKS
- Lanner, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6BS
- ISBN 0-9506765-3-5
- 01209 - 217557
