WHAT TEACES AEE THERE LEFT OF THE OLD LANGUAGE. 

 Bt thb Rbv. a. H. MALAN. 



In considering this question, I would put aside all proper 

 names, and names of places — interesting as these are — and 

 restrict my remarks to such words as (more or less connected 

 with the Cornish language) are occasionally made use of by our 

 country people in ordinary conversation. The existing traces of 

 the language seem naturally to divide themselves into three 

 kinds: — 



(1) Words which are clearly and unmistakably of Cornish 

 origin. 



(2) Words or phrases which are («) translations of old Cor- 

 nish expressions ; or (J) which retain the old spelling found in 

 the Dramas. 



(3) Words, which, from our limited knowledge of the old 

 language, we are unable to identify as being Cornish, but the 

 meaning and sound of which are expressed by kindred words in the 

 other Celtic languages. 



I. Words clearly and unmistakably Cornish. If one looks 

 through the valuable glossary by Miss M. A. Courtney, a large 

 number of Cornish words are at once noticed ; but that glossary 

 being compiled from a variety of sources, many of the words 

 given are probably now extinct, or obsolete. For the sake of 

 illustration, I will therefore select a few scattered specimens from 

 words I have myself heard used, and which are accordingly not 

 obsolete. E.G: — 



Baknal — (broom plant). Bannal is the late contracted form of 

 the Cornish word Banathal. Welsh, Banadyl ; Breton, 

 Banal. 

 Ara-a ! — An expression of astonishment. This may be the old 

 Eoman Catholic oath, as Mr. Lach-Szyrma has suggested 

 to me — '^ Re San Marial" (by St. Mary); or it may be 

 the Cornish i^effl — (wonderful), which in Welsh is Rhyfedd. 



