The Return of the Cornish Chough Reflects the Revival of the Cornish Language

The return of the Cornish chough has become a powerful symbol of the cultural and linguistic revival of Cornwall. This remarkable bird, once extinct in the region, stands as a living emblem of the resilience of both the Cornish language and the identity tied to it. Many people consider the connection between the chough’s return and the reemergence of the Cornish language as not coincidental; it reflects a deep-rooted symbolic relationship between the survival of the language and the cultural regeneration of Cornwall itself.

In our many visits to Cornwall, RISE UP members frequently came across the motif of the Cornish chough (a black bird with a red beak, from the crow family), such as the symbol of Cornwall Council and a pin badge worn by local people on hats or clothes. These instances of the chough’s imagery show how deeply embedded the bird is in Cornwall’s cultural and civic life. Notably, the chough appears in the Cornwall Council’s coat of arms and logo, underscoring its significance as a symbol of the region. We also heard a legend that King Arthur, the iconic figure of Cornish mythology, is still alive in the form of the chough. This belief ties the bird to the enduring spirit of Cornwall and its historical and cultural legacy, further solidifying its status as a symbol of renewal and hope.

In examining the historical and cultural context, the significance of the chough extends far beyond its status as a rare bird species. As Morris (2020) suggests, the chough embodies the human story of language, culture, and identity, as it is “a tale of a marginalised population clinging, both literally and metaphorically, to the edge of a continent.” This marginalisation is mirrored in the struggles of the Celtic-speaking communities, including the Cornish, whose language and culture were systematically suppressed and pushed to the margins of British society. The chough, like these communities, was driven to the fringes of existence, its disappearance from Cornwall in the 1970s a stark symbol of the diminishing cultural and linguistic presence in the region. However, the bird’s eventual return to Cornwall in the early 21st century represents more than just an ecological recovery; it signals the resurgence of a community’s identity, closely intertwined with the revival of its language.

The role of the Cornish chough in cultural identity is further explored in the works of Robert Morton Nance, a key figure in the Cornish language revival. Nance’s 1932 play An Balores (The Chough) serves as a metaphor for the relationship between the chough and the Cornish language. As Courtenay (2019) explains, the death of the chough in the play is “presented as a metaphor for the death of the Cornish language,” while the revival of the bird parallels the language’s reemergence in Cornwall: “so you can see the same symbolism in the new version — the chough is alive again in Cornwall and so is the language.” This symbolism suggests that the fate of the chough and the Cornish language are inextricably linked: the chough, like the language, was once thought to be lost, but both now stand as living symbols of a resurgent Cornwall.

During one of our fieldwork visits to Cornwall, we encountered a poignant story that encapsulates the deep emotional connection between the chough’s return and the revival of the Cornish language. A Cornish lady shared with us an unforgettable memory of a mug she owns, decorated with images of choughs. This mug was a gift from a passionate Cornish activist to her. As he handed the cup to her, he expressed his hope that the return of the choughs to Cornwall would herald the complete revival of the Cornish language. This experience captures the shared belief among many Cornish people that the resurgence of the bird is intertwined with the reemergence of their linguistic and cultural heritage.

In addition to the play An Balores, the chough’s symbolic role in Cornish identity is explored through the song that accompanies the work. Cornish Trad (2019) notes that the refrain of the song, “Nyns-yu marrow Myghtern Arthur!” (“King Arthur is not dead!”), further links the chough to the mythology of Cornwall and its historical and cultural roots. The song emphasises that both the Cornish language and the chough are integral to the survival of Cornwall’s identity. The invocation of King Arthur, a legendary figure closely associated with Cornish heritage, ties the bird’s return to the broader narrative of cultural resilience and continuity.

The return of the chough, thus, acts as a metaphorical and literal reminder that Cornwall’s language and culture are not dead, but alive and thriving once more. The chough’s reemergence signals a profound shift in the region’s collective consciousness, reaffirming the connection between language, identity, and cultural heritage. As Morris (2020) highlights, the chough “captures and articulates this particularly human story of language, culture and identity,” and its return serves as a testament to the enduring strength of small, defiant communities that refuse to let their cultural heritage disappear.

The cultural significance of the Cornish chough cannot be overstated. It represents more than a species’ recovery; it symbolises the survival of a community’s language, identity, and traditions. The bird’s return is not just an ecological victory, but a victory for the Cornish language, marking its revival as a living, spoken entity. In this way, the chough is not only a symbol of Cornwall’s natural heritage, but also a symbol of the ongoing cultural and linguistic renaissance in the region.

Authors: Kingsley Ugwuanyi, Julia Sallabank and Miho Zlazli

Image Credits: Malte Uhl (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alpenkr%C3%A4he-Pyrrhocorax.jpg)

Keywords

Cornish chough, language revival, Cornish identity, cultural heritage, Cornish language, symbolism, Robert Morton Nance, language and culture, ecological recovery, Cornwall

References

Cornish Traditional Music Archive. (2019). Can Palores: Song of the Chough. https://www.cornishtrad.com/lectures-and-talks/can-palores-song-of-the-chough/ (accessed 21 January 2025).

Courtenay. (2019). Cornish music [Discussion]. Say Something in Cornish Forum. https://en.forum.saysomethingin.com/t/cornish-music/20267/15 (accessed 21 January 2025).

Morris, A. (2020). Bird on the edge: The story of the chough and how it speaks to people. OpenLearn [The Open University Learning Platform]. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/geography/bird-on-the-edge-the-story-the-chough-and-how-it-speaks-people (accessed 21 January 2025).