19.03.2025
sustainability cooperation international research for society

Research project of the UNESCO Chair took Seto language and art to Cornwall

Estonian team with the exhibition
Author:
Marie Sauer

Cornwall, in the south-west of England, is home to a small community of Cornish language enthusiasts. This is where the consortium of the RISE UP project met in early March .

The project itself is about endangered languages. As part of the meeting, the project team set up an exhibition in Cornish - with English translation - at the Redruth Public Library, showcasing the five language communities involved in the project (see here for the panel about Seto).

In addition, an art work by one artist from each community was on display. Estonia and the Seto community were represented by Yyhely Hälvin's "In the Misty Rain" - a tribute to all decaying farm buildings in Setomaa:

maal vanast majast

The national day of Cornwall, St Piran's Day was celebrated in this period. Consortium members further visited the the Cornish Language Office to learn about their activities, concerns and success stories.


Ode Oras, a member of the Seto community who is involved in the RISE UP working group and also works at the Seto Institute, sums up her experience and observations:

"It is comforting to note that small languages often face very similar problems: there are few speakers, they are geographically dispersed, and as a result there is a shortage of both active speakers and competent language teachers. 
 

In comparsion to Cornish, the Seto language is undoubtedly in a more favourable situatuon. What stands out in Cornwall are consistent and systematic language courses, which constantly bring new speakers. 
 

Unlike Cornish, Seto is not (yet) extinct. However, for both comminities, it is young language learners and language learning tailored to their needs that is most lacking. Young people are less interested because of the academic nature of the courses, they would prefer to lear the language in a more interactive and direct way.
 

It's exciting that in Cornwall quite a few short films are made Cornish. It was heartwarming to see young people who clearly care so much about preserving the Cornish language and culture."

At the consortium meeting the UNESCO Chair was also represented by Professor Kristin Kuutma and Research Assistant Maarja Veisson.

In 2023-2026, the UNESCO Chair on Applied Studies of Intangible Cultural Heritage is part of the RISE UP project. This is a European Horizon funded research and development project aimed at preserving endangered languages and cultural diversity.

The project focuses on five case studies of endangered languages from different parts of Europe: Seto in Estonia, Aromanian in the Balkans and Greece, Burgenland Croatian in Austria, Aromanian in northern Spain and Cornish in south-west England.

In the consortium, the UNESCO Chair from the University of Tartu works on a study and analysis of language policies and their impact on endangered languages in European countries, both historically and in the present. Attention is paid to the interplay of different levels of language policy (EU, national and local). We also explore the ways in which minority language communities themselves can influence language policy.

See also the homepage and Facebook page of the UNESCO Chair on Applied Studies of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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