Tesco apologises after placing Welsh language signs in Cornish branch

Shoppers in a Tesco branch in Cornwall were left amused after spotting bilingual signs in Welsh rather than Cornish.

In the supermarket, bilingual signs pointed shoppers to bwyd môr in Welsh, or seafood, rather than boos mor, and tatws melys, or sweet potato, rather than aval dor melys.

Councillor Loveday Jenkin welcomed the idea of bilingual signage in supermarkets in the area, but said it should be in "Cornish not Welsh".

She added the error in the Helston branch of the chain could spark a push for Cornish language signs in major supermarkets.

A Tesco spokesperson apologised for the "mistake" and said it had removed the signs.

Jenkin said bilingual signs could help normalise Kernewek, the Cornish language, in everyday life.

She added Cornwall had a long history of using bilingual signage which was generally well-received by residents.

"Cornish speakers can understand some of the Welsh because some of the words are similar," Jenkin added.

According to the Mebyon Kernow councillor, seeing Cornish used in public spaces can help raise awareness of the language even among non-speakers.

"It's really good to normalise the language around the place," Jenkin said. "I don't believe Tesco produces bilingual Cornish signs yet."

She added that while the signage may have been intended to reflect bilingualism, it highlighted an opportunity for supermarkets to support the Cornish language more directly.

Dr Garry Tregidga, co-director of the University of Exeter's Institute for Cornish Studies, said while the error was "embarrassing" for Tesco, it was also "great if there was the intention to have signs in Cornish".

He added: "What is also positive is that this mistake was spotted. This is a sign of the increasing number of people who are using and recognising Cornish.

"If anyone from Tesco needs assistance putting together the new signs there are plenty of people who would be glad to help."

Last month the Cornish language was given extra protection through the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The move gives it the same level of protection as all the other Celtic languages recognised across the British Isles, including Welsh.

Like Welsh, Kernewek is a Brythonic Celtic language. The two languages, along with Breton, are closely related.

There are about 400 to 500 advanced speakers of Cornish, with between 2,500 and 5,000 people having some basic knowledge.

The Cornish people are a recognised national minority under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, meaning they share the same status as the Welsh, Irish and Scots within the UK.

In the 2021 census, more than 100,000 people expressed their main national identity, ethnicity or main language as Cornish.