Cornu-English is that form of English spoken by the majority of native
residents in Cornwall. It has also spread overseas to be spoken in areas
of the world where Cornish migrants lived and worked-in such diverse
locations as Australia, the United States of America, New Zealand,
Mexico and South Africa. It may be said to be one of three major
linguistic groups operating within Cornwall, a Celtic territory in the
west of the island of the Britain. The three are Cornish, English and
Cornu-English. Within Cornu-English, it is necessary to point out that
although the broad vocabulary and grammar remain the same there are some
variations in accent. These can be graded from east to west, and from
north to south. In general, the accent in the west of Cornwall (in West
Penwith, in particular) has remained quite distinctive, with some
observers believing this is because of the later persistence of the
Cornish language there. This edition of "Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland" is translated with a nod towards the Cornu-English accent of
mid Cornwall; in particular that found in the working-class china-clay
mining villages to the north of St Austell. This accent and locate
remain interesting because for many years there were perceived as not
being as picturesque as others parts of Cornwall, and so received less
immigration and loss of Cornu-English speakers.
