Learn Late Cornish Bit by Bit 78 (About Prepositions)

A Bit About Prepositions

We have already looked at the preposition dhe to, together with its forms when combined with the personal pronouns. It also forms part of a number of other prepositions (causing the same soft mutation), e.g.:

ogas dhe                                                      near (to)

hont dhe                                                       more than[1], beyond

adhelergh[2] dhe[3]                                      behind, at the back of

adro dhe                                                       about, around, concerning

adreus dhe                                                   across

Ma Breanyk ogas dhe Druru.[4]               St Agnes is near Truro.

Ma’n leverva ogas dhe’n eglos.              The library is near the church.

Ma’n sodhva post ogas dhe’n leverva.  The post office is near the library.

Ma trigva bus ogas dhe’n dowr.             There is a bus stop near the river.

Ma va ogas dhodho.                                 It is near it.

Thero’vy o triga ogas dhe hens horn.    I live near a railway.

Hont dhe teyr er glogh ew.                       It’s just after three o’clock.

Ero’whei o triga adhelergh dhe ge hir. Do you live behind a tall hedge?

Ma kei adhelergh dhe’n wedhen na.     There is a dog behind that tree.

Üjy an bûgh adhelergh dhe’n bowjy?   Is the cow behind the cowshed?

                                                                 Is the cow at the back of the cowshed?

Eus deves adhelergh dhe’n vos ma?   Are there any sheep behind this wall?

Nei a omgüdhas adhelergh dhe dhilasva. We hid ourselves behind a wardrobe.

                                                                       We hid ourselves at the back of a wardrobe.

Thero’nei adhelergh dhedhy.                      We are behind it. 

Nicholas Boson a scrifas nebes geryow adro dhe Kernowek.[5]                                                                                                                      Nicholas Boson wrote some words about Cornish.

Ev a scrifas adro dhodho.                           He wrote about it.

Ma cota adro dhedhy.                                  She has a coat about her.

                                                                       She is wearing a coat. 

Ev a ponyas adreus dhe’n bons.               He ran across the bridge.

Ma pons adreus dhe’n dowr.                     There is a bridge across the river.

Ma’n sodhva post adreus dhe’n pedrek.  The post office is across the square.

Ma hei o kerdhes[6] adreus dhodho.        She is walking across it.

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[1]  When telling the time it means just after

[2] Another example of a silent –gh in Late Cornish.

[3] You may also see Middle Cornish a-dryv or Late Cornish adrev for behind

[4] however, in Late Cornish place names do resist mutation, so <Truru> is also correct

[5]  original spelling in about 1660: “Nebbaz Gerriau dro tho Carnoack”

[6] don’t forget, in Late Cornish we do not pronounce the [dh] in [rdh]