Exercise 73
The Tonkin family has arrived in Sant-Maloù.
Danyel:
Can I go out on my own to the town?
Mark:
No. Just like in Truro, you always have to go with Mum or Dad or Demelsa. I can’t go on my own either, except in the town centre.
Danyel:
What’s there to see here?
Mark:
Well, the sea, and the harbour. And a lot of history. Walls set around the old town. We can walk on them. The town is pretty – if you like such places. Dad said that Sant-Maloù is one of the towns that were destroyed in the Second World War. And he said that they’re proud to have rebuilt it over many years.
Danyel:
Can we speak English with the people?
Mark:
They all speak French. I know a few words that I learned at school. Some of the people also speak Breton, but there’s much more Breton in the west of the country. Demelsa has learned a bit of Breton. The first chapter of her book! She says we must show respect for people and their native language if we want respect for Cornish. You know? Breton and Cornish are related to each other, like cousins.
Danyel:
Well one should respect a cousin. Mum said that some months ago, in the car, going to visit Jûlyan in Exeter. With people here in the town then – I’ll speak Cornish.
Exercise 74
Pàn esa cals ergh dewetha gwâv, ny yllyn ny drîvya màn wàr an fordhow-ma. Me a vetyas gans dha gothman Alys pàn esen vy ow vysytya Trûrû. Res yw hedna dhe vos an termyn pàn esa flû wara vy. Aga soper pàn veu gorfednys, y a esedhas ha miras orth fylm. Diegrys en vy pàn wrussons y derivas an pëth a wrussons y gwil.
Exercise 75
The Tonkin family is visiting the Cathedral in Sant-Maloù.
Demelsa:
I love this cathedral. It’s much older than the one in Truro.
Powl:
Some parts of it were built in the twelfth century. The cathedral in Truro was built in the nineteenth. It’s one of the newest cathedrals in Britain.
Mark:
Did Malo, the saint, build this church when he came from Wales?
Powl:
That was long before, in the sixth century.
Danyel:
And when he hadn’t yet arrived in Brittany, he lived at Mullion in Cornwall.
Elen:
That’s an old tale, Danyel, not true.
Powl:
Let’s stroll where we can gaze at the Rose Window.
Demelsa:
It’s modern, but it looks very beautiful.