Tesco has apologised after mistakenly putting up bilingual signs in Welsh at its store in Helston, Cornwall, instead of in the local Cornish language. The signs directed shoppers to 'pysgod' (Welsh for fish) and labelled sweet potato as 'tatws melys', both Welsh terms.
Councillor Loveday Jenkin of Mebyon Kernow, a party advocating for greater Cornish self-governance, said she appreciated the effort but noted the error. 'It would have been more exciting if they had been in Cornish rather than Welsh,' she said, adding that while some words are similar, fish is 'pysk' and sweet potato is 'aval dor melys' in Cornish.
The mistake comes shortly after Cornish (Kernewek) was officially recognised under Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in January, granting it greater protection. Cornwall Council estimates there are around 500 advanced speakers and 2,000 with basic knowledge.
Perran Moon, Labour MP for Camborne and Redruth, said the language's new status was a boost and that the error highlights the need for better access to Cornish. Garry Tregidga of the University of Exeter's Institute for Cornish Studies called the mistake 'embarrassing for Tesco' but praised the fact it was spotted, indicating growing recognition of the language.
A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We're sorry for this mistake and have removed these signs.' The signs are expected to be reinstalled in Cornish as soon as possible.
