A major seven-nation project has been launched to help preserve and promote the Cornish language, as well as Cornwall’s wider cultural heritage, by combining immersive technologies with participatory storytelling.

Called REVIVE, the £2.5 million project is being led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and will use new digital technologies, including extended reality (XR), to encourage the wider use of two endangered European languages – Griko, which is spoken in parts of southern Italy, as well as Cornish.

It is estimated that at least 50% of languages spoken today will disappear or become seriously endangered by the end of this century and according to the United Nations, a language dies out every two weeks.

Cornish, or Kernewek, became extinct by the late 18th century but underwent a dramatic revival during the 20th century and the language has now been reclassified as endangered by UNESCO.

It is estimated there are now around 500 fluent Cornish speakers, plus thousands more who can speak basic Cornish. Publications, films and music are being produced in the language, and new street signs in Cornwall now display names in both England and Cornish.

REVIVE will involve Cornish speakers working with members of Anglia Ruskin University’s StoryLab research institute to create new digital content, immersive experiences and stories, and these will be displayed as part of temporary exhibitions in community venues in Cornwall.

Using a combination of 3D extended reality technologies, data visualisation and archival research, the aim is to bring the language to life for younger generations and promote the county’s heritage.

The researchers will also create a digital platform and repository, so that the material being collected and created is available online. This will include testimonies collected by locals, such as photographs, film and audio, as well as new XR digital narratives.

REVIVE, which involves a consortium of academic and industry partners from the UK, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Estonia, has been launched thanks to €3 million (approximately £2.5 million) of funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, and work on the project will begin in March.

Dr Fabrizio Galeazzi, Associate Professor in Heritage and Creative Technologies at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: “Languages are part of our shared heritage and identity, and the loss of languages, which is happening at an alarming rate worldwide, is leading to cultural homogenisation.

“The REVIVE project involves partners from right across Europe but we have chosen to focus only on Cornish and Griko, which are both endangered but are faring very differently. While Griko is a severely endangered language and is considered one of the most at risk in Europe, Cornish is what we call an ‘awakening language’ and is enjoying a resurgence after becoming officially extinct.

“Public engagement is key to the survival of minority languages. By involving local communities in the creation of digital content and stories, and then sharing these as widely as possible – both online and through in-person experiences and exhibitions – we aim to make sure every young person in Cornwall is aware of their county’s incredible linguistic heritage.”