More Norman than Norman French.

[LORD]

Boujou.


A traditional Guernsey scene

More Norman than Norman French

We all know that Guernsey has its own language, but research in 2009 revealed some surprising facts about its connections to France.

Guernsey's own language, Guernsey French, or Patois as it is otherwise known, obviously stems from France, and more specifically from the dialect of French spoken in Normandy.

Before the French we know today became the country's main language different dialects were spoken around the many different regions of what is now France, and Normandy was no different. From the Channel Island's connection with this region our own language developed into what is now Guernsey French.
In 1883 a study was made by a famous Norman linguist into the region's dialect, including those of the Channel Islands. He "defined the characteristics of Norman French", according to Dr Mari Jones who was undertaking research into Guernsey's language in 2009.



Dr Mari Jones who conducted the research.

The 2009 study was conducted by the University of Caen and the University of Cambridge over two years in 114 places around Normandy and the Channel Islands and featured work with 29 speakers of Guernsey French.

Dr Jones said: "We were flabbergasted with the results in Guernsey, that the language is spoken so much there."
The research uncovered that more than 300 people still spoke Guernsey French and many still used it as their first language in day to day life.
"Guernsey is more Norman French speaking than most parts of Normandy," Mari commented.

The other thing that the research revealed was how close to the original Norman French language Guernsey French is.
"In Guernsey all of the characteristics of the language remain present," Dr Jones said, meaning that while Norman French has become contaminated by elements of 'good' French, Guernsey French has not and has remained pure.

• Dr Jones spoke to Gary Burgess about the research >
  

The culmination of the research will be the publication of a website in 2011 which will provide insights into the different dialects of Norman French and will be available as a resource for linguists and for use in teaching the languages.

[LORD]

Boujou.

Résumé (en français) de cet article... points principaux:

1/ De nouvelles recherches linguistiques sur le Normand ont été conduite en 2009 conjointement par l'université de Caen et son homologue de Cambridge sur 2 ans dans 114 endroits en Normandie et dans les îles Anglo Normandes et sur 29 habitants de Guernesey parlant en première langue le Normand (oui ça existe encore!!!).

2/ Conclusion: Guernesey est l'endroit où la langue originale Normande est la mieux conservée et la plus pure comparée à la Normandie continentale (Graund terre) qui fut contaminée par le "bon" français au cours des siècles.

3/ Ces recherches donneront lieu en 2011 (bonne date!!) à une publication internet mettant en lumière tous les différents parlé Normand pour un usage vers les linguistes et également vers l'avenir puisque ce site sera une base pour l'enseignement du Normand.

[crosman]

Victor Hugo le savait bien!!

[Belkën]

Le Guernesiais est une bonne source pour puiser nos mots manquent !

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