Hopes Eisteddfod will keep Guernesiais language alive

Fewer than 500 people remain fluent speakers, the majority of whom are over the age of 65, said the Eisteddfod Guernesiais section’s new executive officer Joy Liggett, pictured.

‘The language has been waning for a huge number of years – it hasn’t been spoken in my family home for over a century,’ she said.

‘Now we’re at the stage where it’s at the point of becoming extinct.’

Mrs Liggett said the Eisteddfod promoted Guernesiais and the island’s history.

‘I think it’s part of the island’s heritage which goes back to 1066 when the Duke of Normandy became king of England – the heritage goes back almost a millennia.

‘We are one of the smaller sections of the Eisteddfod and we’ve tried over the last few years to make it as inclusive as possible, not just for the participants but for the audience as well.’

An English introduction is given for each entry to make it more accessible for the audience.

‘We’ve got these little pockets of the language speakers,’ Mrs Liggett said.

‘Now is the moment to continue with these associations, because if one stops, it’s a bit like a pack of cards and it will all start to fall and crumble.’

She was keen to see young people getting involved and said that in 2019 entrants’ ages ranged from four or five to over 90.

‘If they can pick up a few words then I think that’s good – there are words that come and used to come into everyday language as isolated words,’ she added.

There are a total of 22 classes, including poetry, prose, sketches, songs, and classes for written work.

‘Last time we ran out of chairs – there were more people than we anticipated, which was brilliant.’

The Eisteddfod is open to all abilities, scripts are permitted, and pronunciation help is available on request and through Guernsey Language Commission YouTube videos.

Adult classes take place on Saturday 13 November at Shiloh Main Hall from 2pm.

Junior classes will take place in March.

n For more details, visit www.guernseyeisteddfod.com.