Making normal use of island’s language key to its survival
NORMALISING Guernesiais will be a community effort, with islanders being asked to share their ideas with the newly-relaunched Guernsey Language Commission.
The States has granted the commission £100,000 annually for the next three years so the island’s native language can be revitalised, and ideas at an open meeting ranged from bilingual signage to courses on the app, Duolingo.
‘A lot of people want to normalise the language, to see more on signs, to hear it on the radio and just to know a few words and phrases,’ said Culture & Heritage learning manager Jo Dowding.
‘There was an appetite among everyone for the commission to succeed.’
Between 50 and 100 people attended the event, which sought to outline the commission’s aims. It is being chaired by former Bailiff Sir Richard Collas.
‘Revitalising a language is not always learning something to a very high fluency,’ Ms Dowding added.
‘It uses the environment and knowing a few phrases and sayings – it can help you feel connected to a place.’
Members of the public were asked to share their ideas and outline what action they would like to see from the commission.
‘There was a lot of goodwill in the audience,’ Ms Dowding said. ‘At the moment we are asking the public what they would like from the commission before a plan is formulated. It will be a community effort.’
Individuals of a variety of ages and backgrounds were keen to get involved.
‘There were those just moving to the island and discovering the language for the first time, and people who had worked with the language for decades and grown up speaking it too.’
n For more information visit language.gg. To watch the talk, go to the Guernsey Language Commission Facebook page or see its YouTube channel.
