Guernesiais vital for our culture

A reason for the language’s decline was due to the prevailing attitude towards the language in the last century. Few realised that it was the language of the once vast Norman empire. Many regarded it as a ‘patois’, a dialect inferior to ‘le bon français’, or standard French. As a consequence it was hidden from their children, it was forbidden in the playground of some schools, and children that spoke it hid it for fear of ridicule. Guernsey adopted English as the official language in 1926, less than 100 years ago, replacing French and Guernesiais that had served the island well for some 800 years. Standard French was still taught in all schools until 1970. That year the new (and current) education law was introduced under guidance of ‘wise men from across the water’. Unfortunately, we adopted the English-speaking mindset that all persons should be able to speak English, so we need not learn any other languages. This attitude is not shared by other nations in the British Isles, who encourage their native tongues. Witness how Welsh has been revived in the last 50 years to be a living language covering all aspects of Welsh life.

The States of Guernsey must provide leadership in reviving Guernesiais, it could be a vast Guernsey Together community project, and it could give people a sense of belonging to a community with 800 years of proud history.

I offer a few suggestions based on the experience of a lifetime during which I have needed to become acquainted with many different languages and cultures. There is not an accepted form of written Guernesiais. We need a small group of dedicated people who will, as a matter of urgency, produce a standard written form of the language. New words must be created for use in modern situations. From this can follow textbooks/digital learning material and the like, that deal with everyday matters such as playing football, mending a motorbike, cooking, etc.

What could be done immediately and cheaply is for all government note paper to have bilingual headings. The same could be done for public signage with bilingual signage in place for the Island Games. A more distant objective could be to target having Guernesiais as an official language by 2035. This may be ambitious but it is achievable if a will is there on the part of our island leaders. Without our language and pride in our island’s heritage we shall have little to unite us against any pressure from ‘big brother’ in Westminster, where some see us as little more than a quirky offshoot of England and would like to absorb us into what is their unappealing way of life.

NICHOLAS LE POIDEVIN MA(Oxon)

Address withheld.