Guernsey French

These events include the Napoleonic wars which brought significant numbers of English speaking troops to the island, the participation of Guernsey volunteers in the First World War and the evacuation of a majority of the school population.

The economic activity of the island has also influenced the evolution of Guernsey French.

The 19th century saw the development of the export trade in granite and horticultural produce and also witnessed the arrival of the first tourists.

The later part of the 20th century brought the finance industry to the island and increased the size of the English population.

This increasing exposure to English during the last two centuries has had an important effect on the language, for words of English, rather than French, origin have been incorporated to express new concepts, e.g. 'le lorry'.

Although the official language of the island was French until after the Second World War, it was already being surpassed in importance by English at the beginning of the 20th century.

The earliest effects were felt in St Peter Port and along the east coast, which was a more cosmopolitan part of the island, but Guernsey French persisted in the rural areas to the west and north, which are today the last strongholds of the language.

The last speakers of only Guernsey French probably disappeared around the middle of the 20th century but there are still some islanders for whom Guernsey French is their first language.

It is clear that the number of speakers is in decline, but according to the 2001 census more than 1400 people still use the language to a greater or lesser extent.

To many islanders Guernsey French is seen as part of their heritage, an element of their identity, and its loss would be greatly regretted.

Several groups work towards preserving the language, holdings gatherings aimed at different sections of the community, and a section of the local Eisteddfod is devoted to items in Guernsey French, such as readings, recitations and sketches.