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JèrriaisYou are in: Jersey > People > Jèrriais > Let's Talk About Jerriais  The Crapaud: A symbol of Jersey Let's Talk About JerriaisAs part of our Voices 2005 season, Jenna Johnson spoke to five Jerriais speakers about their experiences of Jersey's native language. There is little doubt that Jerriais is a language much diminished by the progress of the twentieth century.  Brian Gilbert Once commonly spoken across the island with a surprising range of parochial accents, Jerriais was revealed by the 2001 census to be spoken by a mere 3.3% of Jersey's population. As efforts continue apace to retain the language's place in local culture, it is not an easy task. Children who would once have learnt at 'mother's knee' are almost all growing up in homes when no one speaks the language. As troubling as this is for the remaining Jerriais speakers, there is hope in the schemes running in local primary schools and the lessons which are on offer to older learners.  Percy Le Masurier Both BBC Radio Jersey and the Jersey Evening Post have provided forums for the spoken and written forms of Jerriais which have attracted new enthusiasts whilst keeping the tongue alive and in the public eye. With the launch of the Voices 2005 campaign, BBC Radio Jersey's Jenna Johnson went to meet five Jerriais speakers to discover something of their experiences of speaking Jersey's native language. Clifford Laisney, Brain and Joyce Gilbert, Percy Le Masurier and Ursula Taylor, have all known Jerriais since childhood and are members of the Assemblie Jeriaisse. They come from different parishes across the island; something evident in the precise vocabulary they know and use and the accents with which they speak.  Clifford Laisney Percy Le Masurier recounted and experience when one of his friends went to fetch a spade from the farm, but his request was interpreted rather differently because of the differences in pronunciation between Jerriais speakers in Trinity and St. Ouen. To listen to this clip, click on the 'Calling a spade a..?' audio link at the right hand side of this page. The rivalry between the parishes often interfered with the course of true love when your accent would give away the fact that you came from a different island parish. To listen to Clifford Laisney describe how his now brother in law was pelted with turnips when he was courting his sister, click on the 'Love & Turnips' audio link at the right hand side of this page.  Ursula Taylor When couples from different parishes married, they often discovered a great deal about each others ways of speaking Jerriais. Ursula Taylor describes one such instance from her the early days of her marriage in the 'How To Say Ants!' audio clip. Jerriais has always been most strongly preserved in the country parishes, something that the speakers felt was looked down on by those who spoke only English. As young people, insults would be exchanged over such a sensitive issue when they ventured into St. Helier as Joyce Gilbert explains in the Country v. Town audio clip.  Joyce Gilbert To keep up with the 'Wonderful World of Jerriais' why not tune into BBC Radio Jersey's 'The Morning Show with John Uphoff between 10.00 and 13.00. Each Monday from 11.00 Tony Scott-Warren recounts stories and anecdotes in Jerriais and English for the native speaker and beginner alike. Tune in to BBC Radio Jersey at 88.8 FM and 1026 MW or listen online by clicking on the Listen Live button on our homepage. last updated: 29/04/2008 at 13:25 Have Your SayArdit Pergjergji Fatmir Xharri Fatmir Xharri Jean-Marc Crappaud Bill mr b jack Channel Islands Fan Brands Emilie malquamme Revd Malcolm Brookes Lorna Williams Mary Burke Rob Ron Fallows Mairead Kerwin Ron Fallows You are in: Jersey > People > Jèrriais > Let's Talk About Jerriais Your storiesWe catch up with five islanders working in the theatre |
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