USE OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE GUERNÉSIAIS, A FORM OF NORMAN FRENCH, DURING THE OCCUPATION

Islands at War

Nick had a brainwave that it might be fun to explore the use of the local language, Guernésiais, Pronounced 'JEHR-nehz-yay', it is also known as 'Guernsey French' or 'patois'. It is a form of Norman French, which evolved from the Vulgar Latin spoken in the region when it was part of the Roman Empire.

There was only one man for the job of coming in for a chat about this subject that man was Yan Marquis. A local tour guide and heavily involved in promoting the language. Nick has known

We chat about the Guernsey language #guernesiais and its use amongst the Guernsey occupied and evacuees during WWII. Challenges they faced included: incomprehension, suspicion, adaption, isolation & linguistic disconnect. Fascinating chat about how the language was a benefit to those occupied and also a problem for those evacuated, that returned unable to speak it.

We also talk about some stories that people have told Yan over the years about their time during the occupation.

For more information on the language go here.

For details of Yan's tours go here.

You can also listen to Walter Brehaut who we mentioned in the podcast and Yan in conversation here. There is a translation!

If you want to hear more of the language following our podcast you can find it hear along with translations. https://soundcloud.com/user-348870745

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If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).
You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.