Guernsey French .

Patois 'needing help' to survive
Guernsey French books
Guernesiaise derived from Norman French

Guernsey needs to do all it can to preserve Patois (Guernsey French), according a Guernsey French group.

In a drive to preserve Guernsey French, the States appointed Jan Marquis as a language officer earlier this year.

The amount of islanders speaking the dialect, also known as Guernesiaise has declined in the last few decades.

Tony Snell from island French group the "Gang from the West" said it can be difficult for Patois speakers to find fellow francophones to converse with.

Guernesiaise is a derivitive of Norman French, which evolved from Latin.




What do you think .Should it be taught in schools ?

Yes i think it should be.
I would love to chat to my nan is Guernsey French and i think it would make a change to normal french :( BORING

Interesting subject, teach and keep, don't teach and lose. Is Guernsey French recognised as the islands second language like French in Canada or Maori in NZ. To have it recognised would be a way of making sure it didn't die out because it would have to be taught in schools.

Kids have a very hectic scedule at school especially as they get older and I would have to question the benefit of learning Guernsey French, apart from the fact that we do not want it to die out.

I would suggest teaching it as part of the primary education to give kids an insight into their heritage, broadening the language with guernsey history. When the kids leave primary school it would then be up to them if they wished to continue through external clubs/ associations such as "Gang from the West"

Pete Burtenshaw wrote:it should be part of the school curriculum

Why ?

My Mother spoke fluent patois but my Farther was limited on what he could say . I like Pete think it should be in the curriculum because i feel i missed out on speaking and understanding my mother. Also Patois is dying out fast and that would be a great shame.

Digger wrote:My Mother spoke fluent patois but my Farther was limited on what he could say . I like Pete think it should be in the curriculum because i feel i missed out on speaking and understanding my mother. Also Patois is dying out fast and that would be a great shame.

Hi Digger,
I first looked at your post and thought that you had wasted a great opportunity so why would patois being on the curriculum help, after all you chose not to learn. Then I realised that my arguements as to why you didn't bother, not cool, none of your mates spoke it, would be negated if it was taught in school, in effect you would not be the odd one out which is important when young. However I still think you missed an opportunity and now that you are older and more mature you look back with regret. Having it on the curriculum would help others in your position but I would still recommend only the primary curriculum.

Chok Dee Ja wrote:

Pete Burtenshaw wrote:it should be part of the school curriculum

Why ?

Chok Dee Ja you should now by now that Pete is a man of few words and even less on reasons for the words!!!

plimmerton811 wrote:

Chok Dee Ja wrote:

Pete Burtenshaw wrote:it should be part of the school curriculum

Why ?

Chok Dee Ja you should now by now that Pete is a man of few words and even less on reasons for the words!!!

Da

Digger wrote:My Mother spoke fluent patois but my Farther was limited on what he could say . I like Pete think it should be in the curriculum because i feel i missed out on speaking and understanding my mother. Also Patois is dying out fast and that would be a great shame.

Why did you and your father not learn from your mother ?

Do you think thats a valid reason "because its dying out fast "

Chok Dee Ja wrote:

Digger wrote:My Mother spoke fluent patois but my Farther was limited on what he could say . I like Pete think it should be in the curriculum because i feel i missed out on speaking and understanding my mother. Also Patois is dying out fast and that would be a great shame.

Why did you and your father not learn from your mother ?

Do you think thats a valid reason "because its dying out fast "

Not the best reason that could be used but certainly is one of the reasons if you add that is part of the Guernsey heritage and Guernseymen/ladies are a proud bunch. Also it's a bit like polar bears, when their gone their gone.

I see there is another patois post which mirrors this one at http://www.vuedesisles.com/patois-in-the-island-s-f54/patois-in-the-islands-t1848.htm#19572