Archive to save Guernsey French

It is hoped an archive in London will help keep Guernsey French alive.

Researchers in Guernsey are depositing recordings of native speakers in the Endangered Languages Archive to try to preserve the language.

They say with fluent speakers dying out - it is one way to educate future generations about the local language.

Conversations are recorded, transcribed and translated and then deposited in the Endangered Languages Archive in London.

There are already permanents record of Guernsey French - it has been written down in a number of books.

But the problem with reading it off the page is that that does not tell you how the words are pronounced, or how the language is used in everyday conversation - and that is why the recordings are so important.

They mean that if at some point in the future there are no native speakers, anyone wanting to learn the language will know not only what the words are but how theyare supposed to say them.

The project is being spearheaded by Jan Marquis - who says it is vital Guernsey French speakers are recorded now before it is too late.

Jan Marquis said: "That's what we're finding is that a lot of the younger speakers aren't as fluent because they don't have opportunities to speak it, even some of the older speakers the same - if they've lost a partner, or a friend and they don't speak it as much people do lose fluency."

It's believed there are now only between 200-300 fluent speakers of Guernsey French, and most of them are elderly.

It is hoped this project will mean the spoken language doesn't die out.
(from CTV)