Europa "Letter"
It is tempting to say that languages come and go, but in reality new ones are seldom created. They certainly die out, though, and the world is currently dominated by just a few. One that is languishing - and has been since the mid 20th century - is Guernsey-French, known in its own terms as Guernesiais. For hundreds of years this was the way Guernsey people communicated, but English has long since replaced it. The Guernsey-French language evolved from Norman French as opposed to the mainstream version and has gone its own sweet way ever since.Never taught in schools, Guernsey-French was very much the poor relation. Legal documents and newspapers were written in standard French before eventually giving way to English, which only became the official language in 1948; even then it didn't apply to conveyancing, with property deeds not following suit until 1970. In some cases, people who spoke the language at home would keep quiet about it, as it was regarded in certain quarters as a sign of an unsophisticated background.
The Second World War struck a further blow against the language, with the majority of the population evacuated to various parts of the UK and many families split up - so parents and grandparents couldn't pass on their local linguistic knowledge. While it may never again become widespread, Guernsey-French is still fondly regarded within the community and for a non-speaker to hear it being spoken, it amuses and warms the heart in equal measures.
Specification
| Date of issue | 15 May 2008 |
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