Jèrriais
Jèrriais is a language that is spoken in Jersey. Some people call it Jersey French. Just over 2000 people speak it. It is a Norman language. 3% of the people in Jersey speak it, and around 15% can understand it.
| Jèrriais | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native to | Jersey and Sark | |||
| Native speakers | 1,900 (2011 census)e18 2,800 L2 speakers of Jersey and Guernsey | |||
| Language family | ||||
| Language codes | ||||
| ISO 639-3 | nrf (incl. Guernésiais) | |||
| Linguasphere | 51-AAA-hc | |||
| ||||
History
In the 19th century, almost everyone in Jersey could speak Jèrriais. Then, people stopped learning it, and it nearly became extinct. These days, lots of people are trying to get more people to speak the language. Now, signposts and road signs on Jersey are written in Jèrriais and English.
Jèrriais Media
Some bilingual (or trilingual) signage may be seen in Jersey, such as this welcome sign at a supermarket
An inscription, reading "Liberated" in Jèrriais, was installed at La Pièche dé l'Av'nîn in St. Helier in 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Liberation.
Jersey Airport greets travellers with "Welcome to Jersey" in Jèrriais
Welcome to French Lane Saint Helier Jersey
In this road sign, mostly in French, the word pouclée is Jèrriais for dolmen
Bîngue à r'cyclier Saint Hélyi Jèrri
Compare palatalization in Jèrriais pièche with French place in this bilingual placename sign
La Rue au Tchian (road of the dog): Latin canem (dog) developed into tchian, an example of the palatalisation of /k/
