Tuesday 31 May 2011

J'tuitons - We're on Twitter

Follow le_jerriais on Twitter J'tuitons: @le_jerriais - We're on Twitter.

Les dgiêx mots 2011 - The 10 word challenge

cache: As promised, here's the first in our series on the words in this year's 10 word challenge for Les Nouvelles Chroniques du Don Balleine. The form cache is given but, as the very flexible and permissive "rules" go, you can treat that as the noun cache, or use any form of the verb cachi, or some derivative like cacheux (driver) or a compound or any idiom. Check out the dictionaries for inspiration. Perhaps you might imagine driving somewhere, and then fitting in the other nine words into the description of a rather mad drive. Or what might happen during a game of hide-and-seek? There are also places called La Cache. Of course, one of the other nine words on the list might provide you with a better starting point...

Here's a short list of cache-related words and phrases to help:

Monday 30 May 2011

Irish and Manx gaelic speakers discuss the Manx Gaelic revival

Un vidgo d'la télévision Irlandaise auve d's entréveues auve l'anmîn Brian Stowell et l'anmîn Paul Rogers d'l'Île dé Man. Èrgardez l'êcole en Manx - ch'est eune êcole dé même en Jèrriais qué j'pliannons êcalopper en Jèrri!

Pouôrri - Decay

Rotting appleoulle en pouôrrithait d'dêpiet = she'd die of envy/go green with envy
A nice phrase which has just happened to turn up in an article we're transcribing by Piteur Pain, 1916.
  • pouôrri = to rot, to suppurate, to fester, to go bad
  • pouôrri = rotten
  • pouôrri d'sou = stinking rich
  • lé pouôrri = dry rot
  • lé pouôrrissement = rotting, decay, decaying
  • la pouôrrithie = rotting, decay, decaying
  • la pouôrrituthe = rot, pus, decay

La langue normande

Magène rapporte entouor deux livres:

- "La langue normande", par Thierry Jigourel, un solide ouvrage complété d'un lexique.
- "Le parler normand", aux Editions de Borée.

Saturday 28 May 2011

Tu - You

you by ed ed
you, un portrait par
ed ed siez Flickr.
Le Petit Fougerais, 1911:
Le premier venu vous tutoie: répondez par votre meilleur sourire et tutoyez aussi; le tutoiement est la plus grande marque de respect que l'on puisse donner dans un pays où le 'you' (vous) est l'expression habituelle et familière.

La Chronique de Jersey du 14 dé Juîn 1911 èrpublyit eune articl'ye d'la gâzette dé Fougères en Brétangne "Le Petit Fougerais". N'en v'chîn un but tchi dêcrit eune partitchularité lîndgistique dé Jèrri à chu temps-là. En génétha, qu'nou dit, nou-s'est à tu et à té.

In June 1911 the local newspaper of Fougères (in Brittany) published an account of a visit to Jersey with comments on agriculture, shopping, culture and customs.

Friday 27 May 2011

The Prince and the Composer

Today, 19:30 on BBC Four - The Prince and the Composer: A Film about Hubert Parry by HRH The Prince of Wales:
Sir Hubert Parry is simultaneously one of Britain's best-known and least-known composers. Jerusalem is almost a national song, regularly performed at rugby grounds, schools, Women's Institute meetings and the Last Night of the Proms, while Dear Lord and Father of Mankind is one of Britain's best-loved hymns.
J'avons des vèrsions Jèrriaises des patholes dé Jérusalem et Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, pouor les cheins tchi sont întérêssis....
We have Jèrriais versions of the words of Jerusalem and Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, if anyone wants to take it further...

La P'tite Cour, 1913 - Police Court

Salle Pârouaîssiale dé Saint Hélyi 2011 6In the Police Court, May 1913 (newspaper report in French; witness and Magistrate speak in Jèrriais):

Trop Parler Nuit

Jane Chanvril (femme Tisson) est présentée par le Centenier Cuming, de St. Hélier, sous prévention d'insultes continuelles envers Mse. Eliza Jane Godfray, femme Adolphus Du Heaume, et d'Eliza Sweeting, femme d'Elias John Blampied, notamment Dimanche matin sur les prémisses occupées par l'accusée dans Clairvale Road, et d'avoir en même temps causé une interruption de la paix publique.

L'accusée se défend avec une remarquable volubilité.

La déposition de Mrs. Du Heaume est des plus amusantes "Ch'est pustot à m'n'houmme qu'oulle en veurt, Moussieu l'Juge; ou disait qu'il en avait yeu entouor l'yi pour un ca. Ou dit que Mess Bliampi nos paie pour la faithe louogi et ou traite man houmme de 'sacrée vieille pouque." Ch'est yi qu'est saoule tous les jours et oulle est tréjous entouor nous.

Le Juge: Il est patient don? Et ou v'nez prendre sa part.

Mrs. Du Heaume: Vaithe, mais j'ai peux qu'i n'finisse par l'assoumer!

Le Juge libère la prévenue et la met sur les gardes. Il remarque qu'il est bien difficile de fermer la bouche aux femmes!

Chronique de Jersey 21/5/1913

Thursday 26 May 2011

Lé Président et les Rouoyales - Obama and Jersey Royals

La Gâzette du Sé rapporte:
US President Barack Obama now knows all about Jersey Royals. The President was served the renowned potatoes not once but twice during his visit to the UK this week. They were on the menu at both a Downing Street barbecue yesterday and a Buckingham Palace banquet on Tuesday.

J'avons dêjà posté un mp3 d'la poésie La Patate. Né v'chîn d'aut's buts d'textes Jèrriais entouor les patates:
Check out the previous audio potato poem, or sample some more tasty potato-related Jèrriais literature:

A Ses Patates
Quand l'solet qu'menche à ramonter,
Et qu'les coqs sont tous à chanter
Et que l'fermi tchitte à ronflier
I' pense - à tchi? devant sè l'ver?
A ses Patates!

Marmite

Marmite by neal1973
Marmite, un portrait par
neal1973 siez Flickr.
Diton:

J'îthons quand i' tchèrrait des marmites
(We'll go when it rains stock-pots)

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Dictionary addenda

Cabbage loaves oven Faîs'sie d'Cidre 2007
  • v'là tch'est eune aut' fouânnée d'pain = that's a different kettle of fish
  • v'là tch'est eune aut' pathe dé manches = that's a different kettle of fish

Dictionary addenda

achéthîn = assiduous

Paix! - Shalom!

Nuvola Israeli flagLa Gâzette du Sé rapporte:
Israel can become an important trading partner for Jersey, according to two ministers who led a visit to the Jewish state. Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean and ‘foreign minister’ Freddie Cohen headed the high-level trade delegation who today concluded their three-day visit. And they were both excited at the prospects for the development of trade links between the two jurisdictions.
Né v'chîn tchiques buts d'textes entouor d'aut's vîsites dé Jèrriais là-bas:
Here are some Jèrriais extracts about other Jersey people who've headed over there on visits:

Un Viage en Tèrre Sainte (1951)
...J'appraichons d'Jérusalem par la route dé Jaffa, à l'Ouêst dé la ville. Jusqu'ichîn j'n'avons pas tchitté l'pays d'Israël. Eune fais qué j'l'éthons tchitté jé n'pouorrons pon y r'vénîn - ch'est viyant qu'Israël est acouo nominnal'ment en dgèrre auve les pays d'à l'entou.

New on Les Pages Jèrriaises

Recently added to Les Pages Jèrriaises, a 1938 text describing a visit to London. Here's an extract about Downing Street which seems relevant to the topical picture of President Obama at No10:
Un jour san couôsin fut li montrer les Maisons de Parlement, l'Abbaye de Westminster, Scotland Yard et tout l'vaisinné de Whitehall.

Quand i' ramontithent Downing Street notre amin fut êtonné d'vaie une foule de deustrais chents personnes sus les pavés et controlées par une djaingue de policemainnes.

Jèrriais and Manx language revival

isleofman.com rapporte:
Manx language revived in schools with over 1,000 pupils now learning

...More than 1,000 pupils now learn Manx in primary schools and around 100 are studying it at secondary level...

..."Their resources are nearly all written by team members. They are currently creating textbooks and have even written their own GCSE and A-level specifications.

"The quality of their work has been recognised elsewhere and some of the materials they have produced have been translated into Jerriais and used with children in Jersey."...

Lé Nièr Pré

The heritage year a bliodgi Lé Nièr Pré auve des bieaux portraits des flieurs et des noms Jèrriais d'pliantes.

The heritage year has blogged the orchid field open day at Le Noir Pré with some lovely pics of the flowers and some Jèrriais plant names.

Monday 23 May 2011

Jèrriais and Gallo

Aniet j'atchilyînmes eune pétite dgaîngue dé hardelles dé Saint Mâlo (en Brétangne) acanté lus maitrêsse. Il' apprannent lé Gallo siez ieux et nou-s'avait arrangi eune p'tite êchange/rencontre auve tchiqu's'eunes d'nos jannes êtudgiantes du Jèrriais.

Les fil'yes dé Jèrri et du Pays Gallo eûtent à lus ent'-d'vîser en quat' langues: lé Gallo, l'Jèrriais, l'Français et l'Angliais. Nou compathit des mots en Jèrriais et Gallo, et nou piquenitchit sus des spécialités Malouinnes.

Sunday 22 May 2011

Patchets - Parcels

Further to a previous post, here's a picture of some recently received deliveries at L'Office du Jèrriais - all safely arrived with the Jèrriais form of the address (although not via the PO Box - the parcels were somewhat on the large side for the bosc à la poste).

Alice au Pays des Mèrvelles - Alice in Wonderland

Alice's Tears by Cate Anevski
Alice's Tears, un portrait par
Cate Anevski siez Flickr.
Acouo un but d'Alice:
"Tchi tchuthieus'sie!!" qu'Alice s'êcriyit (ou fut si ravie qué pouor achteu oulle avait oublié coumme tchi pâler l'bouôn Jèrriais); "achteu j'sis à m'strélîndgi coumme la pus longue longue-veue janmais! À bi, mes pids!" (car quand ou r'gardit en bas ès pids, i' sembliaient bein au liain, quâsiment hors la vaie). "Oh mes pouôrres p'tits pinnots, tchi qui s'en va vos mett' les saûlés et les cauches pouor vous, mes chièrs? Mé, jé n'en s'sai d'aut' capabl'ye! Jé s'sai bein trop au liain pouor m'en d'menter; i' faudra vos paûtchi coumme ou pouôrrez; - mais j'dévthais êt' gentil'ye auve ieux," qu'Alice pensit, "ou autrément i' n'marchéthont pon ofûche par ioù qué j'voudrais aller! Tchi faithe? J'lus donn'nai châque Noué eune neuve pathe dé bottes."

Saturday 21 May 2011

The return of the Scots language

With increased visibility for Jèrriais nowadays (in, for example, recycling and bins in Saint Helier, Jersey banknotes and stamps, the States of Jersey website, et tout chenna) it is interesting to compare the situation in Scotland, expecially since Jersey is hosting a regional language meeting of the British-Irish Council (including Scotland) to coincide with the Fête Nouormande.

This article in yesterday's Guardian provides an introduction to attempts to normalise Scots in Scotland:
The government aims to rectify this, with an increased use of Scots in education ("we want to see teaching about the nature of the language and its literature," says McClure, "and to see teachers using Scots as well as teaching it") and more celebration of Scots in communities. McClure cites Muirkirk in Ayrshire, which has declared itself a "Scots toun", dedicated to the celebration of the local tongue.
There's a link between Jèrriais and the Scots language in the form of Jèrriais literature inspired by Scots literature - as it happens, one of this year's set pieces for the Jersey Eisteddfod is a version on Burns (Dgèrnésiais writers such as George Métivier and Denys Corbet also took inspiration from Robert Burns).

Friday 20 May 2011

La Gâzette du Sé - Jersey Evening Post

In last night's newspaper Jèrriais was prominently featured on the front page in the picture showing La Robeline cider's Jèrriais branding "Cidre dé Jèrri" (it features in the ongoing Jersey Food Festival).

Inside the JEP, the controversy over La Caûminne à Marie Best rumbled on - but it seems as though the Jèrriais name, at least, is far from being whitewashed from the picture.

caûminne = cottage, small house

Un but d'la Bibl'ye - Scripture snippet

Lille ND treille vitrail danielDes buts en Jèrriais d'la Bibl'ye pouor l'annivèrsaithe d'la vèrsion Angliaîche d'la Bibl'ye dite du Rouai Jacques, ou Autorisée:
Jèrriais Scripture snippets to mark the anniversary of the English translation of the Bible known as the
King James or Authorised Version:
L'avant au Rouai, Dannié rêponnit, "Lé s'gret qu'lé rouai a d'mandé n'peut pon êt' dêmuchi au rouai par les gens du scîn, l's astrologiens, les tchéthauds ni les dîtheurs d'forteune. Mais y'a un Dgieu au ciel tchi dêmuche les s'grets, et prédit au Rouai Nabu-kudurri-usur chein tchi s'adonn'na. Vot' rêve, et chein qu'ou vîtes, la tête sus l'ouothilyi, sont ches'-chîn: pouor dé vous,Vot' Majesté, ou vîtes dans vos pensées tchi vos vîndrent à l'esprit au liet chein tchi s'adonn'na, et ch'est l'chein tchi dêmuche les s'grets tchi vos fait à saver chein tchi s'adonn'na. Pouor dé mé, lé s'gret n'm'est pon dêmuchi pouor autcheune sagesse qué j'ai pus qu'des aut' mortels, mais à seule fîn qu'l'explyicâtion sait êcliaithie au Rouai, et qu'ou piêssêtes comprendre l's idées d'vot' tchoeu. N'en v'là, Vot' Majesté, ou vîtes eune grande êmânue. Chutte grande êmânue, tchi 'tait bein cliaithe, 'tait mâtée endrait vous et ch'tait d'tchi tèrribl'ye." (Dannié, 2: 27-31)

Thursday 19 May 2011

La Gâzette du Sé

Jèrriais article in the Jersey Evening Post, 18 May 2011: "Un aut' Jour pouor la Reine?" - English précis "Another bank holiday?". Article by Geraint Jennings about Liberation Day and the other bank holidays this month, as well as the proposal in the UK to move bank holidays. In the accompanying picture, the VIPs are captioned "Les grôsses têtes".

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Du nièr beurre en Nouvelle Zélande - Black butter down under

Lynda Hallinan bliogue:

In my Down Country column in last weekend’s Sunday magazine in the Sunday Star Times, I wrote about making a batch of Jersey black butter, or nièr beurre. This spicy, treacle-coloured preserve dates back to the 1500s, when it was invented as a byproduct of the Channel Islands cider industry.

Rollon - Rollo

Rollo of Normandy statue Rouen gParis-Normandie rapporte:
La statue restaurée de Rollon est de retour à Saint-Ouen. Pour mieux fêter les 1100 ans de la Normandie.

Rollon reste décidément un voyageur. Sa statue a réintégré, hier matin, son socle dans les jardins de l'abbatiale Saint-Ouen.

Jèrriais exam now more popular than German

La Gâzette du Sé commente:
We need to mind our languages

The TGJ (Jèrriais GCSE-equivalent exam) course continues, offering a qualification in Jersey's own language, but German will no longer be studied in Jersey.

A reminder: it's not too early for any parents whose children have attended classes in primary schools and are proceeding to secondary schools to make enquiries about enrolment for the TGJ.

Letters will be going out this term about transfers from Jèrriais classes in primary to secondary, and also for new enrolments for beginners in new classes starting in primaries in September.

Dictionary addenda

095/365 Reach out by stuartpilbrow
095/365 Reach out, un portrait par
stuartpilbrow siez Flickr.
achîtréthie = outreach

Dictionary addenda

Christmas Garland by Alexandra Mason
Christmas Garland, un portrait par
Alexandra Mason siez Flickr.
enchèrfilée = garland

La Torche Olŷmpique en Jèrri - Olympic Torch in Jersey

DBPB 1952 89 Vorolympische FesttageBBC Jèrri rapporte:
The Olympic torch will be visiting Jersey on 15 July 2012 as part of its trip around the UK in the run up to the London Games.
Qu'la leunmiéthe sait! J'éthons eune torche en 2012, et aniet né v'chîn du vocabulaithe:

  • torche = torch
  • veue = light, lamp, lighthouse
  • fliambe = flame
  • satchi = light up
  • trélûther = flicker

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Norman language dictionary

Magène rapporte:
Marcel Dalarun et sa solide équipe de rédacteurs ont quasiment bouclé leur dictionnaire qui constituera un événement dans l'univers normand. Ce dico proposera une section normand-français de 36000 mots et une section français-normand de 28000 mots.

Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel celebrates all things Jersey

Hôtel Radisson Saint Hélyi Jèrri Janvyi 2010Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel rapporte:
The Radisson Blu Waterfront hotel has put together a host of tasty treats and food related experiences including a the introduction of a unique Jèrriais menu.

La Fête Nouormande

Dêchèrgiz l'livret d'pièches d'la Fête Nouormande (pdf)

Download the booklet containing the texts of songs, stories and poems for La Fête Nouormande (pdf)

The Toad and the Donkey

The Toad and the DonkeyAchteu j'avons un stock dé livres The Toad and the Donkey à vendre s'ou n'pouvez pon trouver eune copie dans les boutiques en Ville.

If you're having problems finding a copy of The Toad and the Donkey in bookshops in Saint Helier, we now have stock available for sale at L'Office du Jèrriais.

Affiches - Posters

J'avons d's affiches, toutes les vailes déhors, à distribuer pouor la Fête Nouormande.

We've got lovely striking Fête Nouormande posters for distribution.

Autrément, dêchèrgiz l'affiche en pdf.

Otherwise, download the poster in pdf format.

Monday 16 May 2011

Tchêne du Chent'naithe - Centenary Oak

Tchêne du Chent'naithe - Centenary OakLé 16 dé Mai 1911, la Pâraisse dé Saint Hélyi atchit l'tèrrain pouor First Tower Park. Aniet, exactément 100 pus tard, lé Seigneu du fieu auve des mousses d'l'Êcole d'la Preunmié Tou pliantîtent un bouais: lé
Tchêne du Chent'naithe.

Exactly 100 years ago, the Parish of Saint Helier acquired the land for First Tower Park. Today a Centenary Oak was planted in the Park, and there's some Jèrriais on the plaque.

Stirring up a hornets' nest

Hornet nestOù'est qu'i' d'meuthent les frêlons? Assa, j'avons des mots pouor la d'meuthe d bein d'bêtes:
Where do hornets live? There are several words for the abodes of various animals, such as:

  • eune bourdonniéthe = bees' nest (in the wild)
  • eune vêpriéthe = wasps' nest

Marchi à grands pas - Making strides

Blender3D NormalWalkCycleBBC Jèrri rapporte:
Jersey children asked to walk to school

Children in Jersey are being encouraged to walk to school for the next two weeks.
  • marchi = to walk
  • marchi d'un pas coumme dé l'aut' = to walk at a pace
  • marchi coumme un douoyen tchi va au palais = to walk at a stately pace
  • marchi à grands pas = to stride
  • marchi à r'tchulons = to walk backwards
  • marchi paque à coue = to walk in single file

Abouon d'a b c - Quite a lot of letters

FTchiques patholes Jèrriaises pouor châque lettre dé l'a b c:
A series of useful and interesting vocabulary for every letter of the alphabet:

  • Févri = February
  • fanne = fun
  • fanmil'ye = family
  • fis = son
  • faîs'sie = making
  • flieurs = flowers
  • faîtchieaux = fairies, little people
  • frouque = fork
  • fau = beech

Sunday 15 May 2011

Liberation Day Events at JCG

Lé Collège ès Fil'yes rapporte:
The highlight of the day for many students was listening to our guest speakers Mr. Frank Walker and Mr. Tony Scott-Warren. Mr. Walker is the last surviving member of the Liberation Force and his story brought home the true horrors of war and both staff and students were deeply moved by his talk. Mr. Scott-Warren’s story of the hardships faced by one local Jersey family was equally moving and certainly brought a tear to many.

Saturday 14 May 2011

Frêlons - Hornets

La Gâzette du Sé rapporte:
Hornet threat from France
  • un frêlon = a hornet
  • un vêpre = a wasp
  • eune moûque à myi = a honeybee

Ûrovision - Eurovision

Düsseldorf2011Ch'est l'finna d'la compétition d'la chanson d'l'Ûrovision à ces sé. Acouo eune fais, nou n'a pon d'mandé ès P'tits Crapauds d'èrprésenter Jèrri. Pouor tchique raîson, y'en a tch'aiment mus des chanteurs coumme Jêdouard ou Bliu. Av'-ous veu les chapieaux ès Moldovans? J'éthêmes peu porter des bannètes, nous!

Y'a eune chanson dans eune langue régionnale dans la compétition ch't' année. Dé tchi pays qu'ch'est? L'créthêt'-ous, ch'est d'la France. Véthe, l'entrée Française est en langue Corse. À l'année tchi veint en Nouormand?

La Gâzette du Sé - Jersey Evening Post

Bîngue à r'cyclier Saint Hélyi JèrriIn the Jersey Evening Post of Friday 13 May:
  • More comment about the new Jèrriais-branded recycling bins sponsored by McDonald's.
  • A feature on the Jersey Cider Orchard Trust and traditional Jersey apple varieties with Jèrriais names, such as Nièr Binet, Caplyi, Têtard, Vèrt Caplyi, Gris Caplyi, Côtard

Otchupâtion et rêsistance - Occupation and resistance

On BBC Radio Jersey on Thursday, Sara Palmer made the connection between the Occupation-related texts in The Toad and the Donkey and Senator Terry Le Main's remarks about the importance of Jèrriais as a means of free expression during the Occupation. Senator Le Main was the States Member who made the Liberation address at the traditional special sitting of the States of Jersey on Liberation Day this year.

Thursday 12 May 2011

Recycling bins - more bîngue for the buck

Bîngue à r'cyclier à Saint Hélyi, JèrriJ'admithons lé Jèrriais sus les nouvelles bîngues à r'cyclier dans les rues d'la Ville (et si McDonald's veurt vendre des Grands Macs et des Quart'rons auve Fronmage, jé n's'sons pon contre nitout!)

We're admiring the Jèrriais on Saint Helier's new recycling bins (and we'd love it if McDonald's could promote burgers in Jèrriais - we provide a public service and are not as fussy as some people seem to be)
  • quart'ron = quarter-pound
  • fronmage = cheese
  • papi = paper
  • magâsîn = magazine
  • tinne = tin, can
  • boutelle = bottle
  • pliastique = plastic
  • tés = rubbish, litter

The Toad and the Donkey

The Toad and the DonkeyOn BBC Radio Jersey this afternoon at 12.20ish, there will be a discussion of The Toad and the Donkey.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Senator Philip Ozouf

Senator Philip Ozouf, Treasury and Resources Minister, takes the trouble to mention his Jèrriais linguistic background on his website.

Tuesday 10 May 2011

La Gâzette du Sé

Jèrriais article in the Jersey Evening Post, 5 May 2011: "Au mais d'Mai" - English précis "In the month of May". Article by Geraint Jennings about events and gardening in May, playing on the words "Mai", "mais", "maie", "mais qu'", "sé d'mainer", "maîsouain".

Lé Jour d'la Libéthâtion 2011

Jour d'la Libéthâtion Jèrri 9 d'Mai 2011 054
Lé Jour d'la Libéthâtion 2011

Libéthêment sus la pathade, lé solé lit;
les Juges en rouoge, et l'Gouvèrneux attînté d'plieunmes,
la mâsse en or flianque ses èrfliets sus l's attriotchis;
nou vait des robes et d's unniformes s'lon la couôteunme.

Monday 9 May 2011

Jersey Food Festival

L'Hôtel Radisson Blu annonche:
This May, to commemorate Jersey’s Liberation Day, the Waterfront Brasserie will be arranging a celebratory feast with fresh, local Jersey produce from a menu presented in Jèrriais, the traditional language of Jersey.

Waterfront Brasserie and Terrace, Rue de L’Etau, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 3WF

M'n Otchupâtion - My Occupation


"M'n Otchupâtion" (My Occupation), a poem in Jèrriais by Michael Vautier, telling of a boy's experiences during the German Occupation of Jersey 1940-1945.

Un but d'la Bibl'ye - Scripture snippet

Libethes inscription St Helier, JerseyDes buts en Jèrriais d'la Bibl'ye pouor l'annivèrsaithe d'la vèrsion Angliaîche d'la Bibl'ye dite du Rouai Jacques, ou Autorisée:
Jèrriais Scripture snippets to mark the anniversary of the English translation of the Bible known as the
King James or Authorised Version:
Ch'est en tchi, mes fréthes, ous avez 'té dêhalés à la libèrté. Tout coumme né faites pon sèrvi vot' libèrté pouor vos abuser à la chai, mais auve l'amour entré-sèrv'-ous. Car toute la louai est accomplyie atout chennechîn, coumme nou dit, "Aime tan vaîthîn coumme té-même." (Galatchiens, 5: 13-14)

Sunday 8 May 2011

Take the long way round these little isles

The Independent rapporte aniet:
I ask Arthur if the local psyche has become a little confused by the influences of its two bigger neighbours and if Jerseyness has got lost in their midst.
(...)
He guesses that probably only about 2 per cent now speak the local patois, Jèrriais. "My great-grandfather was Norman, and I had a Breton grandfather. I consider myself French, but my wife says I'm a Jerseyman," he adds. That's clear, then.(...)
(...)
Finally, we turn inland, stopping at a cotil – one of the steep south- and west-facing slopes where the delicious, multi-eyed Jersey Royal potatoes grow, rather like a vineyard – before finally working our way down to the quaint harbour of Rozel to conclude a pleasurable morning.

Des langues et des noes - Titbits

P'tites couleurs d'Jèrrieune êtente dé p'tites couleurs = a string of bunting

Un but d'la Bibl'ye - Scripture snippet

Freedom tree, St Helier - geograph.ci - 150Des buts en Jèrriais d'la Bibl'ye pouor l'annivèrsaithe d'la vèrsion Angliaîche d'la Bibl'ye dite du Rouai Jacques, ou Autorisée:
Jèrriais Scripture snippets to mark the anniversary of the English translation of the Bible known as the
King James or Authorised Version:

Lé Seigneu est sans doute l'Esprit, et où'est qu'est l'Esprit du Seigneu, v'là tch'est la libèrté. Mais touos nous, auve les faches dêcouvèrtes, j'sommes des mitheurs pouor y vaie la glouaithe du Seigneu, et aînchîn j'dév'nons dé glouaithe en glouaithe la même înmage, et chenna atout l'Esprit du Seigneu. (2 Corîntchiens, 3: 17-18)

Friday 6 May 2011

Donkey Dialogue

Liberation Day in Jersey 2-0351The Donkey Dialogue feature at This is Guernsey has a topical Dgèrnésiais phrase for the holiday weekend:

Leudi ki viant sra l’jour dla Liberâtiaon et coume nou dit, "Faot daonc célébrai et s’en ermaette!".
Next Monday is Liberation Day and as they say, "Let us remember and celebrate!".

So here's an equivalent version of the phrase in Jèrriais for comparison:

Lundi tchi veint s'sa l'Jour d'la Libéthâtion et coumme nou dit, "Ramémouaithons auve eune bouonne bordée!"

Séyiz calmes et dêhal'-ous - Keep calm and carry on

...et acouo eune vèrsion, chutte fais en Scots d'Ulstèr du bliogue Bloggin fae the 'Burn. J'èrs'sons calmes et j'nos r'dêhal'lons.
...and following on from previous posts, here's another minority language version, this time courtesy of Ulster Scots blog Bloggin fae the 'Burn. Plenty to keep us calm and carrying on.

Les Neuches Rouoyales - The Royal Wedding

La Poste dé Jèrri a grée un tîmbre pouor célébrer les neuches Rouoyales. Lé patchet d'présentâtion a du texte en Jèrriais.

Jersey Post has issued a commemorative Royal wedding stamp. The collector's presentation pack has text in Jèrriais.

Aniet au Collège ès Fil'yes - Today at JCG

Jersey College for Girls bLé Collège ès Fil'yes rapporte:
Jersey College for Girls reports:

Year 7 Liberation Learning Day
In order to celebrate Liberation Day, this Friday all of Year 7 will be dressing in WW2 period costume and taking part in an entire day of fun filled workshops designed to teach the students about life in Jersey during the occupation.

The day will begin with a grueling fitness programme organised by Jersey Boot Camp. This will be followed by a workshop where the students will: learn the art of rationing, make crystal radios, write secret BBC broadcasts, learn Jerriais or build escape rafts at St. Aubins Fort.

Before lunch the students will be able to listen to guest speakers Tony Scott-Warren and Eric Walker, one of the last surviving members of the Liberation Force.

Thursday 5 May 2011

The Town Crier

PhotobucketLé neunmétho du mais d'Mai du magâsîn d'la Pâraisse dé Saint Hélyi "The Town Crier" a eune articl'ye en Jèrriais "Viyant qué j'lé valons" par Geraint Jennings. Y'a étout d'l'înformâtion entouor La Fête Nouormande.

The Mai 2011 issue of the Saint Helier Parish magazine has an article in Jèrriais about value. There's also a feature on the upcoming excitement of La Fête Nouormande.

Abouon d'a b c - Quite a lot of letters

ETchiques patholes Jèrriaises pouor châque lettre dé l'a b c:
A series of useful and interesting vocabulary for every letter of the alphabet:

  • êta = stack
  • Èrnouvé = Spring
  • entchéthaûdé = bewitched
  • Êtats = States

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Du pain Jèrriais - Cabbage loaves

Cabbage loaves oven Faîs'sie d'Cidre 2007Dans la Gâzette du Sé du 30 d'Avri: eune èrchette pouor du pain Jèrriais.
In the Jersey Evening Post of 30th April: a Jersey cabbage loaf recipe.
"...one of the most popular and enduring local dishes is traditional cabbage loaf - du pain sus eune fielle de chour"

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Les dgiêx mots 2011 - The 10 word challenge

No.10 Downing Street by UK Pictures
No.10 Downing Street,
un photo par UK Pictures
siez Flickr.
  • cache
  • changi
  • cliochi
  • d'sêtchilbouêtchi
  • engibâtrer
  • fort
  • lis
  • ma
  • tou
  • vèrt

Coumme nou sait, lé changement fait du bein. Et pouor les préchains dgiêx mots, nou-s a décidé d'calengi l's auteurs et l's êtudgiants auve eune belle dgiêxaine: huit mots ordinnaithes et deux mots extraordinnaithes. Ch'est pouor les Nouvelles Chroniques dé Noué et don y'a du temps pouor y penser, et j'nos n'allons bliodgi châtchun des dgiêx mots.

A change is as good as a rest, they say. And so it is that the regular 10 word challenge has been tweaked slightly to incorporate two unusual words along with the usual flexible choice of words. There's plenty of time to get thinking about what to write - the 10 word challenge will be featuring in the Christmas issue of Les Nouvelles Chroniques du Don Balleine (deadline: Halloween). We'll be taking a closer look at each of the ten words on the blog and exploring their meanings and possibilities.

Tch'est qu'i' sont les règl'yes d'la gamme?

Au mais d'Mai - In the month of May

Diton: Si les trais preunmièrs jours dé Mai sont bieaux, i' y'étha du cidre comme dé l'ieau
(If the first three days of May are fine, cider will be as plentiful as water)

Assa, j'en avons des doutanches pouor lé cidre ch't' année. Les pouôrres pommièrs, auprès la ventâl'lie d'hièr! I' ventait la pé du dgiâbl'ye.
Well, we'll just have to cross our fingers for this year's cider harvest after the windy weather yesterday.
  • ventâl'lie = windy weather
  • venter la pé du dgiâbl'ye = blow the skin off the devil (be very windy)

Sunday 1 May 2011

Not' bouôn Cap'taine - God is working his purpose out


"Not' bouôn Cap'taine" - un cantique en Jèrriais du sèrvice annuel d'L'Assembliée d'Jèrriais à La Trinn'té l'17 d'Avri 2011
"God is working his purpose out" in Jèrriais - a hymn at L'Assembliée d'Jèrriais' service at Ebenezer Chapel in Trinity, Jersey - 17 April 2011

Un êssaim en Mai - a swarm in May

Pre NoirCh'est l'preunmyi d'Mai.
It's May Day.

Diton: un êssaim en Mai vaut eune vaque à lait (a swarm in May is worth a milking cow; for more bee vocabulary and expressions, see Tchi bourdonn'nie! - What a buzz!)

Tchique poésies:
Some poetry:

Les Douze Mais
Lé doux mais d'Mai, lé pus bé d'tous,
Fait dêhaler l's habits en v'lous;
Mais don, aujourd'aniet, ma fé,
Nou va touos nus quand veint l'êté!
Les Meis et les Saisons
Mè fèt couvri dé flieurs lés monts, lés valèes,
Et remplyis l'tchœu d'dgaîtè!