Tuesday 30 April 2013

À ces sé and buenas noches

Et y'a acouo eune bliogu'thie à propos siez Language Log "Why plural days and nights in Spanish greetings?"

Another interesting Language Log post (plus comments) on anomalous plurals in Spanish brings to mind the case of mixed plural and singular in Jèrriais time expressions.

  • à ces sé = this evening
  • à ches drein = recently, lately
  • ches S'tembre = this Autumn
  • ches R'nouvé = this Spring
  • ches Noué = this Christmas
  • ches Pâques = this Easter

The older form of à ces sé is the more regular à ches sé - somehow French ces has displaced native ches in this set expression (theories, anyone?). Ches is plural, but is singular; if we want to say "this evening" or "that evening" to refer to a particular evening we might say chu sé, or chu sé-là, with regular singular agreement (e.g. chu sé à bord, la mé 'tait coumme eune hielle = this/that evening on board, the sea was dead calm), but the set time expression mixes plural adjective with singular noun. The same goes for expressions like à ches drein where ches is plural but drein is singular, and so on.

À ces sé is such a set expression that it turns up in literature as a single word, e.g. asêsé in Courting Days, and assêsé in A Cockfight and its Moral (both texts by E Le Brocq), or in a form such as à sêsé in Lé Temps Passèt.

Ramsons - d'l'as d's ours

Ursa ajlo 2Y'a eune întérêssante bliog'thie siez Language Log "Ramps, chives, garlic, and other members of the Allium genus". J'avons des difféthentes manniéthes d'ail, d'as ou d'âl:

Language Log has an interesting post on "Ramps, chives, garlic, and other members of the Allium genus". Here are some relevant Jersey plants:

  • ail / as / âl = garlic (Allium sativum)
  • as d's ours / ail des ours / âl des ours = ramsons (Allium ursinum)
  • ail sauvage / as sauvage / âl sauvage = three-cornered leek (Allium triquetrum), crow garlic (Allium vineale)
  • gênotte = round-headed leek (Allium sphaerocephalon); may also have been used to refer to crow garlic (Allium vineale)
  • pouothé = leek (Allium ampeloprasum)
  • ouognon = onion (Allium cepa)

Monday 29 April 2013

Qu'la tèrre sait remplyie d'annimaux!



Né v'chîn en audgo l'sèrmon du sèrvice dé Vendrédi au sé d'la s'maine pâssée - sus l'thème des annimaux.

Here's audio of last Friday's sermon from the Jèrriais service in Saint Mary - the theme is animals.

Thursday 25 April 2013

La Hougue Bie



L'histouaithe d'La Hougue Bie - not' 200e vidgo sus YouTube.
History of La Hougue Bie - our 200th video on YouTube.

1912: How Lonore and Mamma went to the Show

Houdan M SDA2013How Lonore and Mamma went to the Show:
"Aim'-ous les poules pielées? N'en v'chîn des Houdans tch'ont un tun sus la tête: ch'est la miyeuthe à mangi au fou auve tout pliein d'grévîn. Ches grôsses jaunes là, ch'est des Orpingtons. I' fûtent înventées par un Moussieu Buff tchi mînt d's oeux d'raîté à couer souos eune pie; il en sorti un ouaîsé tchi fut accouplié auve un vèrt pèrrot: l's oeux fûtent mîns à couer souos eune caûque-souothis - et il en sorti des poules coumme ou viyiz là, ma chiéthe Madanme Pain!"

"Ches gros pigeons ichîn, nou l's appelle des 'tembleurs' pa'ce qué quand nou les met à tchuithe, i' faut les stoffer auve pliein un teumbleur dé cliou d'girouffe: tandi qu'ches'-chîn s'appellent des 'carrier pigeons,' pa'ce qu'l'houmme tchi les înventit s'rompit l'co en allant dênichi un nid dans eune cârriéthe."

Do you like black and white hens? Here are some Houdans that have got a crest on their head: that's the best to eat roasted with loads of gravy. Those big yellow ones there are Orpingtons. They were invented by a Mr Buff who put wren's eggs to hatch under a magpie; out came a bird which was crossed with a green parrot: the eggs were put to hatch under a bat - and out came hens like you see there, dear Mrs Pain!

Theses big pigeons here are called tumblers because when they're ready to cook, you have to stuff them with a tumbler full of cloves: while these ones are called carrier pigeons because the man who invented them broke his neck going to empty a nest in a quarry.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Patrimoine linguistique et tradition orale

FranceNormandieStPhilbertSurOrneRocheDOetreMagène annonche:
L'association "Le temps de lire", animée par Emmanuelle Lepelletier, vous invite à participer à la deuxième édition du festival "Patrimoine linguistique et tradition orale" qui se tiendra le 8 mai prochain à la Roche d'Oëtre, à Saint Philibert sur Orne, au cœur de la Suisse normande. C'est un belvédère naturel qui surplombe de plus de 100 mètres les gorges de la Rouvre.
  • 14 h : conférence de R. Pézeril sur la langue normande (entrée 2€)
  • 15 h 15 : pièce originale de Claude Gilles, avec Guy Vaugeois (entrée 5€)
  • 16 h 30 : concert de Magène (entrée 5€)

Tuesday 23 April 2013

1864: À William Shakespeare

ShakespeareMonument croppedNé v'chîn pouor l'souô-dîthant annivèrsaithe dé Shakespeare eune vèrsion modèrnîsée d'eune poésie d'Jean Sullivan (1813-1899).

For today's Shakespeare celebration we've modernised the spelling (and tidied some forms) of one of John Sullivan's poems. Note that for the extravagantly patriotic Jersey poet, King John ranks among Shakespeare's finest works; note also the pronunciation of "Hamlet" with the palatalisation (which also explains why "Juliette" only requires two syllables). Befitting the high style of the poem, it is written in classical alexandrines and was intended to be read according to rules of French versification.
À William Shakespeare
23 Avril 1864

Muses, fil'yes du ciel, châtchun dé nous s'apprête
À faithe au grand Shakespeare, un bantchet, eune fête.
Présidez nos concèrts et auvec Apollon,
V'nez nouos înspither dans nouot' sacré vallon,
Jèrri, man p'tit îlot, prend chalumet et fliûte,
Tan hautbouais, tan piplot, et d'un co les affliûte,
Fai-les souonner des airs d'un accord solenné,
Au rînmeux dé l'Avon, au poète înmorté.

La Saint George - Saint George's Day

Foerdererwerk logoLé 23 d'Avri, ch'est la Saint George.
23 April is Saint George's Day.

Bouonne fête à nos anmîns Angliais!
Happy holiday to our English friends!
À la Saint George,
bouonhoumme sème tes orges,
car à la Saint Mar
il est trop tard

Monday 22 April 2013

Saturday 20 April 2013

Lé rossîngno - Nightingale

Eune lettre dans l'Guardian dit:
A letter in the Guardian says:
Two cheers for Simon Jenkins's column on disappearing nightingales (Comment, 19 April). He knows that Italians have a sexual connotation for the song. But it's not just Italians – British folk songs are riddled with couples stopping to hear the nightingales sing, and quite often pregnancy ensues…
Dominic Sweetman
Et des chansons en Jèrriais:

Friday 19 April 2013

La Hougue Bie

J'vidgînmes des buts à La Hougue Bie hièr l'arlévée. Nou trouve tréjous des bouonnes pièches dans Les Nouvelles Chroniques du Don Balleine!

We did some filming at La Hougue Bie yesterday. Plenty of good material in the Jèrriais magazine!

Thursday 18 April 2013

1914: Le Procès

Acouo un rapport d'pièches dé thiâtre en Jèrriais du temps pâssé. Ch'tî-chîn est du Morning News en 1914.
Here's another report of historic Jèrriais theatre. This comes from the Morning News in 1914.
The Jersey School of Woodcarving
Large and Distinguished Company Attends Last Night's Concert

(...) Among those present we noticed Sir William Venables Vernon, Mr. Hamilton (M.P. for Altrincham) and Mrs. Hamilton, the Very Rev. the Dean and Mrs. Falle, Col. and Mrs. Rundle, Col. G. M. Gloster and several officers of the Devonshire Regiment, Col. Montgomery, Col. and Mrs. Scott, Major and Mrs. Riddell, Capt. and Mrs. Luxmoore (...) and many other prominent residents.

The first item on the programme was a highly amusing sketch in Norman-French entitled "Le Procès," a capital little piece from the able pen of versatile Mr. E. J. Luce (of the "Nouvelle Chronique"), by whom it was produced. The scene is set in a Petty Debts Court, and the plot centres round the troubles of a countryman whose life has been made well-nigh unbearable by reason of the constant nagging of his mother-in-law, and who, in a fit of despair, throws her into the sea with intent to murder. He only succeeds, however, in completely spoiling her clothes and in embittering to a greater degree the woman's temper. She sues him for the damage done to her clothing, and the proceedings, thanks to the gunpowder-like attitudes of both litigants, were very amusing.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Dictionary addenda

r'aver san vent = get one's breath back
(r'ssource: P Le S Mouothant 1913)

Des langues et des noes - Titbits

s'mett' en d'ver d'faithe (dé tchi) = get ready to do (smth), gear oneself up to do (smth)

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Magène en grande forme

Magène rapporte:
Magène a été porté par un public enthousiaste aux Unelles (Coutances). Les chansons du prochain CD ont été fort appréciées. Nos amis du Point d'Alençon, venus très nombreux, ont apprécié cet échange autour de la langue normande. Jacques Mauvoisin, spécialiste reconnu du normand, a conclu cette rencontre par un exposé instructif.

Ma Normandie in English translation

En fréminnant j'dêmuchînmes eune vielle vèrsion Angliaîche dé Ma Normandie. La v'chîn pouor autchun tchi veurt eune traduction.
While rummaging in our files we came across an old English translation of Ma Normandie, so here it is for anyone who may be interested.

Ma Normandie

All hope revives when spring returns
and nature decks each flow'r and tree.
'Tis then my anxious bosom burns
once more to see Ma Normandie!
Dear Normandie! Sweet Normandie!
The land that first gave birth to me!
Where e'er I go, I ne'er shall know
a land so dear as Normandie.

Monday 15 April 2013

Eune d'vinnâle en portrait - A picture quiz

Les rêponses à la d'vinnâle:
Quiz answers:

Siez BBC Jèrri - At BBC Jersey

Kit et Monty d'Badlabecques ont joué la nouvelle chanson entouor la teurque à matîn sus l'radio.
The new song about the torc (or torque) was played live on the radio this morning.

Friday 12 April 2013

BBC Jèrri: la teurque

À matîn Badlabecques et Geraint Jennings rêponnîtent à eune calenge dé BBC Jèrri: êcrithe, composer et présenter eune nouvelle chanson en Jèrriais entouor un objet dans l'Musée d'Jèrri duthant l'progranme. Nou chouaîsit la teurque en or. Né v'chîn l'texte:

This morning, in response to a challenge from the BBC Jersey morning programme on location at the Jersey Museum, Badlabecques and Geraint Jennings wrote, set and performed a song in Jèrriais about an object chosen from among the displays. The object chosen was the gold torc and here's the text:
Èrteurtchiz don, et r'teurtchiz don
not' pâssé ava et amont
èrteurtilyi avaû les âges
ch'est not' trésor, not' héthitage
tchi vithe dé bord, tchi file bouôn rond.

Eune teurque en or à faithe des teurts,
nos tchoeurs sont forts, lithent coumme des feurs;
eune teurque en or à faithe d'san tchian
tchi r'veindra à not' tchèr content,
tchi vithe dé bord, tchi file bouôn rond.

Eune teurque à teurt et à travèrs
pouor nos vielles gens, pouor nos avièrs;
ch'est l'or teurtchi, ch'est l'or tchi lit,
eune ronde du tchoeu, eune ronde d'ordgi
tchi vithe dé bord, tchi file bouôn rond.

Thursday 11 April 2013

Dictionary addenda

Clawdêcaûchi ses grîns = unsheathe its claws, extend its claws (of cat)
r'ssource: George d'La Forge, 1974

Dictionary addenda

caractéthistique = characteristic
r'ssource: George d'La Forge, 1974

1944: Patriotic songs under Occupation

Here's the bulk of the report in the Evening Post 14/1/1944 on the Jèrriais entertainment organised by FMH. As previously noted, Man Bieau P'tit Jèrri received an ovation - and one assumes that as that fact made it into print, the implications of such a patriotic demonstration went over the head of the German censor (note also the presence of Not' Jèrri and L'Ile dé Jèrri on the programme).

We can't identify all the songs; we'll try and find if there's a typescript of the play among the playscript collections (re which: help is always needed for retyping of the plays, as the pages are unscannable)


Une Grande Séthée Jerriaise
Successful Charity Concert at St. Peter's
With the laudable object of assisting the funds of the St. Brelade and St. Peter District Nursing Association, a Séthée Jerriaise was given in St. Peter's Parish Hall on Thursday and Saturday of last week, and was, in the opinion of all, a complete success.

A well-varied programme had been arranged by the organiser and all the items proved most enjoyable. At the beginning of the entertainment Mr. S. Maillard, compère, explained that this was not a concert in the strict sense of the word, but a "Séthée de Compagnie" as enjoyed by our forbears.

The programme opened with an old favourite, "Vive La Compagnie," which struck a jovial note. The "Bouons Compagnons" danced and sang this to the accompaniment of Hedley Egré's accordeon. This was followed by a well executed dance by Gloria Gilley in traditional Jersey costume, and was well applauded. Next came "La Chanson des Vraicheurs," adapted by Sidney Maillard, sung by Osmund Simon, who was supported by the company. The well-known dance, "Sir Roger" was given by the company was [sic] followed by a song, "Not' Jerri." Edgar Benest then sang "La Chanson Jimps," which proved a great success.

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Les Nouvelles Chroniques du Don Balleine

1944: Man Bieau P'tit Jèrri

D'la chant'tie patriotique duthant l'Otchupâtion:
Patriotic singing during the Occupation:

Une Grande Séthée Jerriaise
Successful Charity Concert at St. Peter's

...The first half was concluded by "Man Biau P'tit Jerri," sung by Yvonne Le Mauviot, who also received a warm ovation from the audience.

Evening Post 14/1/1944

Tuesday 9 April 2013

D's ormèrs - Ormers

Jersey Ormer HatcheryEune èrchette d'ormèrs et l's ormèrs dans la littéthatuthe:
Ormer recipe and ormers in literature:

Avant êcovi l's ormèrs et hâlé la tête et l'pitôsyi, nou les scrobe bein iun à iun: pis nou les bat atout eune pétite mailloche pouor les amollier et nou l's enflieuthe.

Monday 8 April 2013

1941: The Jersey Dialect

An article from the Evening Post 18/7/1941:
The Jersey Dialect
A plea for our ancient tongue

The following interesting letter has been received from a very esteemed contributor to this paper

Sir, - Your recent announcement regarding the suspension of the weekly series entitled "Do you Know?" is regretted. It contains instructive information which may be forgotten, and out children and theirs will be grateful if a selection is ultimately published in a permanent form which the compiler may desire to amplify.

Sunday 7 April 2013

Dans la tchuîsinne - In the kitchen

Friday 5 April 2013

Badlabecques: Ma Bouaîs'sie


Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust have commissioned Badlabecques to record a song with students from Le Rocquier School, to celebrate the new aviary at Le Don Paton, near Sorel Point, on Jersey’s north coast.

The aviary is part of the ‘Birds On The Edge’ project, which is a collaboration between Durrell, The National Trust for Jersey, and the States of Jersey Department of Environment, supporting the active management of Jersey’s coastland to restore habitats and bring back the red-billed chough to the Island.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

New on Les Pages Jèrriaises


La Priéthe du Seigneu auve d'la musique (coumme nou-s'a chanté ès sèrvices).

The Lord's Prayer in Jèrriais accompanied by the musical setting as sung at services.

La Section de la langue Jèrriaise

La Section annonche:
Les Fieillets Jèrriais.
Avri 2013.

Salutâtions tout l’monde, tchi temps pouor Pâques! Thank you to those who attended last month’s meeting… the work continues but with game and new vocabulary as light relief!

The only news to report…which is late because the secretary has only just seen the examples……is that it’s good to see the Parish names on the buses, and that there are some colourfully designed post cards with Jèrriais phrases on sale in Jane’s Ceramics’ window in town. So far we have seen only four subject titles….eg. ‘Bouonne Santé, ‘J’adouothe’ etc… but checks will be made for any more.

The meeting tonight will be in the AM Room at 8.00pm for further activities and maybe to start on ‘eune pièche’ on the subject of ‘In Europe’….holidays and work…. or pleasure and politics!!

À bi,
John Clarke (Président)
Ralph Nichols (Ségrétaithe)

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Eune d'vinnâle en portrait - A picture quiz

Né v'chîn eune partie d'eune vèrrinne dans l'églyise dé Saint Thonmas à Saint Hélyi. Y'a un tas d'langues êcrites sus! Grand pardon, ch'est du Français et étout du Jèrriais (nou-s'êcrit ches deux mots d'même, même s'i' y'a eune difféthence pouor prononchi les deux). Mais pouv'-ous r'connaît' les aut's langues? J'vos confirméthons les bouonnes rêponses dans tchiques jours.

In Saint Thomas's church in Saint Helier, one of the stained glass windows has all these languages written on it. We've worked them all out, but can you? We'll post the answers here in a few days. (The text refers to the "Pardon of Assisi" or "Portiuncula indulgence")

Monday 1 April 2013

Papa et l'Paîsson d'Avri - Grandad and the April Fool

Papa et l'Paîsson d'Avri:
Quand j'èrvînmes d'la boutique ès gâzettes à matîn, j'trouvis qu'Papa m'avait pendu eune coue au driéthe dé m'n annorâque.

“Oh Papa!” qué j'êcriyis.

“Paîsson d'Avri, man p'tit!” dit Papa auve un grand souôri. “Aniet, ch'est l'preunmyi d'Avri, lé jour des coues. Et né v'là eune coue pouor té.”

“Papa,” qué j'dis, “j'comprend bein pouortchi qu'lé preunmyi d'Avri est app'lé l'jour des coues, mais pouortchi qu'nou dit qu'eune farce est un paîsson d'Avri? Dé ioù qu'i' veinnent, les paîssons?”

(...)