"what truly sets Jersey apart is its very own ancient language"

 

Visit Jersey raconte:

Jèrriais is closely related to the languages of Guernsey and Sark (unfortunately the language of Alderney didn’t survive the experience of occupation and evacuation during WWII), and also to the varieties of Norman language spoken in mainland Normandy. So, if you imagine the sort of language William the Conqueror would have spoken when we beat the English in 1066 and took our language to England, it’s a descendant of that medieval tongue.

The Normans were originally Norsemen (Viking settlers) who left traces of Norse in the Latinate language of the people inhabiting the lands they colonised. Today, Jèrriais words of Norse origin can be seen in placenames such as “hougue” (mound), “bel” (yard) and “mielle” (dune).

Of course, over the centuries, Jèrriais has been influenced by contact with English, French, and other languages. And, as Jersey people have travelled and settled elsewhere, Jèrriais has been spoken and written in the furthest parts of the world.