Man Noué, s'i' vous pliaît!

A bit of research in the Jersey Library threw up this Christmas-related snippet:

Married for sixty years

...Mrs. Huelin's treasured portrait is one of her father and mother, her sister, the late Mrs. Ada Le Maistre, mother of Mr. Frank Le Maistre, of Jersey Norman-French Dictionary fame, and her brother.

Reminiscing, Mrs. Huelin tells of her girlhood days when, at Christmas, groups of the poorer children of the parish would go from house to house shouting "Mon Noú, mon Noú*, s'il vous plaît," and would be given food and money...

Jersey Weekly Post, 8/1/1970

*This improbable form is presumably a typo for Noué.

George d'La Forge explyique:

Quand j'tais mousse ès Landes à St Ouën, ch'tait acouo la couôteunme d'aller crier Noué par les c'mîns, chantant "Noué! Noué! - man Noué, man Noué, s'i' vous pliaît!" Mais Papa et Maman né mé pèrmettaient pon dé l'faithe mé-même car i' m'disaient qué ché n'tait pon la chose dé tcheûter, et tch'i' fallait s'contenter dé chein qué Papa Noué s'en aller mett' dans la cauche pendue à côté d'l'âtre et s'garder siez-sé à l'exception, sans doute, des touos pauvres.

La Saint André - Saint Andrew's Day

Aniet ch'est la Saint André. Bouonne fête ès anmîns Êcôssais!
It's Saint Andrew's Day today. Best wishes to our Scottish friends!

Dans les nouvelles, ch'est eune fête aniet en Êcosse, et don ché s'sa d'main qu'un nouvieau musée d'Robert Burns ouvritha l'us. Et s'lon les rapports nou f'tha sèrvi du Scots sus l's êcritchieaux - y'a des distchussions ichîn (en Angliais).

The new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum opens tomorrow after today's celebration in Scotland. It uses Scots in its text panel displays.

• La Saint André

Fait-i' fraid! - How cold it is!

Frost
Chèrgi preunmiéthement
par Peter Bowers

I' fait un fraid d'tchian! = it's freezing!

fraid coumme gliaichon = cold as ice
fraid coumme gliaiche = cold as ice
fraid coumme d'la né = cold as snow

grénoter d'fraid = shiver with cold
eune fraid mucre = a damp cold
y'a d'la fraid dans l'temps = cold enough for snow
la fraiduthe = cold weather
j'sis gelé = I'm freezing
i' geloque = there's a light frost
aube gélée = hoar frost
aube géler = be frosty

ditons:

• d'l'aube gélée d'vant Noué ch'est la plyie toute pathée = frost before Christmas, rain soon after
• quand la Cand'leu est cliaithe l'aube gélée est en driéthe = if Candlemas is fine, frost isn't far behind
• la fraid n'vaut rein à pèrsonne = cold is of no good to anyone
• quand i' fait fraid des portes valent mus qu'des hèches = when it's cold, you're better off behind closed doors than closed gates

Dou

Lé site Guernsey Futu (touos les Vendrédis d'tchi risibl'ye) a justément ouvèrt sa boutique en lîngne. Y'a des tee-corsets, et entré ches tee-corsets y'en a auve lé slogan Just Douit. Un douit en Dgèrnésiais est chein qu'j'app'lons nous un dou.

The satirical site Guernsey Futu (weekly faux-news from the Northern Bailiwick - and, no, if you don't already know what "futu" is meant to convey in Dgèrnésiais, we're not explaining it to you: as the site says, it "is un-intended for readers aged un-der 18") has just launched its online shop. Among the merchandise are t-shirts with the parody slogan Just Douit. A douit in Guernsey is what we call a dou in Jersey (often written as "douet") - a brook or stream, or a pond or enclosure along the course of a brook or stream.

Place names include:

• Lé Pliat Dou - the flat brook (Plat Douet)
• Faldou - the false brook (Faldouet)
• La Rue du P'tit Dou - the street of the little brook (Brook Street)
• Lé Dou dé D'mi - the halfway brook (Millbrook)

dou à laver = lavoir

People in the past did their washing in a convenient stream and some of these laundry places were formalised as the built structures we can see in some locations today.

ditons:

• couôrre coumme un dou = run constantly, run smoothly
• aller coumme un dou = keep going, run smoothly
• être dans l'dou d'pithot = in trouble, in difficulties

Don't forget your Jersey

Don't forget your Jersey - The Times (South Africa) does a tourism write-up that includes a mention of Jèrriais. A little bit of language branding goes a long way!

We were heading for an island a mere 22.5km off France, yet we were not to see one baguette, beret or game of boules. We landed instead on an island so quintessentially English that fish and chips with mushy peas featured on most menus. Jersey is a tiny enclave of Great Britain, yet the fact that the faintly-twinkling lights on the horizon at night are French and not English adds to its allure...

The small airport's signage bids one welcome in English and Jèrriais, a form of the ancient Norman language. Our taxi driver was unmistakably English though, morosely muttering that the good weather wouldn't last. Happily, he was proved wrong...

Letter to parents

Here is the text from the letter being given to children in Jèrriais classes this week:

Christmas events 2010

Our annual Christmas charity event is a fun occasion so please come and help us to raise money! Children love singing carols and shaking the collection bucket.

We will be singing carols in Jèrriais at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday 9^th December opposite HMV between la boutique à Mess Hamon (Hamon's shop) and the former Maine's jewellers in La Rue du P'tit Dou (Brook Street) in support of the Joint Christmas Appeal. The children can stay to sing with us while you do some shopping—we will perform for around half an hour. Please wrap up warm!

Students and their families are very welcome also to attend the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Jèrriais. It is organised by L’Assembliée d’Jèrriais and takes place at St. Andrew's Church on Saturday 11^th December at 6.30 p.m. It lasts for less than an hour.

• Cantiques dé Noué - Christmas Carols in Jèrriais
  

Langue et c'meunauté - Yeth ha Kemeneth

Nos anmîns Cornouaillais ont posté un rapport sus eune conféthence du Conseil Britannique Irlandais à tchi qué j'contribuînmes.
Our Cornish counterparts have reported on a British Irish Council event we contributed to.

Yeth ha Kemeneth

Henn o testen keskussulyans synsys gans Kessedhek rag Yethow Le-usys Konsel Breten Veur hag Iwerdhon, neb a elwys MAGA dhe gemeres rann ynno.

Gans kanasow dhyworth Alban, Iwerdhon Gledh, Kembra, Enys Vanow, Jersey ha Guernsey keffrys ha Kernow, an keskussulyans a viras orth ensomplow a braktys da ha’n pyth a yllyn ni dyski an unn dhyworth y gila a-dro dhe yeth ha dyskans, yeth yn teyluyow ha yeth ha displegyans kemeniethek...

An kuntelles o meur dhe les, hag y ros dhyn meur may hyllyn prederi anodho. Yn arbennek, marthys da o dhe dhyski moy a-dro dhe ober yn Enesow an Ganel ha gansa kudennow mar vras, po brassa, ages an re omma yn Kernow ha’gan govenek yw dhe besya gans an kevrennow ma.

Language and Community

This was the theme of a conference run by the British Irish Council’s Minority Language Committee to which MAGA was invited to contribute.

Attended by representatives from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey as well as Cornwall, the seminar looked at examples of good practice and at what we can learn from each other in the areas of language and education, language transmission in families and language in community development...

The seminar was very useful and gave us much food for thought. It was particularly interesting to learn of the work in the Channel Islands, where the challenges faced are as great, or greater, than those in Cornwall and we hope to continue these links.

La né - Snow

la né = snow
tchaie d'la né = to snow
i' tchait d'la né = it's snowing
i' tchait du vèrglias = it's sleeting
la né a drivé = the snow has drifted


La Né

Hèlas, i' faisait eune fraid d'tchian!
Et j'tais r'mèrciante d'être par dédans:
J'aime bein la né sus un portrait
Et sustout sus eune carte de Noué!

La Nè

Les poëtes pâlent
Du blianc lincheu;
Mais ch'en est yun
Sans grand' chaleu...
S'i n'en avaient
Pas d'autres la nièt
J'cré qui gèle'laient
Ses bu' dans l'lièt.

Sur la Neige du 7 Novembre 1868

Grand Dié d'la vie qui tems qui fait
Quand j'ouvre les yiers à matin
Je vai la terre couverte de nait
Quia jamais veu ditait ichin
V'la qu-jai bentôt septant'deux ans,
Et j'ai accouo une bouanne mémoize,
Je crai que quand j'avais quinze ans,
L'hivé d'iéz-huit chents douze à treize,
Viers le diéz-neuf ou vingt d'Novembre,
Y g'ly dù et y quit d'la nait.
Quand Napoléon se laissi prendre,
Ché fut pour ly un trébuquait.
Il allit s'fouoré en Russie
Ch-t-hivé là y fit si grand fraid
Que s'n'armaie y fut ensevlie
Comme dans un lincheu souos la nait

Eisteddfod Results 19/20 November 2010

Jersey Eisteddfod - Jèrriais Section 2010 Results

Vendrédi lé 19 Novembre - Salle Pârouaîssiale dé St. Ouën

ADJUDICATRICE Madanme Enid de Gruchy, ADJOINTE Madanme Joan Tapley

Another successful Jèrriais Section of the Jersey Eisteddfod was again held at St. Ouen's Parish Hall by kind permission of Connétablye Ken Vibert. The Junior Section started this year's celebrations of our native language on 19 November and not a drop of rain was to be seen or felt! It was a family winners' night too, with a grandmother and grandson each enjoying success, (see below EUNE SÉTHÉE JÈRRIAISE). A pleasing number of parents were able to attend on this school day; we can always welcome more, as with all Eisteddfod sections. Our thanks go to those volunteers who work behind the scenes to ensure a memorable time and to the Adjudicatrice and her Adjointe (Assistant), Mrs Tapley stepping in to replace Mrs Audrey Falle who was unwell – we send her our very warmest wishes for a speedy recovery. The two Adult evenings were again poorly attended, it is difficult to know why this should be with a good number of native speakers still to be seen and heard around our Island. Doubtless the weather was a factor. Consideration will be given to trialling afternoon competitions in an attempt to improve attendances. The Adjudicator's Award for the Junior Competitor showing the most promise and/or pleasing performance went to a well-deserved Zac Sae Wong (see Class 604). The Adult Section Award again went to Audrey Lucas who, in the Adjudicator's words, gave 'perfect' performances! The results are as follows, with marks awarded following competitors' names:

JUNIOR SECTION

Clâsse 600. C’menchants – Lectuthe prépathée – êtudgiants 1ère année - Garçons et Fil’yes (Beginners – Prepared reading - 1^st Year Students - Boys/Girls).

"L'Homme dans la Leune" trad. par Anon ou "Ma Tante Êlizabeth" trad. Par Anon.

Class Winner: Brandon Le Rossignol 91; Libby Rothwell 86, Lillie Godden 85, Isobel Medina 88, Rhiannon Baker 86, Samantha Neale 89, Owen Richard 90, Morgan Perrée 87, Jamie Godfray 84, Jay Hepburn 88, Kuba Zapala 88, Ryan Bisson 90, Jake McLennan 86, Willow Boulter 90, Lauren Cheshire 90, Rowan Tremayne 90, Sam Pigeon 88.

Clâsse 601. Lectuthe prépathée – êtudgiants 2ème ans – Garçons et Fil’yes (Prepared reading - 2^nd Year students – Boys/Girls).

"Lé R'nard dans la Né" par GJ ou "Lé Six d'Janvyi 1781" par Ph'lippe Langlois (vv.1,8 & 9).

Class Winner: Jack Taylor 88, Delphinie McCarthy 83, Sarah Hansen 80, Conan Hughes 80, Peter Emmanuel 87, Robyn McGowan 83, Rhys Benest 83, Kurtis Buckley 82, Danielle Le Moignan 85, Daniel Sainter 87, Maria da Rocha 87, Kyle Falle 86, Carina Harris 84.

LA COUPE E.J. LUCE (Best in Classes 602/604).

Clâsse 602. Èrcitâtion – Set piece: Garçons et Fil’yes en d’ssous 15 ans.(Prepared reading - Boys/Girls under 15yrs).

"Man Gardîn" par ALP ou "Au Voleux!" par Elie (vv. 1-3,9)

Class and Cup Winner: Nicole Taylor 88, Laura Costard 87, Sammy Pitter 82, Hannah Bechelet 80, Emma Richmond 79, Alex Langlois 81, Anna Costard 87, Katie Le Feuvre 88, Rowan Pilley 89, Amy Sainter 80, Reuben Taylor 84, Matthew Rondel 82.

Clâsse 604 – Èrcitâtion / monologue dé san chouaix (avec ou sans script).(Own Choice reading/monologue – with/out script).

Class Winner: Nicole Taylor 91 (“Quand” Par Elie), Laura Costard 87 ("L'Ernouvé" par FMH), Daniel Sainter 86 (“Nouot' Péthe” trad.), Anna Costard 88 ("Nos poules" par ALP), Lucy Rountree 85, ("Baa Baa Nièr Mouton" trad.), Alex Langlois 86 (“Ma Vielle Brioche” par Elie), Matthew Rondel 80 (“Les Metchièrs” par GJ), Ryan Bisson 81 (“Les Metchièrs” par GJ), Zac Sae Wong 90 (“Man Papa” par FMH).

Clâsse 624 – Reading at sight – Boys and girls.

Class Winner: Nicole Taylor 89, Alex Langlois 85.

Clâsse 623. LA COUPE DES ENFUNTCHIS. Mousses – Èrcitâtion en tchoeu (Groups/Schools Choral Speaking).

"Lé Vièr Sonneux à son Violon" par AALeG (vv.1 et 3) ou "Lé Paîsson" par Elie.

Cup and Class Winner: JCG 90, St. Louothains 89, La Trinn'té 82, Samarés 85, Rouge Bouillon 86, St. Pièrre 84, Springfield 87, Janvrîn 80, Grouville 80, Bel Rouoya 85, Mont Nicolle 85, D'Auvergne 88, JCG Prep1 (Yr 4) 84, JCG Prep 2 (Yr 5) 83, Ste. Mathie 86, Les Tchennevais 83.

EUNE SÉTHÉE JÈRRIAISE – Vendrédi lé 19 Novembre à 7.30 heuthes du sé.

LÉ PRIX LUCILLE PICOT - STUDENT SECTION

Clâsse 606. Lectuthe prépathée dé san chouaix.

Jill Bartholomew “Lé Crapaud” par G. Le Feuvre 87.

Clâsse 607. Lectuthe à livre ouvèrt.

Jill Bartholomew 87, Iris Fritz 84.

ADULT SECTION Clâsse 605. Recitation – own choice (no scripts/costumes permitted).

LA COUPE C.W. BINET – MEMORIAL TROPHY

Clâsse 611. Èrcitâtion.

"T'en r'souveins-tu?" par Elie ou "La Fil'ye malade!" par Laelius.

Cup Winner: Audrey Lucas 94, Tony Scott Warren 92.

STUDENT SECTION

Clâsse 608. Dgialogue prépathé, au max. 5 mins.

Iris Fritz et Jill Bartholomew "La Campangnarde et la Villaise" par JT 84.

ADULT SECTION

LA COUPE G.W. de CARTERET

Clâsse 612. Èrcitâtion dé san chouaix (max. 4 mins).

Cup Winner: Phillippa Knight 86 – “Les Cats” par FMH

Clâsse 622. Èrcitâtion en tchoeu.

Les P’tits Crapauds (Femmes) 84 – "Lé Cahouain" par FMH; La Clâsse Întermédiaithe 85 – "L'Adresse desespethé dé Demouaîselle Nenné Caton ès moustachies" par NC; Les P’tits Crapauds (Hommes) 86 – "À ses patates" par Elie.

Clâsse 614. Duologue – dé san chouaix (max. 10 mins).

Audrey Lucas et Dulcie Jones 88 – "Un Rêve Accomplyi" par JT

EUNE SÉTHÉE JÈRRIAISE – Sanm'di lé 20 Novembre à 7.30 heuthes du sé.

As is now custom, the Junior Section Class winners opened this second evening with a delightful mini gala performance of their individual pieces, to an appreciative but small audience. A surprised Zac Sae Wong was awarded his Adjudicator's cup after giving a repeat of his piece “Man Papa” with proud Papa and Manman (Maurice and Joy Marie, who had no idea of his award) again present! Joy too was a later joint-winner in Clâsse 617! Results for the final evening were:

ADULTS

Clâsse 617. Pièche dé san chouaix (max. 4 mins).

Joint Class Winners: Jean Le Maistre 87 – "Les Douze Mais d'l'Année" par Anon and Joy Marie 87 – “Lé Gardîngni” par JT., Philippa Knight 86 – "Lé Jèrriais – Ma Langue" par MJV., Colin Ireson 86 – "Eune Bouonne Vacance" par JT., Simonne Guégan 83 – "Lé Dgèrnissement" par JJ, adapté par JT., Shirley Pirouet 80 – "Les Trais Léçons" par JP., Derek Le Cocq 79 – "As-tu 'té bouan?" par ALP., Sonia Ahier Kerr 82 - “Chanson d'Ernouvé” par Elie.

Clâsse 615. Duologue împromptu (ouvèrt).

Tony Scott Warren et Geraint Jennings 87, Colin Ireson et Winston Le Brun 85, Audrey Lucas et Dulcie Jones 90, Jean Le Maistre et Brian Vibert 88, Ted Syvret et Françouais Le Maistre 87.

LÉ PRIX LUCILLE PICOT

Clâsse 613. Lectuthe à livre ouvèrt.

Audrey Lucas 95, Colin Ireson 94, Simonne Guégan 87, Tony Scott Warren 94.

The evening closed in customary humorous style with a non-competitive performance from “Les P'tits Crapauds” of a mock BBC live outside broadcast, scripted by Joan Tapley, from the Parish Hall. It was hosted by Chris La Pièrre (Tony Scott Warren) with newly elected Senateux Laiêsse Ecobichon (Colin Ireson) and new Parish Rector, Madanme Lé Révérend Lîzabé Acourt-Carré (Philippa Knight), who attempted to field some awkward questions from parishioners of St. Ouen – and even some from La Ville! EU vraic quotas, States grant aid to develop grow-and-boil-in-the-bag Jersey Royals and dog toilets in each Parish, all contributed to ready remedies and suggestions for our States Members! BBC Radio Jersey kindly loaned banners and equipment to add some authenticity, “Chris La Pièrre” even grew long silver hair, at very short notice!

Haute Vallée

Haute Vallée School asked us to give a presentation about Jèrriais at two assemblies this week to Years 8 to 11. As a result around 700 students now have some basic information about our language. Some may become sufficiently interested to want to learn more - if so, they should contact us at L'Office du Jèrriais through info@jerriais.org.je or by phone.

Our assembly presentation is of course available to any Jersey school - and we also have the Citizenship module for primary schools.

Mess ou Moussieu? - The Mister Mystery

We did a school assembly on the theme of Jèrriais at Haute Vallée this morning, and one point came up in introductions: what's the correct form of address for a man or gentleman? It rather depends.

• Mess = Mr, which is the general title nowadays, e.g. Mess Lé Bro (Mr Le Brocq)
• Moussieu = Mr, if you want to be polite to someone in authority or respectful to one's elders, etc. e.g. Moussieu L'Bro (Mr Le Brocq). We use this as a form of address with titles of posts and jobs too, e.g. Moussieu l'Connêtabl'ye (Mr Constable), Moussieu l'Député L'Bro (Deputy Le Brocq), Moussieu l'Président (President, Chairman), etc.
• Maît' = a form of address used with first name, traditionally for respected (or venerable) country folk, e.g. Maît' Jean, Maît' Ph'lippe, Maît' Cliém, etc.

If you're referring to someone politely in a phrase, then Moussieu L'Bro, for example, will become, lé Sieur Lé Bro: J'allons siez l'Sieur Lé Bro (we're going to Mr Le Brocq's house); nou l'présentit au Sieur Lé Bro (it was presented to Mr Le Brocq).

The more rigid social distinctions of the past are not what they were, especially since the less numerous Jèrriais-speaking community nowadays is less hierarchical than used to be the case. In the past, strictly speaking, Moussieu was a title for someone of rank, entitled to be an Esquire. Things are less formally clearcut in modern society - so sticking with Mess is usually fine. However, for a select few, the formal title of knighthood still requires the appropriate form of address:

• Messire = Sir, e.g. Messire Cliément L'Bro (Sir Clement Le Brocq), Messire Cliément (Sir Clement).

Coming soon: it's the turn of the ladies - Madanme ou Missis?

La Sainte Cat'linne

J'voulons souhaiter un bouôn jour à touos les Cat'linnes - un nom tch'a bein des difféthentes formes - car ch'est aniet la Sainte Cat'linne.

We would like to wish a good day to all Catherines, whose name can be spelt in a number of ways. Today is St. Catherine's day.