Channel Island English
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Channel Island English refers to Guernsey English, Jersey English and similar dialects of English found in the other Channel Islands.
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[edit] Guernsey English
Guernsey English is the dialect of English spoken by natives of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, distinguished by the fact that it has considerable influence from Guernésiais, the variety of Norman indigenous to Guernsey. The dialect contains terms such as "buncho" (from Dgèrnésiais: bond d'tchu) for the English "somersault".
[edit] Jersey English
Jersey English is a dialect of English spoken in Jersey, Channel Islands. The accent is similar sounding to Dutch or South African accents. It is influenced by the use of Jèrriais and Jersey Legal French.
[edit] Influence of Jersey Legal French on Jersey English
Jersey English has imported a number of Jersey Legal French titles and terminology. Many of these, in turn, derive from Jèrriais. The following are examples likely to be encountered in daily life and in news reports in Jersey: rapporteur, en défaut (in default, i.e. late for a meeting), en désastre, au greffe, greffier (clerk to Court or the States), bâtonnier (lawyer in charge of Bar, particularly for legal aid), mandataire, autorisé (returning officer at elections, or other functions), projet (parliamentary bill), vraic, côtil, temps passé (time past), vin d'honneur (municipal or official reception), Centenier, Vingtenier, Chef de Police (senior Centenier), branchage (pronounced in English as the Jèrriais cognate even though spelt in the French manner - trimming hedges and verges on property border; also used jocularly for a haircut), Seigneur (feudal lord of the manor).
