Songs and games at Guernesiais language event

 Sir Richard Collas the chair of Guernsey Language Commission stands in front of a banner explaining how to pronounce the word Guernesiais, using a soft g as in giant.
Sir Richard Collas said there had been a renewed interest in Guernesiais [Holly Langlois/ BBC]

Songs and games will feature at an event celebrating Guernsey's officially recognised language, Guernesiais.

The Guernsey Language Commission said the event at St Martin's Community Centre on Saturday 8 February gave people the chance to meet others keen to learn the language or improve their fluency.

People will be invited to name a donkey from a list of 100 names in the language, join in a session of Maisaön, the Guernesiais equivalent of bingo, and take part in a community song about chip stealing seagulls.

Sir Richard Collas, the commission's chairman, said: "We have been delighted by the level of interest in Guernesiais shown both by speakers and non-speakers which we see reflected in increased usage of the language."

'Preservation and revitalisation'

He added: "If you are interested in discovering more or would like to know how you could help support the preservation and revitalisation of this important aspect of our heritage please do join us."

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Guernesiais, a form of Norman French, was commonly used by islanders from the Norman conquest to the 1800s.

Attendees can also meet businesses which use the language regularly, including Design4Living, Guernsey Made, and Jill Vaudin Merchandise which will soon be launching their first bilingual calendar.

Folk band La Guaine du Vouest will take to the stage at 14:20 GMT and 15:30 and will lead community singing, including a new song about seagulls at Cobo stealing chips.

There will also be a screening of La Laongue Veille a film by Theo Cross and Matt Graysmith.

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