Language research finds new words

New words could be added to the Jerriais dictionary following the largest ever survey of the Norman French language.

It is part of a project being carried out by the University of Caen.

The language was formed over hundreds of years, influenced by many languages from Norse Viking to Frankish.

Ancient Norman French continued in use in Jersey until at least the 1800s and although the official written language was French, Jerriais was spoken.

Mari Jones, a senior lecturer in French from the University of Cambridge has been interviewing Jerriais speakers.

She has asked them for the words they use to describe things such as cart, field and cider.

Tony Scott Warren, from the Office du Jerriais, has been sitting in on the interviews.

He says they have highlighted words which he had not heard before and which could be included in books about the language in future.

About 2,500 people are believed to speak Jerriais.