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Town is to be filled with the sights – and sounds – of Jersey's very own language thanks to a pioneering mature language student who was inspired by an encounter with some French tourists.
The Talking Street Signs project gives anyone with a smartphone - or other device with internet access – the chance to hear information about some of the parish's landmarks spoken in Jèrriais.
Mature students from L'Office du Jèrriais have recorded themselves relaying the history of 15 locations which already appear in Jèrriais on silver Wayfinder signs around St Helier, which can be accessed by scanning QR codes on the signs.
A new website has also been created with a map and clips of each recorded message, each of which is available in English, Jèrriais and modern French.
The project name comes from the Jèrriais verb 'oyez', which means 'to hear'.
One of the students, Laurence Curtis, explained how the idea came about. “
Pictured: The QR codes to hear spoken Jèrriais are on silver Wayfinder signs around St Helier like this one on Broad Street
"Two visitors from Normandy who needed directions in town asked me if I spoke Jèrriais as they wanted to hear and record it," he said.
"That gave me the idea to look for ways to make it easier for people to hear Jèrriais around the Island, as well as being able to see it."
He added that the recent revival of interest in the language, supported by the government, has seen Jèrriais words appear on buses, signs and government buildings but hearing the spoken language has been much more difficult until now.
Working with other students including Clive Jones, Helen Romeril, Pauline Snarey, and Bailiwick Express and JEP's very own Senior Reporter Rod McLoughlin, Mr Curtis discussed the idea with members of L’Office and Jersey Heritage.
The group collected recordings from Jean Le Maistre, David Marrett and the late Enid de Gruchy who spoke Jèrriais as children, as well as from Colin Ireson and Jèrriais teachers Geraint Jennings and Aline Cattermole.
Pictured: The QR codes look like this and will allow anyone with internet access the chance to hear the spoken clips.
Texts of their recordings were matched with historic pictures to create the website and a French version was also added to help visitors see the similarities and differences between the two languages. St Helier then gave permission for QR stickers to be placed on each Wayfinder sign.
“I hope that the recordings will help bring Jèrriais to people who might not otherwise hear it and perhaps inspire some of them to start learning the language, too,” Mr Curtis said.
The 15 locations of the Wayfinder signs in St Helier are:
Lé Quartchi du Hâvre – The Harbour Quarter
Les Gardîns d’la Mé - Jardin de la Mer (the seaside garden)
Lé Pèrquage - The Pèrquage / Castle Street
La Rue des Sablions - Sand Street
La Plianque Billot – Billot’s Plank at Charing Cross
Lé Couain ès Ànes - The Donkeys Corner (New Stret /King Street)
La Grand’Rue - Broad Street
La Pièche de la Libéthâtion - Liberation Square
Lé Bridge - The Weighbridge
La Rue d’Driéthe - 'The Back Road' / King Street
Les Ruettes - ‘The Lanes’ - Bath Street
La Pompe dé haut - 'The High Pump'/ Snow Hill
La Colomb’thie – “The Dovecot”/La Colomberie
Lé Hâvre des Pas - Havre des Pas (Sign at Howard Davis Park)
West’s Centre - (To be added by 16 August)
You can listen to the Jèrriais clips from the Talking Street Signs HERE.
For more information, or to provide feedback or offer ideas for projects to help people hear Jèrriais further can email admin@oyez.je.
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