A new Guernesiais publication is reminding people that ‘the world is your ormer’.
Believed to be the first of its kind, the limited edition hand-made book features with words of wisdom in Guernsey’s local language with English translations.
Some expressions have existed in Guernesiais for generations, say the publishers, while others are modern phrases.
The traditional ones include ‘an east wind with rain is not worth a limpet’ while more modern ones featured include ‘live life to the Foul-on’.
The small book is laid out with one saying to a page and they are spelled in three ways: in Guernesiais, phonetically in Guernesiais, and in English.
The book itself is a ‘leporello’, which is a form of folded binding which means that you can turn the pages and read the book in four different directions, before unfolding it into a single sheet of paper.
“la maonde est votr’ ormé”
= “the world is your ormer”
“I grew up in the Castel listening to the musical cadence of our local patois and when the idea of creating a book of local sayings to encourage the use of Guernesiais came up, I immediately wanted to do it,” said publisher Martin Morgan.
“I think it is more important than ever to support and help preserve our heritage.”
Sir Richard Collas, Chairman of the Guernsey Language Commission, agrees with the importance of preserving Guernesiais.
“The Language Commission are delighted to have been able to help produce the book by supplying the sayings and translations,” he said.
“We are equally delighted with the result which is a charming visual treat. It is one of the most unusual books I have ever seen and I have to say – an ideal Christmas present!”