Yan Marquis
‘Spelling trouble: Ideologies and practices in Giernesiei / Dgernesiais / Guernesiais / Guernésiais / Djernezié…’
Marquis, Yan; Sallabank, Julia
Authors
PROF Julia Sallabank js72@soas.ac.uk
Professor of Language Policy and Revital
Contributors
Mari C. Jones
Editor
Damien Mooney
Editor
Abstract
The indigenous language of Guernsey is not standardized, and has no official orthography. It is highly endangered, but there is a significant increase in demand for written Giernesiei. Examination of writing practices reveals a wide range of spellings, and inconsistencies between rhetoric and practices. Some speakers and learners, influenced by diglossic notions of ‘correctness’ and prestige, favour French-style spellings for Guernesiais; but most islanders are literate in English only. Language activists may focus on differentiation from dominant or related languages. Learners, meanwhile, may benefit from a systematic, transparent, practical spelling which recognizes the lack of ease of typing accents on English-style keyboards. The resolution of such tensions does not depend on impartial assessment of which orthography is the most efficient, but on community dynamics which may be fluid and not immediately obvious. Given that the future of Dgernesiais rests with learners, it is important to develop an orthography which is useful for learners and teachers, yet acceptable to the remaining native speakers.
Citation
Marquis, Y., & Sallabank, J. (2017). ‘Spelling trouble: Ideologies and practices in Giernesiei / Dgernesiais / Guernesiais / Guernésiais / Djernezié…’. In M. C. Jones, & D. Mooney (Eds.), Orthography Development for Language Maintenance and Revitalisation (235-253). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316562949.012
Publication Date | Aug 1, 2017 |
---|---|
Deposit Date | Nov 5, 2015 |
Publicly Available Date | Sep 4, 2019 |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 235-253 |
Book Title | Orthography Development for Language Maintenance and Revitalisation |
ISBN | 9781316562949 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316562949.012 |
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Copyright Statement
This is an accepted manuscript of a chapter published by Cambridge University Press in Creating Orthographies for Endangered Languages, available online: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316562949.012
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