Auregnais, Aoeur'gnaeux or Aurignais was the
Norman dialect of the
Channel Island of
Alderney (
French: Aurigny, Auregnais: Aoeur'gny/Auregny). Very little Auregnais survives in written form. It was closely related to the
Dgèrnésiais (
Guernsey),
Jèrriais (
Jersey),
Sercquiais (
Sark) dialects of the neighbouring islands, as well as
Continental Norman on the European mainland.One reason for the demise of the language was movement of the population. In particular, the influx of labourers from the
United Kingdom employed by the British Government in the construction of the abortive harbour project and other fortifications, as well as the stationing of a sizable British garrison among the small population, served to relegate Auregnais to a lesser status for communication. It is thought that the evacuation of nearly all indigenous Aurignais to the British mainland during
World War II (the island was occupied by the Germans, and heavily fortified) was a major factor in the final loss of the spoken language. The language suffered greatly in later years due to a large influx of tax "exiles" from
England who have moved to the island, as well as official neglect, as Alderney is a tax haven.
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