ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how inward migration in the small island context has impacted on the decline of the local language called Jerriais, yet has led simultaneously to a culture of translation through linguistic activism in educational and informational settings. It summarises Jersey’s history of migration and focuses particularly on the 20th and 21st centuries at a time of significant population change, increasing inward flow of English-speaking migrants, and changes to the cultural make-up of the island. The chapter provides a history of the decline of Jerriais as the island’s language, which occurred as the demographics outlined in the first section changed. It discusses translation and linguistic activism in educational settings. M. Boleat offers essential data on Jersey’s inward and outward migration along with much information about the island’s changing society. Mass inward migration in the post-World War II era has been from the United Kingdom and more recently from Portugal/Madeira and Poland.
