Languages of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in local toponyms. The island of Herm appears to have spoken Norman in the recent past, but there are no records of when it died out. Other islands such as Brecqhou, Jethou, les Casquets and Burhou were too small to support real communities. Although there are fewer Portuguese people in Guernsey than in Jersey, they still form a small part of the population, roughly 2% of the population speak Portuguese. Languages of the Bailiwick of Guernsey The linguistic situation of the Bailiwick of Guernsey is quite similar to that of Jersey, the other Bailiwick in the Channel Islands. English is
Guernsey While the jurisdiction of Guernsey has complete autonomy over internal affairs and certain external matters, the topic of complete independence from the British Crown has been discussed widely and frequently, with ideas ranging from Guernsey obtaining independence as a Dominion to the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey uniting and forming an independent Federal State within the Commonwealth, whereby both islands retain their independence with regards to domestic affairs but internationally, the islands would be regarded as one state. Guernsey has ten parishes, which act as civil administration districts, with limited powers. Each parish is administered by a Douzaine, usually made