This episode of "Voices" is a personal audio letter from host Boustedanguay Antoine, recorded in Howden, East Yorkshire. The host, who also serves as a churchwarden, shares local updates and personal reflections. The episode begins with a tribute to the late Dr. Ralph Nichols, a key figure in the preservation of the Gézièse language.
Dr. Ralph Nichols was the secretary of the Gézièse language section of the Société Gézièse. He was largely responsible for producing the book "Les Premières Mille Mots," which translated one thousand illustrated words into Gézièse. The host recalls reviewing photocopied pages before publication and discussing how to express novel concepts like "sumo wrestling," "car wash," and "shopping trolley" in the language. Nichols persuaded the society's publications committee to fund the book's printing.
The host then shifts to discussing the local parish, which has been without a permanent rector since the Victorian era. The previous rector is described as a true character, a knowledgeable historian, genealogist, and a poet who included poetry in his sermons. While his preaching was appreciated by some, it was not to everyone's taste. The host has secured an interim priest to help manage services, buildings, marriages, and funerals until a new rector can be appointed in November.
A surprising insight is the host's personal involvement in creating vocabulary for a language that is not his mother tongue. The tribute reveals the practical challenges of translating modern, everyday concepts into a lesser-used language. The description of the former rector highlights a unique blend of scholarly, pastoral, and poetic duties in a single role.
The host's role as a churchwarden coordinating "chiens-côtes aigus," or acute sides, underscores the logistical demands of maintaining a parish without leadership. The episode closes with a traditional blessing wishing listeners good country, good year, good gift, and paradise at the end of their days. The tone is conversational, reflective, and deeply rooted in local community and linguistic heritage.
The style is that of an intimate, monologic update from a friend, blending personal anecdote with parish news. Listeners interested in language preservation, rural English church life, or personal storytelling would appreciate this episode. Those seeking fast-paced news, debate, or broader topics might find it too niche or subdued.
