Editing Cherbourg (section)

===Language===
The Cherbourg population spoke ''le haguais'', a variant of [[Cotentinais]] [[Norman language|Norman]], while having some specifics regarding the pronunciation of certain words.

In Cotentinais Norman, Cherbourg is called ''Tchidbouo'' {{IPA|fr|tʃidbwu:|}} and Octeville, ''Otteville'' {{IPA|fr|ɔtvil|}}. Their inhabitants are the ''Tchidbouorqŭais'' and the ''Ottevillais'' {{IPA|fr|tʃidbwuʁtʃje:|}} and {{IPA|fr|ɔtvile:|}}.

While French was necessary in [[Rouen]] in the 19th century, Norman remained widely used from Cherbourg to [[Caen]], up to the [[First World War]].<ref name=pic>{{cite web|url=http://www.reunion.iufm.fr/Recherche/Expressions/27/Pic.pdf|title=L'enseignement du normand dans le Nord-Cotentin : étude des pratiques et des attitudes linguistiques|language=fr|trans-title=Education of Norman in Nord-Cotentin: study of practices and linguistic attitudes|first=Christine|last=Pic-Gillard|publisher=Université de la Réunion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028182211/http://www.reunion.iufm.fr/Recherche/Expressions/27/Pic.pdf|archive-date=28 October 2012}}</ref>

{{Interlanguage link|Alfred Rossel|fr}} was the leading local figure of the dialect authors of the 19th century. He published his ''Chansonnettes normandes'', among which ''Sus la mé'' became an anthem of the [[Cotentin Peninsula]]. At that time, {{Interlanguage link|Jean Fleury (writer)|fr|3=Jean Fleury|lt=Jean Fleury}} was critical of its approximate spelling and poor mastery of the language.<ref>{{cite book|first=Jean|last=Fleury|title=Essai sur le patois normand de la Hague|language=fr|trans-title=Essay on the Norman dialect of la Hague|publisher=Maisonneuve frères and C. Leclerc|year=1886}}</ref>

Various actors are now trying to promote the local use of the Norman. The Alfred Rossel society makes live folklore and language. ''Le Boué-jaun'' a Cherbourg-based magazine, published his texts in Norman, and one of three popular Norman universities is based here.<ref name=pic />