Manx language
Manx, or Manx Gaelic, (known in Manx as "Gaelg" or "Gailck"), is a language spoken in the Isle of Man.
| Manx | |
|---|---|
| Manx Gaelic y Ghaelg, y Ghailck | |
| Native to | Isle of Man |
| Native speakers | Extinct as a first language in 1974; subsequently revived and now with about a hundred competent speakers,[1][2] including a small number of children who are new native speakers,[3] and 1,823 people (2.27% de facto population) in the Isle of Man professing some knowledge of the language[4] (2011) |
| Language family | |
| Official status | |
| Official language in |  Isle of Man |
| Regulated by | Coonseil ny Gaelgey (Manx Gaelic Council) |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-1 | gv |
| ISO 639-2 | glv |
| ISO 639-3 | glv |
| Linguasphere | 50-AAA-aj |
It is a Celtic language of the Gaelic language family. It is in the same family as Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic.
Manx is spoken mainly by people who learn it through interest. It died out as a natural community language in the 20th century. The last of the old native speakers died in 1974.
Manx is protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
History
Manx began to separate from Middle Irish in about 900–1600 AD, and it is called Yn Ghaelg / Yn Ghailck by its speakers. There became fewer and fewer speakers during the 19th century, when the language was replaced by English. In 1901, 9% of the people in the Isle of Man were said to speak Manx, but in 1921, the number had dropped to only 1%.
Today, Manx is used as the only language taught at five of the Isle of Man’s preschools. Manx is taught as a second language at all of the Isle of Man's primary and secondary schools.
Today
There is now a school that teaches all of its lessons in Manx. The census of 2001 said that 2.2% of the population of the island could speak the language. There are currently 54,000 second-language speakers, mainly on the Isle of Man.
Manx Language Media
A Manx speaker, recorded in the Isle of Man
William Christian, better known as Illiam Dhone (Brown-haired William)
Lag ny Keeilley ("Hollow of the Church") on Cronk ny Arrey Laa ("Hill of the Day Watch"). The Manx language has had a substantial influence on the island's toponymy and nomenclature.
Sign at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh at St John's
Use of Manx on the national museum, underneath the English
Historical dialect map of Manx (boundaries are approximate)
Loaghtan, a Manx breed of primitive sheep. The name means "mousy grey" in Manx.
References
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This language has its own Wikipedia project. See the Manx language edition. |