Manx language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manx |
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|---|---|
| [y Ghaelg] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), [y Ghailck] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) | |
| Native to | Isle of Man |
| Native speakers | Extinct as a first language in 1974; subsequently revived and now with about a hundred competent speakers, including a small number of children who are new native speakers, and 1,823 people (2.27% de facto population) in the Isle of Man professing some knowledge of the language (2011) |
| Language family | |
| Official status | |
| Official language in |  Isle of Man |
| Regulated by | Coonseil ny Gaelgey (Manx Gaelic Council) |
| Linguasphere | 50-AAA-aj |
The Manx language, (known in Manx as "Gaelg" or "Gailck"), is a language spoken in the Isle of Man.
It is a Celtic language of the Goidelic language family. It is in the same family as Scottish and Irish.
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.
Contents
History
Manx was beginning to differ from Middle Irish in about 900–1600 AD, and it is called Yn Ghaelg / Yn Ghailck by Manx speakers. There became fewer and fewer Manx speakers during the 19th century and 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 dropped to only 1%.
Today, Manx is used as the only language taught at five of the Isle of Man’s pre-schools. Manx is taught as a 2nd language at all of the Island's primary and secondary schools.
Manx 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 Manx speakers, mainly in the Isle of Man.
Images for kids
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An ogham inscription on a stone in the Manx Museum written in Primitive Irish and which reads DOVAIDONA MAQI DROATA, "Of Dovaido, son of Droata"
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William Christian, better known as Illiam Dhone (Brown-haired William)
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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.
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Sign at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh at St John's
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Use of Manx on the national museum, underneath the English
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Dialect map of Manx (boundaries are approximate)
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Loaghtan, a Manx breed of primitive sheep. The name means "mousy grey" in Manx.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma manés para niños
