H140 Manx Language

The amount of material either in or about the Manx Language on my pages is relatively small, but growing. An overview of the development of the language may be obtained from Thomson

1. Mann originally included in Bythronic Group (i.e. early Welsh etc.)
2. The Island included in eastward expansion of Gaelic-speaking Ireland during fourth and fifth centuries - thus moved to Goedelic branch, links would appear to be with Ulster
3. A continuity of Gaelic speakers through the Norse period though probably a horizontal class division between the predominantly Norse upper class who, though intermarried with Gaels, favoured the side of the Norse due to external contacts — Gaelic remained the tongue of the lower classes, "with no large scale penetration of vocabulary by Norse loan-words, unused for any but everyday concerns" thus becoming impoverished in vocabulary etc. The Norse-favouring upper stratum were replaced following Scots takeover in 1266, after which Latin and then English were languages of administration, the apex of the social stratum being replaced several times until the stability imposed by the Stanley's after 1405 but the replacements always from outside.
4. Manx like East Gaelic (later to be Scots Gaelic) split from Irish around the 13th century - some have argued that this indicated a major movement from Scotland into Mann following the decline of the Norse though Thomson considers the evidence is consistent with continuity of people.
5. Manx continued as demotic language but influenced in vocabulary by English - a late flowering for religious purposes took place in the 18th century but as Thomson says "Manx can be said never to have recovered from the blow to its standing as a language used by all ranks of society for all purposes which was inflicted, probably during the Norse period, and most certainly in the centuries following."

Online Pages:

Manx Language (+ history of printed Manx)

• J Kelly Grammar of the Manks Language Manx Soc vol ii.
• J Kelly Dictionary Manx Soc vol xiii (note introductory text only)
• A Cregeen Dictionary of the Manks Language 1835 (note introductory text only)
• A. W. Moore Historical Sketch of Manx Language YLM 1 p129/139 (and Manx Literature YLM 1 p110/115)
• A. W. Moore Triglot Dictionary YLM 3 p56/9
• A. W. Moore Foreign Elements in the Manx Language YLM 3 p59/65
• G W Woods Lhuyd's Archaeologia and the Manx Language YLM v3 pp565/9 -
• G W Woods Translation of the Scriptures into Manx
• G. W. Woods Account of Religious Tracts

Late Spoken Manx

• H. Jenner Manx Language. Its Grammar, Literature and Present State Philological Society 1875
• Jackson Introduction & Preface to Contributions to the Study of Manx Phonology 1955

Yn Cheshaght Gailckagh

• S. McNiocaill Language and Nationality in Man Manx Quarterly #14 pp134/136 Sept 1914
• Sophia Morrison The Origin of the Manx Language Society 1914

Manx Language Texts

• J Clague Manx Reminiscences 1911 (dual Manx/English text)
• Lioar dy Hymnyn (Methodist Hymns) 1799 + 1846 editions
• Psalmym Ghavid (Psalms of David) 1905 (Manx Prayer Book + Clague M

Off-line References:

• Victor Edward Durkacz The Decline of the Celtic Languages Edinburgh:John Donald 1983 (ISBN 0-85976-090-2)
• R. L. Thomson Aspects of the Gaelic-Norse Controversy: Manx Personal Names and general Vocabulary Proc IOMNH&ASoc IX #2 pp145/155 1984
• ...