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Manx language extinct, says UNESCO!
THE Manx language is extinct - according to the United Nations!
The UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisaion (UNESCO) has launched a new edition of its Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger and, in news that may come as a surprise to the pupils of the Bunscoill Gaelgagh in St John's, the Manx language is apparently extinct.
In a statement released to coincide with International Mother Language Day tomorrow, UNESCO says its atlas mentions among the languages that have become extinct as 'Manx, which died out in 1974 when Ned Maddrell fell forever silent'.
When Bunscoill Gaelgagh opened in 2001, it had nine pupils. Today it has 55 pupils on its books and from September its number will rise to over 60.
All Key Stage One lessons are conducted in Manx. In Key Stage Two, all but English are conducted in Manx.
Head teacher Julie Matthews says many parents now learning Manx too.
Learn Manx at iomtoday with our two video series, produced during the past year or so with the help of Manx language officer Adrian Cain:
>> www.iomtoday.co.im/focklenyghaa
>> www.iomtoday.co.im/skeealnygaelgey
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WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im
YOUR COMMENTS
I thought that was the general consensus. Ned Maddrell is considered by many to be the last person who spoke Manx as a first language, being a native speaker as opposited to neo-native (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Maddrell). My grandfather Charlie Craine, an English and Manx speaker, was involved with several others including Walter Clarke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Clarke) in recording Manx speakers before they passed away, possibly including Ned Maddrell, recordings which should still be at the Manx Museum.
EUAN CRAINE, Ballaugh
If you look on the BBC website there is an actual explanation of the reasons behind the listing. It comes from Christopher Moseley, editor in chief of the Atlas. He is quoted as saying 'I have always been optimistic about Cornish and Manx. There is a groundswell of interest in them. Although the number of speakers are small. Perhaps in the next edition we shall have a 'being revived' category'. So you see its not all bad and the efforts of the Manx speakers have not gone unnoticed. I have to congratulate those of you involved. I only wish something like this was about when I was going to school. I am sure the meaning of extinct is definitely as a first language. I think I will go out and get 'First lessons in Manx' from the book shop and start, come on you lot out there do the same and support your local language. Faster Mei (yes I know it's wrong, that's why I am buying the book)
DAVEC
If Extinct refers to the lack of people brought up to speak Manx as a first language then the status needs to reviewed now. I know of two children from one family who were brought up to speak Manx as the language of first choice. As children grow up in the current society they move away from the language to some extent but they do not lose the knowledge and the language is already as a result beyond "Being revived".
ANDREW
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day on 21st February, you may be interested in the contribution, made by the World Esperanto Association, to UNESCO's campaign for the protection of endangered languages. The following declaration was made in favour of Esperanto, by UNESCO at its Paris HQ in December 2008. http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38420&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html
The commitment to the campaign to save endangered languages was made, by the World Esperanto Association at the United Nations' Geneva HQ in September.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7vD9kChBA&feature=related or http://www.lernu.net
BRIAN
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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