Sponsored by
UNESCO in firing line from Manx-speaking schoolchildren
MANX is not a dead language, pupils at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh have told world culture chiefs.
Children at the Manx language school in St John's were upset after the Isle of Man Examiner and iomtoday reported how the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) considered Manx 'extinct'.
>> Manx language extinct, says UNESCO!
20 February 2009
Five youngsters have written to UNESCO, in Manx, inviting it to send representatives to the school to watch them learn and communicate in the Isle of Man's native tongue.
Their letters include English translations by their teacher, fluent Manx speaker Paul Rogers, who said UNESCO's announcement was disappointing for everyone trying to keep the language alive.
-----------
Learn snippets of Manx Gaelic and find out more about the language at iomtoday with our two video series, made in conjunction with Manx language officer Adrian Cain:
>> Fockle ny ghaa (A word or two)
>> Skeeal ny Gaelgey (The story of Manx)
-----------
Mr Rogers said: 'I showed the Examiner article to the children and they were all quite indignant about it.
'They felt offended that someone would say the language they use at school and sometimes at home did not exist.
'In her letter, one of the pupils explained she speaks Manx to her family, and she was annoyed that UNESCO had not come to the school before making its decision.'
The pupils also wrote about the Yn Chruinnaght Celtic festival, The Guild music festival and Tynwald Day to show that Manx was used during public events too.
Mr Rogers said: 'UNESCO needs a new language category between alive and extinct, which suggests it isn't used at all. It should have a revised language or second language category.
'Manx is not the first language of any of our pupils, who are more comfortable using English because it is all around them.
'But we use it every day at school and I've got friends I've only ever spoken to in Manx.'
He added: 'UNESCO's announcement also makes nothing of all the progress people in the Isle of Man have made to keep Manx alive.'
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im
YOUR COMMENTS
Good on them - we should not let the Manx culture die including the language.
RON S, Douglas
It is good to have your own native language has well has the English spoken language, after all the children from England need to learn the Gaelic language has well has the spoken one, weather it be Manx Irish or welsh Gaelic.
ROY C
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
