From: cockburn@edieng.enet.dec.com (Craig Cockburn)
Subject: Major news for Manx Gaelic
Organization: Digital Equipment Co. Ltd., Reading, England
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 16:52:48 GMT


 ------- Forwarded mail received on 14-Sep-1992 at 11:38:48 -------

From:	GAELIC-L%IRLEARN.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
	"GAELIC Language Bulletin Board"
To:	Multiple recipients of <GAELIC-L%IRLEARN.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subj:	Mx Gaelic being taught in Island schools today for the first time


((Source tagged in REFER format))
((%0 Newspaper Article))
((%A Durham, Michael))
((%D 1992))
((%T Manx Language is revived in `Scoills'))
((%B The Independent))
((%P 3a--d))
((%8 14 September 1992))
(( ))
(( ))
<s Durham (1992)>
<d 1992>
<p 3a>
Manx language is revived in `scoills'

((Author's name is set across column b in the original))
By Michael Durham

MOGHREY MIE. Good morning.
This is likely to be your first les-
son in Manx. So tear yourself
away from the chellveeishan/
television and get ready for
scoill/school.

History will be made today on
the Isle of Man, when Manx
Gaelic, the island's indigenous
tongue, will be taught for the first
time in schools since the language
fell out of use earlier this century.

More than 1,700 pupils between
seven and 18 have volunteered for
Manx language classes at two of
the Island's schools when term be-
gins this morning. Another 300
<p 3b>
have had be turned down and will
start next September.

The last indigenous Manx
Gaelic speaker died about 20
years ago and there were fears
that the language had died for-
ever. Education officials have
been surprised by the enthusiasm
for reviving it and have started a
year-long pilot project. Initially,
children will be given half an
hour's Manx a week.

As befits an island in the mid-
dle of the Irish Sea, Manx Gaelic
<p 3c>
is said to be a mixture of phonetic
Scots and Irish Gaelic, but based
on English spelling, with some
Welsh influence thrown in.

It could prove useful as an ar-
got impenetrable to outsiders, on
an island famous for its discretion
in financial affairs, as well as g-
wheeylaht / motorcycling and
shiaulley / sailing. Manxmen
anxious to avoid the chagleyder/
tax collector ---  will be able to say ta
my phoggaid follym / I am out of
cash.

The language has surprisingly
kept up with modern develop-
ments. A computer is co-
<p 3d>
earrooder. The classic reference
book, Fargher's English-Manx
dictionary, includes a word for
homosexuality, homocheintys, un-
til recently illegal on the island.

Manx Gaelic was the island's
main language until the 1830s, but
it declined later in the 19th cen-
tury after English began to be
taught in schools.

``Two thousand students
wanted to take Manx, but I have
had to write to 300 parents in-
forming them that some classes
will have to be delayed,'' Dr Brian
Stowell, the island's Manx lan-
guage officer, said.

-- I have Brian's address if anyone wishes to contact him --- Craig

 ------- Forwarded mail received on 14-Sep-1992 at 15:19:01 -------

From:	GAELIC-L%IRLEARN.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
	"GAELIC Language Bulletin Board"
To:	Multiple recipients of <GAELIC-L%IRLEARN.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subj:	Gailck


From The Guardian for 14 September 1992, p. 2

MANX CHILDREN SPEAK UP FOR THEIR PAST
  Manx Gaelic, the Isle of Man's native language, will be taught in
the island's schools for the first time today. About 1,700 pupils
aged seven to 18 have chosen it as an optional subject and others
had to be turned away.
  The language's spoken form is close to Scots and Irish Gaelic
but spelling is based on English with Welsh influence.
  It was the main language of the island until the 1830s, but
declined after the compulsory education through English-only
schools. The last native speaker died in the 1970s.

Michael Everson
School of Architecture, UCD, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, E/ire
Phone: +353-1-706-2745  Fax: +353-1-283-7778

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Craig Cockburn, Digital Equipment Co. Ltd, Reading, England.     Suas
  Internet: cockburn@edieng.enet.dec.com                           leis
  UUCP:..!decwrl!edieng.enet.dec.com!cockburn                      a'
                                                                   Gha\idhlig!
  Views here are my own, and are not necessarily those of Digital