page_title: Manx language
section_title: Signage
hierarchical_section_title: Manx language / Learning the language / Signage
caption_attribution_description: English: The Manx-Museum sign
context_page_description: Manx, also known as Manx Gaelic, and also historically spelled Manks, is a member of the Goidelic language branch of the Celtic languages of the Indo-European language family; it was spoken as a first language by some of the Manx people on the Isle of Man until the death of the last native speaker, Ned Maddrell, in 1974. Despite this, the language has never fallen completely out of use, with a minority having some knowledge of it; in addition, Manx still has a role as an important part of the island's culture and heritage. Manx has been the subject of language revival efforts; in 2015, around 1,800 people had varying levels of second language conversational ability. Since the late 20th century, Manx has become more visible on the island, with increased signage, radio broadcasts and a Manx-medium primary school. The revival of Manx has been made easier because the language was well recorded: for example, the Bible had been translated into Manx, and audio recordings had been made of native speakers.
context_section_description: Bilingual road, street, village and town boundary signs are common throughout the Isle of Man. All other road signs are in English only.
  Business signage in Manx is gradually being introduced but is not mandated by law; however, the 1985 Tynwald Report on the use of Manx states that signage should be bilingual except where a Manx phrase is the norm.
caption: Use of Manx on the national museum, underneath the English
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