Manx language
Manx (Gaelg), also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Goidelic language spoken on the Isle of Man. It is an offshoot of Old Irish, particularly the Ulster and Galloway dialects. Manx dates to around the 5th century AD and is called Gaelg Vanninagh by Manx speakers. The last native speaker, Ned Maddrell, died in 1974, but by then a scholarly revival had begun to spread to the populace and many had learned Manx as a second language. The first native speakers of Manx (bilingual with English) in many years have now appeared: children brought up by Manx-speaking parents. Primary immersion education in Manx is provided by the Manx government. Manx-language playgroups also exist, and Manx language classes are available in island schools.Manx is used by the Tynwald, with new laws being read out by Yn Lhaihder ('the Reader') in both Manx and English.
Manx is recognised under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It is also one of the regional languages recognised in the framework of the British-Irish Council.
The revival of Manx has been aided by the recording work done in the 20th century by researchers, notably the Irish Folklore Commission in 1948.
Arguably, no trace of written Manx survives from before the 1600s, but the Book of Common Prayer and Bible were translated into Manx in the 17th and 18th centuries. A tradition of carvals, religious songs or carols, developed. Religious literature was common, but secular writing much rarer.
Following a decline in the use of Manx during the 19th century, Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Language Society) was founded in 1899.
The spelling of Manx, unlike that of Irish and Scottish Gaelic, does not represent the Goidelic etymology, and more closely resembles an English speaker's attempt to write Gaelic. This is because Manx developed without a written literature, and when attempts were made to introduce a standardised orthography for the language, the choice was made to spell the words in an English manner. For example, 'Isle of Man' in Irish would be written as Oileann Mhannain or in Scottish Gaelic as Eileann Mhannain, whereas in Manx it is written as Ellan Vannin.
Key:
Scot. - Scottish Gaelic, IRL - Irish
Vocabulary
| Manx | English | '''Nearest Irish or Scottish Gaelic equivalent |
| Moghrey mie | Good morning | Maidin mhath (Scot) |
| Fastyr mie | Good evening | Feasgair math (Scot) |
| Slane lhiu | Goodbye | Slán leat (IRL) |
| Gura mie ayd | Thank you | Go raibh maith agat (IRL) |
| baatey | boat | bata (Scot.) |
| barroose | bus | bus | blaa | flower | blath |
| booa | cow | bó (IRL) |
| cabbyl | horse | capall |
| cashtal | castle | caisleán (IRL) |
| creg | rock | creag (Scot.) |
| eeast | fish | iasc (IRL) |
| ellan | island | eileann (Scot.) |
| gleashtan | car | gluaistean (IRL) |
| kayt | cat | cat (IRL) |
| moddey | dog | madra |
| shap | shop | siopa (IRL) |
| thie | house | taigh (Scot) |
| ushag | bird | ? | jees | pair | dís (IRL) |
| Manx | English | '''Nearest Irish or Scottish Gaelic equivalent | nane | one | aon | daa | two | dha (Scot.) |
| tree | three | trí |
| kiare | four | ceathair (IRL) |
| queig | five | cuig (IRL) |
| shey | six | sé (IRL) |
| shiaght | seven | seacht (IRL) |
| hoght | eight | ocht (IRL) |
| nuy | nine | naoi (IRL) |
| jeih | ten | deich (IRL) |
| nane jeig | eleven | aon déag (IRL) |
| daa yeig | twelve | dháréag (IRL) |