Talk:Manx language

Orthographic origins

We're presently lacking all information on this. What I can glean quickly by searching about: The earliest surviving written material in the Manx language as a distinct form, an Anglican Book of Common Prayer manuscript, was completed by Bishop John Philips from Wales, but never published. It is unclear whether the English- and Welsh-based simplistic (but inconsitent) spelling system imposed on Manx (which obviously happened through the activities of literate mainlanders, not the native population) was devised by Philips or came about earlier, in the 16th century, and was simply used by Philips.

At this point, I'm not entirely sure what the best sources are to use for something about this; my focus has been on other languages, and I haven't really caught up on Gaelg/Gailck scholarship. But I do know that we have a gap here and need to fill it.  — SMcCandlish ☏ ¢ 😼  03:11, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

The current section on orthography gives almost 0 useful information and repeats the same trite 'criticisms' about Manx orthography that have circulated for decades. There are good sources out there and I'll write a few new paragraphs soon. MolingLuachra (talk) 22:09, 22 September 2025 (UTC)

Omitted table

'Below is the conjugation of aase "to grow".'

No, it isn't. Anonymous44 (talk) 19:53, 7 June 2026 (UTC)

There are native speakers of Manx?

Why does it say there are no native Manx speakers currently as part of the revival? I have found sources that say otherwise.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-63305195 Samsonlass (talk) 22:15, 15 August 2026 (UTC)

It says there are no first language speakers, and the article you shared seems to corroborate this, not contradict it. Striking, I should read slower. ~ oklopfer (💬︎) 23:52, 15 August 2026 (UTC)

no it doesn’t?

“Only later in life did I really understand that I was one of a new generation of children to be raised with Gaelg (Manx Gaelic) as my first language.” Samsonlass (talk) 02:05, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

Somehow I skipped over this line. It would be good to have a more reliable source reporting on the numbers than a firsthand account, though. ~ oklopfer (💬︎) 02:14, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

https://www.langcen.cam.ac.uk/resources/langm/manx.html says the 2001 census reported 59 native speakers ~ oklopfer (💬︎) 02:30, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

I can’t find anything else specific on the amount, most articles are more predisposed with the overall amount it seems than how many of them are first language speakers Samsonlass (talk) 03:16, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

All good Samsonlass (talk) 03:15, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

“As a young child growing up in the living folk museum village of Cregneash, I learnt all my first words in the language.” Samsonlass (talk) 02:06, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

“I was one of the first of the new wave of Manx speakers, learning the language from my parents before I ever spoke English.”

these are all some of the first paragraphs in the article. Am I misinformed something? Samsonlass (talk) 02:07, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

Missing something* Samsonlass (talk) 02:08, 16 August 2026 (UTC)