Support for Manx Language Research Group

Support for Manx Language Research Group

Mon, 16 Dec 2024

Culture Vannin Grants Support to Manx Language Research Group

Culture Vannin is delighted to announce a grant of £3,000 to the Manx Language Research Group (part of Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, the Manx Language Society), to support an exciting project aimed at transcribing and translating a significant volume of Manx language audio recordings. This initiative marks an important step for the Manx language by making these valuable resources more accessible to speakers, learners, and researchers.

The grant will fund the work of a Manx language specialist tasked with transcribing and translating recordings, primarily those of native Manx speakers, for inclusion in the Manx Corpus website. These timestamped, fully searchable transcriptions will allow users to search for a word or phrase in either Manx or English and instantly hear a native speaker using it in context.

Dr Christopher Lewin, Secretary of the Manx Language Research Group said:

“The generous grant from Culture Vannin allows our voluntary organisation to contract an experienced translator, to work on recently available recordings from the iMuseum’s British Library ‘Unlocking Our Sound Heritage’ project, as well as other Manx language recordings, prioritizing native speaker content.”

The Manx Corpus website is an online resource hosting a comprehensive collection of transcriptions, translations, and audio recordings, providing users with the ability to search for words and phrases in Manx or English and hear native speakers using them in context. By making this material freely accessible, the Corpus supports speakers, learners, and researchers while also serving as an invaluable tool for educators and anyone interested in the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Isle of Man. The ongoing development of the Manx Corpus website ensures that this rich repository continues to grow and evolve, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Manx language.

While previous contributions to the Manx Corpus website have relied on voluntary efforts, this strategic use of funding in the form of a grant from Culture Vannin will accelerate the completion of these valuable resources. By improving access to the recordings, the project will support not only linguistic and cultural preservation but also encourage deeper engagement with the Manx language across the community.

Chris Williamson, Vice Chair of Culture Vannin, commented:

“This grant will primarily benefit speakers, students, teachers, and researchers of Manx. The searchable English translations will also make this important archival material open to the wider public in and beyond the Island who may be interested in the language from the point of view of social history, folklore, and family history. Our grant giving work aims to support members of the cultural community in unlocking the full potential of their projects. Even a small grant can make a significant difference when combined with the expertise and commitment of groups like the Manx Language Research Group.”

The first recording from the project to be made available through the Manx Corpus website was launched at the 2024 Cooish Manx language festival. Attendees at the event were interested to hear both the voices of last native speaker Ned Maddrell reminiscing about life in Cregneash, as well as a 17-year-old Brian Stowell, a key figure in the language revival for many decades until his death in 2019. Stowell was already fluent at this point after learning Manx for eight months, and relates how he is also learning Irish from the radio. The original recording was made in the early 1950s by Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh.

For further information about Culture Vannin’s grant scheme visit https://culturevannin.im/fundingawards/grants/ or email funding@culturevannin.im

More information on the Manx Corpus website can be found by visiting https://corpus.gaelg.im/

The recording referred to above can be found at https://corpus.gaelg.im/docs/UOSH-HOYFM-SA0002