Recording the Last Native Manx Speakers 1909–1972

Abstract

This article concentrates on those native Manx Gaelic speaking informants recorded during the last phase of obsolescence in Manx which took place during the course of the twentieth century, from 1909 to 1972. The aim here is to include as much detail and information about the circumstances of the recording sessions, their interviewers, the interviewees, comments made on their Manx by the interviewers, and additional information and comment from the field-workers who accompanied the recording sessions, and who had got to know the informants individually and knew what they could offer. All in all, it is hoped that we now have a complete a picture as possible of this unique events that accompanied the end-phase of Manx Gaelic of the Isle of Man that had functioned as the community language of Manx men and women for some 1500 years, from c.500 CE down the the passing of the last reputed native Manx speaker, Ned Maddrell, on 27 December 1974.