THE ANGLO-MANX DIALECT

THE MANX SPOKE a Celtic language closely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It gradually declined during the nineteenth century, and the last native Manx speaker died in the 1970s (though recently there has been a move to teach it in Manx schools). As the old language faded, there grew up what became known as the Anglo-Manx dialect. This was a form of English but was peppered with Celtic words and thoughts, and grammar was often a literal translation from Gaelic. Thus Manxmen would not say he has a new hat but there’s a new hat at him, and the definite article (the) could be used for emphasis, as in the phrase the hot I am.

Sad to say, the Anglo-Manx dialect has, like the old Gaelic language before it, largely vanished now, apart from the odd word or phrase, but fortunately a full record was made when it was still widely spoken, at the beginning of this century: Vocabulary of the Anglo-Manx Dialect by A. W. Moore, Edmund Goodwin and Sophia Morrison, which offers an intriguing picture of past Manx preoccupations. The sea, herring and superstition all figure strongly. So do various types of character, all of them viewed with disapproval. Smooth, slippery people are represented by no fewer than nine words (Creeper, Click, Clinker, Cluke, Crooil, Reezagh, Shliawn, Slebby and Sleetch). Showy, boastful people get ten (Branchy, Filosher, Feroash, Gizzard, Grinndher, High, Neck, Snurly, Stinky and Uplifted). Large, blundering people get fifteen (Bleih, Bleb, Dawd, Flid, Gaping, Glashan, Gogaw, Gorm, Hessian, Kinawn, Looban, Ommidhan, Slampy, Sthahl and Walloper), while peevish people—especially small, scolding women—get as many as eighteen (Borragh, Coughty, Crabby, Cretchy,

Corodank, Gob-mooar, Gonnag, Grangan, Grinnder, Grouw, Huffy, Mhinyag, Pootchagh, Scrissy, Scrowl, Smullagh, Spiddagh and Targe).

There is also a wealth of words concerned with beatings, inheritance and small amounts of money. Most of all, though, the dialect gives an impression of a people who delighted in playing games with language. I have used it sparingly, so it does not become too much of a distraction, and have tried to make the meaning of words apparent from their context. In case any have proved puzzling, though, I offer a glossary.