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FEATURES tongue. Stowell joined Faragher and, along with several other people, they spent the following weekends driving around the island in a van listening to old Manx tape recordings. "Initially I was seen to be a bit of a nut job," said Stowell. "But it became clear that beneath the surface there was huge support for the language from many people." Stowell believes one of the biggest obstacles has been the old Manx speakers themselves. "Manx to a large extent dumped their own language. There was a strong fear of the language and many people thought it to be backward and associated it with poverty," said Stowell. A common saying among the old Manx speakers was Cha jean oo cosney ping lesh y Ghailck, meaning 'You will not earn a penny with Manx'. Ned Maddrell was the last native speaker who, unlike others, did not want to see his language disappear. A decade before Ned's death in 1964, Stowell made some recordings of him talking, which can now be heard on YouTube. A new generation According to Cain, more than 1,800 people claim to speak, read and write Manx today, although this may not necessarily illustrate actual fluency. Last December, Harrison visited the Isle of Man to film a documentary about Manx and see for himself how a language, recently declared dead, was brought back to life. "It is extraordinary to think that they have produced a generation of 'new native speakers'," he commented. Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, a primary school that teaches almost entirely in the Manx language, has been key to the revival. Established 14 years ago and located in St Johns, in the centre of the island, it has 70 pupils. Apart from a weekly English class, every lesson is taught in Manx. "Our pupils have helped bring Manx back from the brink," said Headteacher Julie Matthews. Pupils have also started writing to penpals from schools in Glasgow, who can read and write in Scottish Gaelic, a language closely related to Manx. This is not the first time the pupils have used letters to reach out in their language. In response to the 2009 edition of Unesco's Atlas of World Languages in Danger, in which Manx was listed as effectively dead, several children from Bunscoill Ghaelgagh wrote letters asking the organisation: "If our language is extinct then what language are we writing in?" The classification has since been changed to 'critically endangered'. There is evidence that language use is also spreading to an older generation. "More and more parents of pupils are learning Manx because their children can speak it. It's a good idea to know what your children are talking about," Matthews said. The role of technology According to Harrison, embracing technology has been key to the success of today's Manx revival. Cain has pioneered the use of Manx in YouTube videos and podcasts and is a keen Manx tweeter. He has also recently produced a Manx app for smartphones, which has been downloaded by thousands of learners. "My role is outside the education system and we are encouraging more adults to learn the language," says Cain, adding that using new technologies makes learning Manx much more accessible. The language has become present in many aspects of everyday life and culture. "I was really struck by how absolutely devoted and passionate people were about the language," said Harrison. "I saw and heard it used in all kinds of settings – texting, video subtitling, social media – I even saw a Christmas church service in the language." The Manx revival has also been echoed through music and, according to the Manx Music Development Officer Dr Breesha Maddrell, islanders are increasingly choosing to listen to music performed in Manx by bands such as the Barrule Trio. Maddrell herself performs in several Manx bands. "The Manx people have always been natural storytellers and as we don't have strong literature, music has always been a way of communicating our culture and language," she added. Reflecting on his time on the island exploring the language, Harrison said: "The X factor for reviving languages is really pride and love for the language. The revival on the Isle of Man is a clear example of this." While methods of communication have changed in ways that original Manx speakers might never have imagined, this pride has been constant through each step of the revival: from letters, church meetings and old tape recordings to apps and tweets or, to use a recently coined Manx word, tweetal. This article first appeared in The Guardian with the title 'How the Manx Language Came Back from the Dead'. CULTURE: The popular local band Barrule sing in Manx (above); and the natural beauty spot of Niarbyl, meaning 'tail' in Manx (below)