Describes Prof. Dr. Carl Marstrander's visit to the Isle of Man to record native Manx speech as well as place-names, including those of Scandinavian origin.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. PROF. CARL J. S. MARSTRANDER; UNIVERSITY OF OSLO; NORWAY (1929-33)
2.1. Marstrander's 1929 visit to Man (12 June - 9 September)
2.1.1a. Kewaigue (15.06.1929 Dagbok 9)
2.1.1b. Baconsfield (15.06.1929 Dagbok 9-10)
2.1.1c. Castletown and environs (15.06.1929 Dagbok 10-11)
2.1.1d. Derbyhaven (16.06.1929 Dagbok 11-13)
2.1.1e. To the Grenaby turn-off (16.06.1929 Dagbok 13-15)
2.1.2. William Kennah, Balladuggan ML (16.06.1929 Dagbok 15)
2.1.3. Thomas Taggart, Grenaby ML (16.06.1929 Dagbok 16)
2.1.4. Mr. Karran I (69), Mr. Karran II (55), The Howe RU (17.06.1929 Dagbok 17-18)
2.1.5. Harry Kelly, Cregneash RU (17.06.1929 Dagbok 18)
2.1.6. [William] Watterson, Glenchass RU (17.06.1929 Dagbok 20-22)
2.1.7. Joseph Woodworth, Port Erin RU (17.06.1929 Dagbok 23)
2.1.8a. From Barrule Farm ML to Peel GE (17.06.1929 Dagbok 25-27)
2.1.8b. Kirk Michael MI (18.06.1929 Dagbok 27)
2.1.9. William Quane, Peel GE (18.06.1929 Dagbok 27-28, 31-32)
2.1.10. Caesar Cashen, Peel GE (18.06.1929 Dagbok 32-35)
2.1.11. Mrs. Corkill, Peel GE (18.06.1929 Dagbok 34)
2.1.11a. Kirk Michael MI (19.06.1929 Dagbok 35)
2.1.12. John Kissack, Ballachrink MI (19.06.1929 Dagbok 37 top)
2.1.13/14. William Corlett & Mrs. Collister, Kirk Michael MI (19.06.1929 Dagbok 35-36)
2.1.15. Mr. [John] Gawne, West Nappin JU (20.06.1929 Dagbok 36-37)
2.1.16. Wilfred Wade, Sandygate JU (20.06.1929 Dagbok 38-39)
2.1.17. John Cain, Ballamoar JU (20.06.1929 Dagbok 40)
2.1.18. Mr. [Robert] Fayle, Stauard, Sulby LE (20.06.1929 Dagbok 40-41)
2.1.19. Mr. [Thomas Edward] Faragher, Sulby Glen LE (21.06.1929 Dagbok 41-42)
2.1.20. Mr. [Thos] Cowley, Creggan, Tholt y Will, Sulby Glen LE (21.06.1929 Dagbok 42; 44-45)
2.1.21. John Christian, Sulby Glen LE (21.06.1929 Dagbok 44-46)
2.1.22. John Killip, Sulby Glen LE (21.06.1929 Dagbok 46)
2.1.23a. Andreas village AN (21.06.1929 Dagbok 47)
2.1.24. Thomas Christian, College Street, Ramsey MA (21.06.1929 Dagbok 47-54)
2.1.25. Mr. Mylechreest, Ballaskeig Beg MA (22.06.1929 Dagbok 48-51)
2.1.26. Robert Joughin, Dhoon Church MA (22.06.1929 Dagbok 51)
2.1.27. James Kewley, south of Laxey LO (22.06.1929 Dagbok 51-52)
2.1.28. John Joseph Corrin, Ballachurry JU (of Ballaugh) (01.07.1929 Dagbok 55-56)
2.1.29. John Sayle, Ballathona AN (01.07.1929 Dagbok 56-57)
2.1.30. Mr. [John] Kneen, Lhen AN (01.07.1929 Dagbok 57)
2.1.31. Mrs. [Catherine] Killip, Lhen AN (01.07.1929 Dagbok 57)
2.1.32. Mr. J. Kelly, Laxey LO (11.07.1929 Dagbok 62)
2.1.33. Edmund Maddrell, 36 Athol Park, Port Erin RU (15.07.1929 Dagbok 63)
2.1.X. Marstrander's final report of his 1929 visit (08.09.1929 Dagbok 63-65)
2.2. Marstrander's 1930 visit to Man (early August - 27 September)
2.2.1. Thomas Taggart, Grenaby ML (27.08.1930 Dagbok 67-68; 70-71)
2.2.2. Edward Kennah, Ballaclery AR (28.08.1930 Dagbok 68)
2.2.3. Joseph Woodworth, Port Erin RU (28.08.1930 Dagbok 68)
2.2.4. Harry Kelly, Cregneash RU (29.08.1930 Dagbok 71-73)
2.2.5. Thomas Crebbin, Bradda Village RU (01.09.1930 Dagbok 73-74)
2.2.6. T[homas] Maddrell, Glenchass RU (20.09.1930 Dagbok 75-76)
2.2.7. T[homas] Crebbin, Four Roads, Port Erin RU (20.09.1930 Dagbok 76)
2.2.8. William Quane, Peel GE (24/25.09.1930 Dagbok 77)
2.2.X. Marstrander's final report for 1930 (Dagbok 74-77)
2.3. Marstrander's 1933 visit to Man (16 January - 6 February). Sound-recordings
2.3.1. Harry Kelly, Cregneash RU (24/25-30.01.1933 Dagbok 81-83)
2.3.2. William Quane, St. German's Place, Peel GE (28.01.1933 Dagbok 83-84)
2.3.3. Mr. [Robert] Fayle, Stauard, Sulby LE (03.02.1933 Dagbok 84)
2.3.4. John Cain, Jurby JU (04.02.1933 Dagbok 84-85)
2.3.X. Marstrander's final report for 1933 (05.02.1933 Dagbok 84)
2.4. Additional commentary
3. MARSTRANDER AND POLITICS
4. NAZI ACADEMIC INTEREST IN MATTERS MANX
5. CONCLUSION
6a. MANX PARISH ABBREVIATIONS
6b. OTHER ABBREVIATIONS
Research Objectives and Topics
The work documents the linguistic field research of Professor Carl Marstrander on the Isle of Man between 1929 and 1933, focusing on his interaction with native Manx speakers to preserve the dying language. It explores the methodology of his visits, the archival significance of his recordings, and the historical context of his academic activities, including the problematic influence of contemporary political ideologies on his research.
- Documentation of linguistic field research in the Isle of Man.
- Analysis of Marstrander's interaction with the last generation of native speakers.
- Evaluation of phonetic field notes, diaries, and phonograph cylinder recordings.
- Examination of the academic and political milieu affecting Celtic studies in the 1930s.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Marstrander's 1929 visit to Man (12 June - 9 September)
First visit:
The first part of this 1929 visit was spent in finding a suitable informant to learn Manx from and, as already noted, Marstrander found him in Thomas Christian (1850/51-1930), Ramsey. The main part was henceforth devoted to collecting material of the northern Manx dialect, since he had ascertained that there were dialect differences between northern and southern Manx.
2.1.1a. Kewaigue (15.06.1929 Dagbok 9)
My first victim was a 60-year old man from the farm Kewaigue, 1-2km from Douglas. The old people in those parts didn't speak Manx any longer, he said. His old parents spoke a little Manx, but they preferred English, and refused to have their children speak Manx. His grandparents, however, spoke mainly Manx and spoke English with an accent.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of Marstrander's phonograph cylinder recordings and the discovery of his extensive field notes within the Isle of Man archives.
2. PROF. CARL J. S. MARSTRANDER; UNIVERSITY OF OSLO; NORWAY (1929-33): A detailed chronological documentation of Marstrander's three field trips to the Isle of Man, including his interactions with numerous native informants.
3. MARSTRANDER AND POLITICS: This chapter discusses the personal and academic political leanings of Marstrander, particularly his involvement in the broader context of Germanic studies at the time.
4. NAZI ACADEMIC INTEREST IN MATTERS MANX: An examination of how the German political climate of the 1930s, specifically Nazi organizations, attempted to exert influence on Celtic research and scholarship.
5. CONCLUSION: The author summarizes Marstrander's final findings and the long-term historical and linguistic significance of the materials collected during his visits.
Keywords
Carl Marstrander, Manx language, Linguistic fieldwork, Isle of Man, Phonograph cylinders, Thomas Christian, Celtic studies, Language preservation, Dialectology, 1930s, Historical linguistics, Field notes, Oral tradition, Germanic studies, Gaelic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this publication?
The publication focuses on the linguistic field research conducted by Professor Carl Marstrander on the Isle of Man between 1929 and 1933, aimed at documenting the declining Manx language through the last remaining native speakers.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include linguistic documentation methods, the social history of Manx speakers, the technical challenges of archival audio preservation, and the intersection of academic research with 20th-century political ideology.
What is the research goal of this document?
The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive record of Marstrander's investigative process, his informants, and the surviving phonetic and audio materials that constitute a critical resource for Manx linguistic studies.
What scientific methods were applied by the author?
The author employs a historical-documentary approach, utilizing primary source materials such as Marstrander’s personal diaries (Dagbok), field notes, and preserved phonograph cylinder recordings to reconstruct his research activities.
What does the main body cover?
The main body details the chronological progression of Marstrander's visits, providing biographical information on the native speakers he consulted, technical notes on his recordings, and insights into the administrative and political pressures that shaped the era of Celtic research.
How would you characterize this work through keywords?
Key terms include Manx language, linguistic fieldwork, Carl Marstrander, dialectology, 20th-century Celtic studies, and audio preservation.
How do the 1929, 1930, and 1933 visits differ?
The 1929 visit focused on initial contact and dialect mapping across the island, 1930 emphasized southern dialect research, and the 1933 visit was exclusively dedicated to acquiring sound-recordings using phonograph technology.
What is the significance of the "Dagbok" in this context?
The "Dagbok" (diary) serves as the primary archival narrative that enables the author to track Marstrander's movements, his specific encounters with informants, and the challenges he faced throughout his field studies.
How did political ideologies affect Marstrander's work?
The text explains how the academic atmosphere of the 1930s, particularly the interest of Nazi-associated institutions in Celtic studies, introduced political nuances into Marstrander’s scholarly activities and his interpretation of the "Nordic" background of Manx culture.
- Quote paper
- George Broderick (Author), 2018, Marstrander's Diary Notes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1608622
