Lecture by Brian Stowell, 'Manx with Physics' about Manx Gaelic, 8th Isle of Man Arts Council Lecture 1991
Audio Player:
Date(s): 27 September 1991
Scope & Content: The 8th Isle of Man Arts Council Lecture by physicist Dr Brian Stowell about the Manx language. Introduced to the audience by ‘a Welshman’ who talks about Brian’s career in physics and later work as a linguist translating and recording the Manx language through a variety of publications and broadcasts; also mentions Brian’s recent appointment as the first ‘Manx language officer’ to the Isle of Man Government.
In his lecture Brian talks personally about how the Manx language and physics are related; his time at St Ninian’s High School, Douglas in the 1950s; how in 1953 he became interested in the Manx language due to newspaper article by Doug Faragher; Leslie Quirk Manx classes at Clifton House (near the Manx Museum), other Manx speakers he met and how he learnt spoken Manx; technical and cultural difficulties in recording the elderly, native speakers; features of and reasons for the decline of the Manx language; ‘confidence’ and the Manx in the 1950s including incident of Doug Faragher being told by a Manx person not to read Manx in a church in the Isle of Man; ‘The Language of Paradise’ Manx and English science fiction serial he wrote for an island newspaper; use made of physics; danger with measuring and modelling using example of polluting the Irish Sea; history of quantum physics, including Nazism, Soviet Russia and Japan; view of scientists in the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ culture; Manx language as potential as cultural activity.
Brian takes questions (not possible to hear the questions) at the end of the lecture. Ends with vote of thanks by Bernard Caine in English and Manx.
Administration / Biographical History: Thomas Brian Stowell (1936-2019).
Language: English, Manx Gaelic
Extent: 1 hr. 22 min. 40 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0343
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH