Defunctae linguae Manniae Specimina Quae Collegit Carolus Marstrander: unbound looseleaf resources which were to form volume five of a five volume series

Date(s): 1929-1933

Creator(s): Marstrander, Carl Johan Sverdrup

Scope & Content: Contents include the diary of Professor Marstrander's visit to Isle of Man. 1929, 1930, 1933; sundry letters, notebooks etc and photographic negatives of Manx scenes and Gaelic speakers (see volume one for prints); also original manuscripts of four sermons in Manx Gaelic by Manx clergymen, 1751-1801 and A.T. Boedtker, Engelsk Lydlaere Utarbeidet til bruk for de Studerende, Oslo, 1929.
The diary refers to Professor Marstrander's visits to the Isle of Man: first visit 04 June to July 1929, second visit August and September 1930, third visit to record on the wax cylinder phonographs 29 January to 05 February 1933. On Marstrander's way to his first visit to the Island he visited Robin Flower (Bláithín) and met up with J.G. O' Keeffe in London. Marstrander arrived on the Island on the 12 June 1929 and stayed initially in Douglas, where he met up with P.M.C. Kermode, William Cubbon and J.J. Kneen at the Manx Museum, later visiting Braddan church with Kneen to look at the crosses. Kneen talked about the condition under which scholarly works were done on the Island. Marstrander was given the impression that 'the English Government couldn't care less'. Marstrander describes his bicycle tour of the Island over several days to seek Manx speakers he met or tried to including: Thomas Taggart and William Preston at Grenaby, William Kneen at Croit-E-Caley, Thomas Leece at Kerroomoar, Karrans and Harry Kelly at Cregneash, Mr. Watterson of Glen Chiass, Joseph Woodworth and Edmond Maddrell in Port Erin, Thomas Crebbin of Bradda Village, William Keggin near Barrule farm, William Quane and Ceasar Cashin of Peel, Daniel Cain of Little London, William Caley of Sulby, Mr. Gawne of West Nappin, Wilfred Wade of Sandygate, John Joseph Corrin of Jurby, John Sayle of Ballalona, Mr.Kneen of The Lhen, Mrs Craine of Cooilbane, Ballaugh, Thomas Christian of Ramsey and Tom Looney of Maughold. Whilst touring the Island he stayed at various hotels including The British, The Union, Falcon's Nest, The Marine, The Mitre, Kirk Michael and visited many Manx crosses and historic sites He comments on translations of some of the runes on the crosses. On his second visit in August to September 1930 there is limited detail. He visited Edward Kennaa of Ballacleary and was back in Norway by the end of September. Marstrander's third visit in late January and early February 1933 was to conduct phonographic recordings. He writes of problems with the temperature for recording on the wax cylinders and clarity of pitch. He recorded Quane and Cashin in Peel, Mr. Fayle in Sulby, John Cain in Jurby and made recordings in the South at The Station Hotel.

Administration / Biographical History: Carl Marstrander (1883-1965) was a Norwegian linguist known among other things for his work on the Irish and Manx Gaelic languages. Between 1913 and 1954 he was Professor in Celtic Languages at the University of Oslo. During the German occupation of Norway he was jailed several times.

Language: English

Extent: 1 folder

Item name: Manuscript

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FILE

ID number: MS 05358

Retrieval number: MS 05358 B

Record class: Private

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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