Charrey Veen,

In March of this year the Manx Heritage Foundation appointed me as its Gaelic Development Officer 'Yn Greinneyder'. My work includes the production of an integrated development programme for the language for Government, business and the Manx public, and working with Government and any interested parties to promote the further use of Manx where ever possible.

I am carrying out a study of Manx Gaelic speakers and learners to gain a better understanding of their needs and aspirations and their role in the revival of Manx Gaelic. A similar study is being carried out for Scottish Gaelic learners, and this questionnaire follows the Scottish one as far as possible. I would be very grateful if you could complete the attached questionnaire and return it to me as soon as possible in the enclosed envelope. The questionnaire should not take too long to complete.

Your responses will greatly help me in my research and will be treated with complete confidence. The questionnaire is anonymous and the information gathered will be used to produce statistical tables from which it will not be possible to identify any individual. As well as contributing to my work the statistics will be of use to Gaelic bodies such as Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, Caarjyn ny Gaelgey, and Mooinjer Veggey in their planning of future policy for the development of Gaelic

If you have any queries about the questionnaire or my work as yn Greinneyder, please do not hesitate to contact me by letter, phone or E-mail at the above address.

Many thanks for your help.

Lhiuish,

Philip Gawne.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHEN THE WORD ‘GAELIC’ IS USED IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IT MEANS SPECIFICALLY MANX GAELIC ONLY!

1. Are you : MALE FEMALE

2. What age are you ? ________________________________________________________

3. Where is your usual place of residence? (Which village/town. Which country if outwith the Isle of Man.)

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Where were you brought up? (Which village/town. Which country if outside the Isle of Man.)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

5. To what level are you qualified?

NO FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS TEACHERS’ CERT/NURSING QUALIFICATION

BASIC VOCATIONAL TRAINING FIRST DEGREE

‘O’ LEVEL/ GCSE/ OR EQUIVALENT POST-GRAD. CERTIFICATE
PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA

‘A’ LEVEL/ OR EQUIVALENT HIGHER DEGREE

ONC/ OND OTHER

HNC/ HND/ DIP HE/ OR EQUIVALENT

If OTHER, please state _______________________________________________________

6. At the moment, which of the following best describes your position as regards work ?

EMPLOYED FULL-TIME IN FULL TIME EDUCATION

EMPLOYED PART-TIME ON A GOVERNMENT TRAINING
OR EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

UNEMPLOYED LOOKING AFTER HOUSE FULL TIME

ARMED FORCES RETIRED

PERMANENTLY SICK OR DISABLED OTHER

If OTHER, please specify

7. If you are presently working, what is your occupation? (Please be as detailed as possible e.g. what is your job title? If you are a civil servant, what grade, if a teacher what sort of school? etc.)

8. If you are currently retired or unemployed, what is your most recent occupation? (Please be as detailed as possible). If you look after the house full-time, what is your partner’s occupation?

9. To which political group, party or parties do you feel closest to?

CURRENT GOVERNMENT GREEN PARTY

APG UK LABOUR

MANX LABOUR UK CONSERVATIVE

MEC VANNIN UK LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

WOULDN’T VOTE OTHER PARTY

DON’T KNOW

If OTHER PARTY, please state _______________________________________________

10. On a left/right political spectrum where would you place yourself? (Please circle one number)

11. If you live in the Isle of Man, which of these identity categories best describes you?

MANX NOT BRITISH

MORE MANX THAN BRITISH

EQUALLY MANX AND BRITISH

MORE BRITISH THAN MANX

BRITISH NOT MANX

OTHER

12 If you live outside of the Isle of Man, what is your nationality?

_________________________________________________________________________

13. How much do you feel yourself to have each of the following identities?
(Please tick one box for each of the suggested identities)

YES, VERY YES, ON THE NO. NOT
MUCH SO WHOLE REALLY
Gael:
Gaelic Speaker:
Islander:
Local identity:
(please specify)
Manx:
British:
European:
Celt:
Other:

If specifying a LOCAL IDENTITY or OTHER, please state: __________________________
14. Do you know or are you learning any languages other than Gaelic and English ?
If so, please state language(s) and whether you are a native speaker or learner.
If a learner, please give some idea of fluency. e.g. Swedish, learner, advanced.
 

15. Apart from Gaelic groups, are you, or have you been a member of any interest or pressure groups (e.g CND, RSPB, gardeners’ club, etc)? Please write down as many as you can remember.
 

16. Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?

YES NO

If NO, please move on to question 17

If YES, which denomination or religious group are you connected with? (Please specify)

Are you a full member? YES NO

Apart from special occasions such as funerals and baptisms, how often do you attend religious services or meetings?

ONCE A WEEK OR MORE

SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH

AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH

SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR

AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR

LESS THAN ONCE A YEAR
 
 

17. Do, or did either of your parents speak Manx Gaelic?

YES NO DON’T KNOW

If YES, which one(s)? _____________________________________________________
 

18. Do, or did either of your grandparents speak Manx Gaelic?

YES NO DON’T KNOW

If YES, which one(s)?(e.g Grandma on father’s side)______________________________________

1. Are you currently learning Manx Gaelic? YES NO

If NO, please indicate which of the following best describes you (please tick one box only)

I made an attempt or attempts at learning Manx but am no longer doing so

I have been learning Manx on and off but am not learning at the moment

I have learnt Manx Gaelic to fluency

Other (Please specify)

2. What level of ability in Gaelic would you say you have at present in terms of speaking, understanding, reading and writing? Please tick the appropriate box for each.

FLUENT ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE BASIC
SPEAKING

UNDERSTANDING

READING

WRITING

3. If you are not already fluent in Manx Gaelic, how fluent do you wish to become?
(Please tick one box only)

I WOULD LIKE ENOUGH GAELIC TO UNDERSTAND SIMPLE SENTENCES/CONVERSATIONS

I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ENOUGH GAELIC TO HELP ME WITH A HOBBY OR INTEREST

I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME FLUENT IN READING AND WRITING GAELIC

I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME FLUENT IN SPEAKING GAELIC

I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME FLUENT IN SPEAKING, READING AND WRITING GAELIC

OTHER (please state)
 

4. Do you expect ever to reach the level of fluency that you have indicated above?

5. Do you have any formal qualifications in Manx Gaelic? e.g. ‘O’ level, fainey (please state which qualification(s) and grade achieved).

6. For how many years, roughly, have you been learning Manx Gaelic?

7. Please rate the importance of the following to your decision to learn Gaelic by ticking the appropriate boxes. (please tick one box for each reason)

REASON VERY QUITE NOT NOT
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT APPLICABLE
AT ALL
(A) I would be able to enjoy Gaelic music better

(B) I would be able to understand Gaelic radio

(C) I would be able to understand Gaelic
literature

(D) I would be helping to keep Gaelic aliv

(E) Adult members of my family can/could
speak Manx Gaelic

(F) Gaelic would be useful for my hobbies or
interests (e.g. place names, music)

(G) Gaelic would be useful in present/future
employment

(H) As someone living in the Isle of Man, I
feel I should speak Manx

(I) As I’m Manx, I feel I should speak Manx

(J) Gaelic would help me get closer to my roots

(K) I did not feel completely Manx without a
knowledge of Manx Gaelic

(L) My children are in Gaelic-medium education

(M) I have Gaelic speaking friends

(N) I am interested in languages

(O) I want to live in the Isle of Man

(P) I want to visit the Isle of Man

(Q) I want to visit Gaelic speaking areas in
Scotland and Ireland

(R) Other reason/s

If you indicated that another reason or reasons were important, please write them here:

If you stated that hobbies or interests were important in your decision to learn Gaelic, please list them here:

8. Which of the reasons (A-R) mentioned in question 7 (above) was the most important to your decision to learn Gaelic? Please write down only one reason.

9. How important on a scale of 0-10 would you say that the following were to your decision to learn Gaelic? (please tick one number for each reason, 0 = not important at all, 10 = very important indeed)
 
 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Patriotic, nationalistic or national identity reasons

Inter-Celtic identity reasons

Cultural reasons (e.g music, literature)

Career or economic reasons

Immediate family reasons

Community reasons

Family background/roots reasons
 

10. What have been your main ways of learning Gaelic? (e.g evening classes, summer courses, distance learning, using a published Gaelic course at home, speaking to native speakers etc.)
 
 
 
 
 
 

11. If you would like to make any comments on why or how you are learning Gaelic or any related matters, please write them here:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1. Do you listen to Manx Radio? YES NO

If YES how often do you listen to or notice Manx Gaelic programmes and features?

Every Week Once a Month Occasionally Never

Claare ny Gael

Traa dy Liooar

Short Manx Lessons/Walks etc

Gaelic phrases (e.g. Shoh Radio
Vannin, Moghrey Mie)
 

2. What other Manx Gaelic programmes would you like to hear?

3. If Border TV or BBC broadcast Manx and/or Scottish Gaelic television programmes would you watch them? (please be as detailed as possible, e.g sometimes, Manx and/or Scottish Gaelic programmes, can’t get Border TV etc.)

4. How often do you read the following? (please tick one box for each publication)
 

Publication Regularly Occasionally Rarely Never

Dhooraght (Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh’s
Gaelic newsletter/magazine)

Bun-Choorse Gaelgagh (weekly
Manx lesson in Manx Independent)

Fockle ayns dty Chleaysh (monthly
bilingual column in IOM Examiner)

Coraa Ghailckagh reprint (monthly
bilingual column in IOM Examiner)

Scottish Gaelic publications

Irish Gaelic publications
 

5. Would you be prepared to pay for a bilingual quarterly learners magazine?

YES NO

6. Which of the following Manx Gaelic related activities do you take part in/attend, or have you taken part in/attended in the past? (please tick one box for each activity)

regularly sometimes seldom never

Yn Chruinnaght

Feailley Ghaelgagh

‘The Guild’

Manx ceili/concert

Gaelic talks/lectures

Gaelic church service

Gaelic meeting

Other Gaelic activity

If OTHER Gaelic activity, please state: __________________________________________
 

7. How often do you do the following? (please tick one box for each activity)

regularly sometimes seldom never

Make an effort to go to Gaelic concerts
or other Gaelic entertainment

Read books in Gaelic

Read internet pages in Gaelic

Read/write e-mails in Gaelic

Write letters in Gaelic

Take part in campaigns for Gaelic
(letter writing, petition signing, etc.)

Speak Gaelic
 
 

8. Are there any Manx Gaelic related services, facilities or activities that do not exist at present that you would like to use or take part in? If so, please describe here:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9. Were you recorded in the last census as being able to speak and/or read and/or write Manx Gaelic?

Yes No Don’t Know Not Applicable

If YES, which of the following were you recorded as being able to do? (please tick as many boxes as apply)

Speak Gaelic Read Gaelic Write Gaelic
 

10. Do you intend to be recorded as being able to speak and/or read and/or write Manx Gaelic at the next census? (please tick one box only)

Yes

Yes, but only if I’m more fluent by then

No

Don’t Know

If YES, which of the following do you intend to be recorded as being able to do? (please tick as many boxes as apply)

Speak Gaelic Read Gaelic Write Gaelic
 
 
 

11. Are you a member of any of the following Gaelic related organisations?

Caarjyn ny Gaelgey 300 club Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh

Mooinjer Veggey Yn Chruinnaght

Celtic League Gaelic Choir

Celtic Congress Local Gaelic Learners Group

Manx Dance Group Other Gaelic related group
 

If you are a member of a Gaelic related organisation or organisations not mentioned above, please name:

12. Out of all the people with whom you use Gaelic, how many would you say are fluent speakers and how many learners? (please tick one box only)

All/almost all are fluent speakers

Most are fluent speakers

Equal number of fluent speakers and learners

Most are learners

All/almost all are learners

1. Do you have any children? Yes No

If so, what are their ages? ________________________________

If you have no children, please move on to question 5

2. If you have any children of pre-school age, are they currently attending, or will they attend Gaelic playgroup at Mooinjer Veggey?

Yes No Don’t Know

If you answered No, please indicate why by ticking one of the following boxes:

I do not want my child(ren) to be educated through the medium of Gaelic

I would have liked a Gaelic medium pre-school education for my child(ren)
but it is not/was not available in my area

I was not aware of the availability of Gaelic medium pre-school education in
my area at the time I decided upon my child’s/children’s pre-school education

I was not interested in Gaelic at the time I decided upon my child’s/children’s
pre-school education

Other (please state)
______________________________________________

If you answered DON”T KNOW, please indicate why by ticking one of the following boxes:

I am unsure whether or not I want my child(ren) to be educated through the medium
of Gaelic

I don’t know if there is a Gaelic playgroup in my area

I have not considered the issue yet

Other (please state)
________________________________________________

3. If you have any children of school age, would you like them to learn Manx Gaelic at school?
Yes No

If YES, please indicate what level of provision by ticking the appropriate boxes below:

Half an hour per week taster course as currently provided

Two hours per week more comprehensive course

Manx Gaelic to be available for a few years in Primary and Secondary schools
depending on the time available to the Manx teachers, as currently provided

Manx Gaelic to be available by right to all Primary and Secondary school children

Half day per week Gaelic-medium education available by right to all Primary children

Full-time Gaelic-medium education available by right to all Primary children
4. If you have any children who have left school, would you have liked them to have had the opportunity to learn (more) Gaelic?
Yes No Not Applicable

If YES, please indicate which of the following levels of provision you would have liked:

Half an hour per week taster course as currently provided

Two hours per week more comprehensive course

Manx Gaelic to be available for a few years in Primary and Secondary schools
depending on the time available to the Manx teachers, as currently provided

Manx Gaelic to be available by right to all Primary and Secondary school children

Half day per week Gaelic-medium education available by right to all Primary children

Full-time Gaelic-medium education available by right to all Primary children
 
 

5. If you do not have children at present, but are likely to at some point in the future, would you like them to be educated through the medium of Gaelic if facilities were available in your area?
Yes No Don’t Know Not Applicable

If you would like to make further comments regarding Gaelic in your family or Gaelic-medium education, please write them here:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6. How many people are there in your household?

7. Can anybody else living in your household speak Gaelic?

Yes No
 

If YES, who? (e.g partner, daughter, mother, father in law)
For each Manx Gaelic speaker, please write L next to their name if they are currently learning and F if they are a fluent speaker (e.g partner L, brother F).
 
 

1. I would like to know if you agree or disagree with the following statements about Manx Gaelic: (please tick one box for each statement)

agree agree neither disagree disagree
strongly agree nor strongly
disagree
1. To keep its true identity, the Isle of Man
needs its Manx Gaelic speakers

2. Manx Gaelic should be one of the
languages officially used by Tynwald

3. Manx Gaelic is one of the Isle of Man’s
national languages

4. Too much money is spent on Manx
Gaelic

5. In order to work in the public sector,
one should know some words and phrases
in Manx Gaelic

6. Manx Gaelic is only important at a
personal level

7. To really understand Manx culture, you
must know Manx Gaelic

8. Manx Gaelic should be given official
status

9. Manx Gaelic does not need any special
encouragement

10. In a globalising world, Manx Gaelic
helps to give me a sense cultural continuity

11. Official bodies should do more to
encourage Manx Gaelic in public affairs

12. Manx Gaelic is important for the
Isle of Man as a whole

13. Languages are more than a means of
communication

14. People should be allowed to use Manx
Gaelic in courts of law

15. On the whole fluent Manx speakers do
not want other people to learn Manx Gaelic

16. There are great differences between the
Gaelic languages

(QUESTION 1 CONTINUED) agree agree neither disagree disagree
strongly agree nor strongly
disagree
17. Companies should be offered tax
breaks in order to offer bilingual services

18. Manx Gaelic is only important to
native Manx people

19. Spoken and written Manx needs to be
standardised with less local variation

20. Manx Gaelic is the national language
of the Isle of Man

21. Government should be legally obliged
to provide Gaelic medium education where
demand exists

22. Gaelic learners should learn a
standardised variety of Manx Gaelic

23. It is artificial to learn Manx Gaelic

24. Learning Manx is a hobby for me

25. Bilingual signs are a waste of money

26. Knowledge of Gaelic will be good
for children’s job prospects

27. Manx Gaelic can only be saved if Gaelic
speaking communities are established

28. Manx Gaelic is a dying language

29. Manx Gaelic should not be encouraged
in the Isle of Man

30. Learners should be aware of the other
Gaelic languages

31. All children in Mann should be able to
learn Gaelic if they or their parents wish

32. In an impersonal world, Gaelic helps to
give me a sense of community

2. Do you think that Gaelic is a difficult language to learn? Yes No Don’t Know
If YES, why did/do you find Gaelic difficult? (please tick as many boxes as apply)

a) I feel that Manx is a difficult language to learn because of word order, spelling and/or pronunciation
b) There are no circumstances in which I have to use Manx Gaelic and cannot use English
c) Learning materials, facilities and support for Gaelic are poorer than for most languages
d) I find it difficult to learn languages
e) Other (please state) ______________________________________________

I would be grateful for any additional comments which you might want to make on any of the matters raised in this questionnaire: (e.g. about learning Manx Gaelic, the current state of and future prospects for the language, the way forward for Gaelic etc. Please continue overleaf if necessary.)