Today, I got to go into Douglas for the first time.Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man, and the home of Tynwald, the oldest still-functioning-parliament on Earth.
This is the more modern Tynwald house, but the ancient Mound of Tynwald is still around.
(From the Isle of Man’s site… I have yet to visit myself!)
This is quite a site to behold, apparently… There’s a whole ceremony where a soldier comes forth with the Sword of State and sticks it in the ground, and the members of Tynwald take their places on the Mound and read the new laws outloud. Interestingly enough, written laws are rather new here. For the last thousand or so years, laws would be read on the Mound, and everyone from the Island would come up to the top of the hill to hear the new laws. This still happens on Tynwald day (July 5th, I just missed it), and the event ends in partying for the rest of the day. All the shops and businesses close so everyone can make their way up and take part in the festivities.
Anyway, let me fill you in on my own work here with yesterday’s entry from my journal (pictured two posts prior):
July 9th, 2008 - Viking Pub, Castletown.
I met with Jenny from the Centre today. She told me to meet Adrian Cain [NB: I bold in Albert’s Pub in Port St. Mary at 7.30. He’s meeting with a few Manx speakers, and she said that I’ll be able to get a few leads from him.
I picked up a few Manx grammars and dictionaries in Douglas, and looked around the Centre’s library. Douglas is surprisingly lively, and I hope I’ll find ways to go back there often. Castletown is sleepy, and there isn’t much to do except to go to the town center and haggle or to go outside and feed the sheep.
Jenny also told me to visit Claire, an archaeologist at the excavation site and Rushen Abby. I might be able to help her out with translating artifacts, according to Jenny.
And now, a curious diversion:
Here in the Viking pub, there’s a clock on the wall that I was positive was broken.
[Forgive my terrible MS paint drawings]
The time was 7:50, so the clock was clearly off. Upon closer inspection, however, I noticed that I had overlooked an important detail:
Note the numbers. Yes, it’s a clock that runs counter-clockwise. I’ve seen lots of clocks here, and this is the first I’ve seen that’s run counter-clockwise. So, it’s a puzzle! Examine my crude layout of the pub, and see if you can figure it out.
Think about it! Don’t read ahead until you’ve got it, or until you’re stumped.
The clock faces the mirror, so the bartenders can see the correct time as it’s reflected.
Yes, they could have just put a clock on the wall where the mirror is. But, human ingenuity always gets bonus points in my book, and I’m quite impressed.
Albert’s Pub, Port St. Mary
I just got through with my meeting. Adrian gave me a few leads: a small elementary school that teaches in Manx (I’ll be emailing them to see if I can sit through a day and interview a few teachers and kids), a man at the local radio station (one of three radio stations on the island), and the following names: Brian Stowell, Joan Caine, Julie Matthews, Rosemary Derbyshire, and Annie Kissack. Leads go to more leads, and now I have a list of interviewees!
Furthermore, one of Adrian’s friends is the great-grandson of the last natural Manx speaker before the recent reconstruction of the language. He said I may get the chance to interview his mother (who’s turning 89 soon), as she’s the closest living relative to classic Manx.
Also, there’s going to be a traditional Manx festival going on next week! I’ll get to help out there and take part in some of the more traditional Manx festivities.
That’s all from here. Everyday seems to be an adventure, and I’m sure I’ll be updating quite soon.
