Tadhg Ó hIfearnáin
Sociolinguistic vitality of Manx after extreme language shift: authenticity without traditional native speakers
University of Limerick
abstract article draws sociolinguistic fieldwork among speakers one europes smallest indigenous language communities speaker group persists loss traditional speakers within living memory extreme language shift experienced manx led loss language spoken literary medium due efforts significant numbers language activists enthusiasts several generations loss traditional language community present actions resulted significant linguistic institutionalisation rapidly expanding number speakers various abilities form new speaker community discusses constructions linguistic authenticity alternative models revival speaker showing core groups speakers bestowed authenticity wider nonspeaker population linguists interest language endangerment language death primary concerns article shows speakers appropriate accorded forms authority legitimacy absence traditional native speakers