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John Kneen
John Joseph Kneen (12 September 1873 – 21 November 1938) was a Manx linguist and scholar renowned for his seminal works on Manx grammar and on the place names and personal names of the Isle of Man. He is also a significant Manx dialect playwright and translator of Manx poetry. He is commonly best known for his translation of the Manx National Anthem into Manx.
Kneen was born on 12 September 1873, in Hanover Street, Douglas, Isle of Man. He was the son of John Kneen, a postman originally from Kirk Andreas, and Hannah Crebbin, of the Santon family of Ballakelly. He was educated at St. George's School, Douglas, where he developed an early interest in the study of Manx Gaelic. He was encouraged in this interest by his parents, who were able to pass on to him a good deal of traditional knowledge.
By the age of 22, whilst working as a sugar boiler (sweet manufacturer), a profession that he would hold throughout his life, Kneen was beginning to publish interlinear literal translations of Manx, and then Manx lessons, in the Isle of Man Examiner newspaper. By 1895, two years since the start of the articles, Kneen's work came to the attention of A. W. Moore, Speaker of the House of Keys and Manx historian. Their conversations developed into the movement that resulted in 1899 in the formation of Yn Çheshaght Gailckagh (The Manx Language Society). From its inception the Society became a focal point for the Manx cultural revival, attracting the likes of Sophia Morrison, William Cubbon, P. W. Caine, W. H. Gill, Christopher R. Shimmin and W. W. Gill. Kneen was later to become the Society's Secretary and President.
By 1910 Kneen had completed A Grammar of the Manx Language, the work that was to later be called his "great work." However he did not have the means of publishing it, there not being sufficient public interest in a work of that type at that time. Kneen therefore deposited the manuscript of the book in the Manx Museum library. The importance of the work then came to the attention of the Trustees of the Museum, who petitioned Tynwald for £250 to pay for its publication. This was achieved and it was finally published in 1931.
Kneen also wrote numerous booklets and lessons to learn Manx. Not least amongst these was Yn Saase Jeeragh (The Direct Method). He also helped the work of others in the promotion of Manx, such as advising on and sub-editing the compilation of Mona Douglas' A Manx Primer published in 1935. He also took a leading part in the production of a new and improved edition of Archibald Cregeen's 1838 A Dictionary of the Manks Language.
Kneen became the official translator of the Acts of Tynwald into Manx in 1938. He held this position with Mark Braide, after the death of the High Bailiff, H. Percy Kelly.
As well as being the leading authority on Manx Gaelic, Kneen also taught himself Irish, Primitive Irish, Norwegian and Old Norse.
During World War I Kneen began to work on the history, origins and meanings of the place-names of the Isle of Man, investigating in the area first addressed by A. W. Moore in his 1890 The Surnames and Place Names of the Isle of Man. By 1923 Kneen had completed his work as The Place Names of the Isle of Man, with Their Origin and History. It was printed in a series of six instalments, each covering one Sheading of the island, between 1925 and 1928 by Yn Çheshaght Gailckagh. William Cubbon was later to write of this work that:
John Kneen
John Joseph Kneen (12 September 1873 – 21 November 1938) was a Manx linguist and scholar renowned for his seminal works on Manx grammar and on the place names and personal names of the Isle of Man. He is also a significant Manx dialect playwright and translator of Manx poetry. He is commonly best known for his translation of the Manx National Anthem into Manx.
Kneen was born on 12 September 1873, in Hanover Street, Douglas, Isle of Man. He was the son of John Kneen, a postman originally from Kirk Andreas, and Hannah Crebbin, of the Santon family of Ballakelly. He was educated at St. George's School, Douglas, where he developed an early interest in the study of Manx Gaelic. He was encouraged in this interest by his parents, who were able to pass on to him a good deal of traditional knowledge.
By the age of 22, whilst working as a sugar boiler (sweet manufacturer), a profession that he would hold throughout his life, Kneen was beginning to publish interlinear literal translations of Manx, and then Manx lessons, in the Isle of Man Examiner newspaper. By 1895, two years since the start of the articles, Kneen's work came to the attention of A. W. Moore, Speaker of the House of Keys and Manx historian. Their conversations developed into the movement that resulted in 1899 in the formation of Yn Çheshaght Gailckagh (The Manx Language Society). From its inception the Society became a focal point for the Manx cultural revival, attracting the likes of Sophia Morrison, William Cubbon, P. W. Caine, W. H. Gill, Christopher R. Shimmin and W. W. Gill. Kneen was later to become the Society's Secretary and President.
By 1910 Kneen had completed A Grammar of the Manx Language, the work that was to later be called his "great work." However he did not have the means of publishing it, there not being sufficient public interest in a work of that type at that time. Kneen therefore deposited the manuscript of the book in the Manx Museum library. The importance of the work then came to the attention of the Trustees of the Museum, who petitioned Tynwald for £250 to pay for its publication. This was achieved and it was finally published in 1931.
Kneen also wrote numerous booklets and lessons to learn Manx. Not least amongst these was Yn Saase Jeeragh (The Direct Method). He also helped the work of others in the promotion of Manx, such as advising on and sub-editing the compilation of Mona Douglas' A Manx Primer published in 1935. He also took a leading part in the production of a new and improved edition of Archibald Cregeen's 1838 A Dictionary of the Manks Language.
Kneen became the official translator of the Acts of Tynwald into Manx in 1938. He held this position with Mark Braide, after the death of the High Bailiff, H. Percy Kelly.
As well as being the leading authority on Manx Gaelic, Kneen also taught himself Irish, Primitive Irish, Norwegian and Old Norse.
During World War I Kneen began to work on the history, origins and meanings of the place-names of the Isle of Man, investigating in the area first addressed by A. W. Moore in his 1890 The Surnames and Place Names of the Isle of Man. By 1923 Kneen had completed his work as The Place Names of the Isle of Man, with Their Origin and History. It was printed in a series of six instalments, each covering one Sheading of the island, between 1925 and 1928 by Yn Çheshaght Gailckagh. William Cubbon was later to write of this work that: