Max Quayle, better known online as MQTate, has made waves far beyond his home village of Crosby. The 27-year-old theoretical chemistry PhD student, who splits his time between his studies in Cardiff and his passion for creating educational YouTube content, has found recent success with a viral video on a topic close to his Manx heart: the Manx language. His video, exploring the quirks and charms of the island’s native tongue, has garnered more than 100,000 views, making it one of his most popular uploads.
Max, who started learning Manx just for fun, has become an unexpected ambassador for the language, which currently boasts fewer than 3,000 speakers worldwide. His decision to share his language-learning journey wasn’t entirely planned, but has resonated with a growing audience fascinated by niche languages and their preservation. ‘I've been studying Manx for like a year or two now’, Max explained in a recent interview with Media Isle of Man.
‘I think, especially among people our age, there's almost a bit of embarrassment around engaging with a language like Manx, because it’s so niche. ‘I remember at school, when you could choose between French, German, and Manx, people would say things like, “Why would you bother learning Manx? You’re not going to use it.” That attitude always stuck with me.
’ Max’s experience isn't unique. Many island residents have felt that pressure to prioritise more ‘useful’ languages like French or Spanish over their own Cel.
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