Articles categorised as North East

The North East Dialect

Neil talks about his school days Reproduced with the kind permission of Luath Press http://www.luath.co.uk

North East dialect

The Doric of North-East Scotland is one of the liveliest and most distinctive of of all the many dialects of the mother tongue. From the Don to the Deveron, the old people and many young ones too...

Songs from the North East

Chokit on a tattie - children from Strichen in Buchan enjoying themselves singing a playground rhyme From Scottish Tradition Series Vol 22 - Chokit On A Tattie (Children's Songs & Rhymes)...

Links for North East

The Buchan Heritage Society The Society was founded in March 1984 by our Founder President Mr James M Duncan, in order to keep alive in a fast changing world all the old and true traditions of...

News from the North East

Hotel lands uplifting Doric voice An Aberdeen hotel has secured a local Doric accent for its lift - to make guests feel more welcome.

Robbie Sheppards Podcast

Listen to well known north east broadcaster and journalist, Robbie Sheppard, whose podcast is published every week on www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk.

Luath Scots Language Learner

Helen waukens quicker Reproduced with the kind permission of Luath Press

Sheena Blackhall

Sheena Blackhall reads from Minnie, her novella about north east farm life between the wars. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Scots Language Centre

More songs from the North East

The lang snout piece - this farm girl would like a child but can't find a man. Reproduced with the kind permission of the School of Scottish Studies

Ruth from Portessie

Ruth is from Portessie, near Buckie on the north east coast. She was a fish gutter in her teens, traveling all over the UK during the herring boom for work. She has a wealth of stories to tell...

As I came ower the Muir o` Ord

From the Bothy Ballards published by Greentrax Recordings http://www.greentrax.com/

Scottish Parliament motion on north east Scots from Maureen Watt MSP

Scots Pairlament motion on nor-east Scots fae Maureen Watt MSP The follaein Motion wis pitten afore the Scots pairlament, written in baith Scots an English, bi Maureen Watt MSP an wis reportit tae...

Doric Cabaret Evening

As pairt o the city o Aiberdeen’s St Andra’s Weekend, the Associe o Grampian Storytellers is haein a Doric Cabaret Eening on Seturday 1 December at Union Terrace Gairdens, Aiberdeen, fae 7.30pm...

Banffshire Field Club

The Banffshire Field Club will be host tae J Derrick McClure on Seturday 8 December at the Community Centre, Banff Road, Keith, stertin at 2.15pm. Mr McClure will be speakin aboot the follaein...

Scots, Language of Kings

Dr Caroline Macafee will be giein a paper cryed ‘Scots, Language of Kings’ as ane o the public lectures at the Elphinstone Institute, the Versity o Aiberdeen. Mair parteeclars can be fund in the...

The Bonnie Lass o Fyvie

A favourite from the North East, this is another of those love songs with a tragic ending. Performed by the Joe Gordon Folk Four, this video is from the old BBC TV programme, The White Heather Club.

New North East audio archive

A great new audio archive, compiled by The Formartine Oral History Project, is to be launched at a meeting in Fyvie castle, Aberdeenshire, on Saturday 19 April 2008. The audio archive comprises...

Storytelling Warkshop

Weel-kent poyet an screivar Sheena Blackhall is tae haud a storytelling warkshop for fowk in North East Scots, hostit bi the Grampian Associe o Storytellers. Sheena will mak uiss o sangs, poyems...

Nicht o Tradeetional Sangs

The Aiberdeen & Regional Oral History Associe is tae haud a tradeetional concert pairty on the nicht o Seturday 26 Aprile at the village haw, Logie Coldstone, by Tarland in Deeside, stertin aff at...

Entries invited for Doric Competition

Entries are now invited as part of the Doric Festival writing competition. Competitors must either write a poem, short story or one-act play to be submitted by the deadline of 19 September 2008....

About Aberdeen

A website dedicated to Aberdeen has included a small but useful introduction to North East Scots – known as ‘e Doric to its speakers – and also to the first ‘Doric’ film to be made as well. In...

Scots wedding for Colin and Fiona

Scots language activist, Colin Wilson, married Fiona Henderson at a civil wedding on Saturday held entirely in the North East dialect of Scots. To read more about the ceremony and to see a...

Joyce Falconer is Centre's Scots voice

In the next few weeks visitors to the Scots Language Centre will be able to listen to, as well as read, the Scots words which are described in the Scots Word of the Week feature on the Centre's...

Launch of Doric Book

Aberdeen City Council's 'Reading Bus' will be launching a new book of poems in North East Scots - the Doric - at a day event at Fyvie Castle. The book, entitled 'Fit Like, Yer Majesty?' contains...

First Doric feature film on youtube

Mark Stirton, the Aberdeen based producer of "One Day Removals", the first full length feature film in Doric, the North east dialect of Scots, has posted a trailer for the film on youtube. The...

MSP Writes on Wedding Row

Dr Bill Wilson, SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, has written to Linda Fabiani, the Scottish Government Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, asking her to inform all Scotland’s...

Help with encouraging Scots use in the primary classroom.

In 2001 former teacher and lecturer Aileen McEwen wrote about the benefits of using Scots in the classroom, and the wider impact of having two languages. Her article was aimed at probationer...

David Ogston

On a cauld Januar mornin in 1980, a wee curn o fowk frae St. John’s Kirk set oot for Balerno in sairch o a new meinister. As we herkent til a delichtfu an eimaginative sermon, we war awaur that...

David

For the Rev David Ogston, 1947-2008 Bard an meenister in ane Straicht the furra that he trod May his ghaistly fitsteps climm Jacob’s laidder, tae his God. Douce, he wis, a...

David Ogston's Church Wedding service in Scots

David Ogston's Scots language wedding service isn't as well known as perhpas it should be. You can see it at the following web site.http://www.monikie.org.uk/wedd-old.htm

Download 'The Brus' free

John Barbour's epic Scots poem, The Brus, is available as a free download on the web site of Aberdeen based cultural magazine, Leopard. The free download is accompanied by a short article on the...

Prize honours North East writer

A prize of £500 is to be awarded to the winner of a short story competition set up to commemorate the work of the North-East writer David Toulmin and to encourage further creative activity. A...

MSP Spreads Scots from Aberdeen to Argentina!

Dr Bill Wilson, SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, shared his love of the Scots language with primary school pupils aboard The Reading Bus on Friday 16th January. Dr. Wilson read two Scots poems...

EXCLUSIVE – Scots language wedding on film

When they decided to get married, Colin Wilson and Fiona Henderson wanted to have their civil wedding ceremony conducted in Scots, their native language. They asked the registrars in Aberdeen,...

Bannock n a round, flat, thickish cake often baked on a girdle

Bannock appears in Old English as bannuc and traces its origins back to the Latin panis or panicium meaning bread. They have been staples of both diet and language. They are usually made of...

Launch of 'Nae Bad Ava!'

The 2009 Word Festival will take place at King's College Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen, and has as its theme the heritage of North East Scotland. The book 'Nae Bad Ava!' will also be...

Launch of 'Nae Bad Ava!'

The Reading Bus, in conjunction with Aberdeenshire Council and Talisman Energy, has produced another anthology of poems in North East Scots, entitled ‘Nae Bad Ava!’. This comes a year on from the...

Organisations join to remember David Toulmin

The Scots Language Centre has joined forces with Leopard magazine and the Elphinstone Institute to promote the David Toulmin writing prize. The prize was established two years ago and celebrates...

Nae Mince in Moray goes viral

Nae Mince in Moray, the Doric rap that has featured as the Scots Language Centre’s youtube video selection over the past few weeks, has notched up thousands of new hits since it appeared on the...

Flittin, Nae Mince etc.

Weil, I'm back on bloggin efter a wee whilie awa. Jist flittit twa week syne, sae aye trying tae redd out a nummer o fankles that's no richt just yet. It's guid tae see thon veidio "Nae...

Joyce Falconer talks about return to River City

Scots speaking actor, Joyce Falconer, has been back in BBC Scotland’s soap, River City, for the funeral of her small screen sister, Shona. In this interview for STV, Joyce talks about the...

Stanley Robertson

Stanley Roberston (1940-2009) was well known as one of the country’s most accomplished storytellers. He was a singer, a writer and a campaigner for the traveller community. Stanley’s life and...

Minnie Episode 1

Sheena Blackhalls novella, Minnie, tells the story of a young girl growing up in a North East farming community between the wars. Minnie experiences and overcomes many personal challenges.

Starting Thursday – Sheena Blackhall reads Minnie on SLC site

From September the Scots Language Centre will be delivering more audio and video based features to its ever growing online audience. Sheena Blackhall’s novella, Minnie, will be podcast on the...

EXCLUSIVE - ChielMeister talks to SLC

Nae Mince in Moray has been this year’s surprise Scots language hit on youtube. Writer and singer, The Chielmesiter, talks exclusively to the Scots Language Centre about mince, rowies, French...

Scots Language podcast

Sheena Blackhall’s novella, Gods of Grayfriars Lane will be podcast on the Scots Language Centre’s website from September 2010 to June 2011. It is also available on iTunes. Set in a provincial...

David Toulmin - A Chiel Amang Them

Author and farm labourer, David Toulmin began his life as John Reid. Hugely popular in North East Scotland in the sixties and seventies his books frequently sold out in the region and borrowing...

Sae Mony Summers

The winning short story in the 2009 Toulmin writing competition Sae Mony Summers was written by former teacher Eleanor Fordyce. Born in Aberdeenshire and now living in Angus, Fordyce enjoyed using...

David Toulmin Talking

Noted expert on Scottish literature, Professor Isobel Murray of Aberdeen University, carried out the following interview with David Toulmin for her Scottish Writers Talking series of books. In...

Minnie Episode 3

Minnie is helping with the harvest. It's hot and she takes her lunch on the hillside overlooking the area she grew up in. She sees her cousin coming up to join her. The next episode will be...

Moray author launches census petition

A Moray author is campaigning for the Scots language to be given equal status with Gaelic by having it included in the 2011 national census, reports the Press and Journal. Marguerite...

Minnie Episode 6

The teacher continues the poetry lesson. Isie and Minnie's brother will carry on with education in the town after finishing at the village school, but Minnie knows that she won't. Minnie begins to...

Mither tongue in fine fettle, say Doric fans

Doric Festival report from the Press and Journal. www.pressandjournal.co.uk

Minnie Episode 7

Dandy shows the girls the ferrets and explains how he works with them, helping the animals follow the scent of the prey. Minnie begins to worry that she herself smells bad. She leaves Isie and...

Doric Sampler

The 16th Doric Sampler from the Monymusk Arts Trust will be at 7pm. For more information enquire with The Arts Trust at www.artstrust.org

Minnie Episode 10

It's November, frosty and the fields have been ploughed. Isie is moving away so is staying with Minnie while her parents prepare for the house move.

Minnie Episode 11

The girls head for bed. Isie tells Minnie about a secret ceremony taking place that night. Several local boys will be initiated into the Brotherhood of Horsemen.

Minnie Episode 12

In the middle of the night Minnie and Isie head out to hide in the barn where they'll be able to watch the secret ceremony. They find a place to hide just as the men arrive. The ceremony starts.

Minnie Episode 13

From their hiding place Minnie and Isie listen to the ceremony. The lads take an oath and then over several drinks the secrets of horsemanship are shared. The cousins struggle to keep their...

Tribute to Stanley Robertson

The life of storyteller and writer, Stanley Robertson, will be celebrated at an event to be held on Saturday 28 November at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. Reek roon the Campfire...

An Aberdeen football fan

Popular stage show Scotland The What poked fun at life in the North East. In this film an Aberdeen football fan wishes his club success. It is part of the Scottish Screen Archive.Scotland the...

Scottish Language and Literature Research Project in Aberdeenshire

The summary of a report analysing the use of Scots language and literature in certain primary and secondary schools in Aberdeenshire is available.

Minnie Episode 15

It's Hogmanay and it is freezing cold. As it's a Sunday, Minnie is getting ready to go to church. The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 24th December 2009.

Minnie Episode 16

Minnie eats her porridge and the family set off to church.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 31st December 2009.

Minnie Episode 17

They sit through the long service. On coming out of the church Minnie's brother throws a snowball at her.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 7th January 2010.

Hogmanay celebrations

Here are links to clips of Hogmanay ceremonies in Stonehaven, Comrie and Biggar.

Minnie Episode 18

The family eat the last meal of the year together before finishing preparing for the bells. The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 14th January 2010.

Minnie Episode 19

It is now early spring on the farm and Minnie's father has been ill for some time. Jock Dow has had to keep the farm work going.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 28th January 2010.

Minnie Episode 20

Minnie listens to Meg the servant gossiping with Jock Dow about how ill Minnie's father is.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 11th February 2010.

Minnie Episode 21

We have a portrait of the dying man, his past life and the affection he had for his youngest child Minnie.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 25th February 2010.

Scots language blogging

Moray Firth Live, a news agency for the North and North East of Scotland have an area on their website for blogs, contributed by a variety of writers. They now have a contributor who is writing in...

Aye aye, Doric's on facebook

Speakers of the North East dialect of Scots, known widely as Doric, can now chat away with each other on facebook courtesy of a new group devoted to the local dialect. Members can join in with...

Minnie Episode 22

All the adults are busy and no one speaks to Minnie. She goes up to see her father, sure that he would be fine again soon.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 11th March 2010.

Alphabet books for bairns.

As part of an ongoing language campaign, Aberdeenshire Council have published an alphabet book for children called 'B is for Foggiebummer'. More information about this project is at Aberdeenshire...

Minnie Episode 23

Minnie is with her father as he dies.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 25th March 2010.

Minnie Episode 24

Emotions in the house run high. Minnie finds herself rejected by her mother and brother.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 8th April 2010.

Minnie Episode 25

After her father dies Minnie prepares to move to Aberdeen.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 22nd April 2010.

Minnie Episode 26

Minnie gets used to living in the town and tries not to miss the farm.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 6th May 2010.

David Toulmin writing competition 2010

The David Toulmin Prize for short story writing  commemorates the life and work of the popular North-East writer. Entries to the competition should take the form of  short stories about some...

One Day Removals

Mark Stirton’s film, One Day Removals, is a slapstick, black comedy based in and around Aberdeen. The dialogue is entirely in the local North East dialect making One Day Removals the first full...

Minnie Episode 27

Minnie experiences her first service in a city church.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 20th May 2010.

Minnie Episode 28

Minnie and her pony are leading more restricted lives in the town.The next episode will be broadcast on Thursday 3rd June 2010.

Minnie Episode 29

As spring passes Minnie watches the horses setting out to deliver milk each day before learning her domestic chores.The next and final episode will be broadcast on Thursday 17th June 2010.

Minnie Episode 30

At the end of June Minnie is badly injured in an accident that kills her pony. This is the final episode of 'Minnie'.

Jist Yarnin - writing from Margaret Tong

Margaret Tong's articles from her "Jist Yarnin" series were written for the Buckie & District Fishing Heritage Centre's quarterly newslatter. We owe thanks, firstly to Margaret for allowing us to...