Doric dialect (Scotland) facts for kids
Doric, also called Mid Northern Scots or Northeast Scots, is a special way of speaking the Scots language. You'll hear it mainly in the northeast part of Scotland. Many poems, songs, and stories have been written in Doric. Sometimes, characters in books speak Doric, while the rest of the story is in other forms of Scots or English.
What's in a Name?
The word "Doric" used to describe all types of Scots. But over time, it became mostly linked to the way Scots is spoken in the northeast.
The name might have come from a funny comparison to an old Ancient Greek language called Doric Greek. The ancient Greek people who spoke Doric Greek lived in more rural areas like Sparta. People in Athens thought their language sounded a bit rougher and simpler. This old Greek Doric was even used in some parts of Greek plays.
According to a book called The Oxford Companion to English Literature: "Since the Dorians were seen as less fancy by the Athenians, 'Doric' started to mean 'country-like' in English. It was especially used for the language of Northumbria and the Lowlands of Scotland."
Writers in Scotland during the 1700s, like Allan Ramsay, used Scots instead of English. They said it was like how ancient Greek writers used Doric Greek. English was then compared to the more formal Attic Greek.
Doric in Books and Songs
The northeast of Scotland has a rich history of literature written in Doric. This includes lots of poetry, old folk songs called ballads, and other songs. For a long time, writers from the North East followed common writing styles. They didn't often show the special Doric sounds in their work. But later, more writers started to show their local dialect.
Today, in prose (like novels), Doric often appears when characters are speaking. Local TV channels like Grampian Television and newspapers like The Aberdeen Press and Journal also use Doric. This shows how important the local language is to the people there.
Doric speech was used a lot in a type of writing called Kailyard literature. This style often showed a very sweet and sometimes unrealistic picture of old country life. This kind of writing isn't very popular anymore.
Many famous poets wrote in the Doric dialect. These include John M. Caie (1879–1949), Helen B. Cruickshank (1886–1975), Flora Garry (1900–2000), and Charles Murray (1864–1941).
George MacDonald from Huntly also used Doric in his novels. He was a friend of Mark Twain. Many people see MacDonald as one of the founders of the fantasy genre. He influenced famous writers like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.
Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Scots Quair books are set in the Mearns area. These books have been made into a popular play and TV show. They tell the story of Chris, a strong-willed woman. The language in the books is English, but it sounds a lot like the local speech.
Some parts of the Bible have been translated into Doric. Also, a version of Aesop's Fables has been published in Doric.
The North East is sometimes called the "real home of the ballad." One expert, Les Wheeler, said that 91 out of 305 famous Child Ballads came from Aberdeenshire. This means the name "Border Ballad" might not be quite right.
Modern writers like Sheena Blackhall write poetry in Doric. Mo Simpson writes a funny column in the Aberdeen Evening Express that uses many Doric words. Doric has also been used in plays, radio shows, and TV. The Aberdeen comedy groups Scotland the What? and the Flying Pigs are known for their Doric sketches and songs.
New Things Happening with Doric
In 2006, a hotel in Aberdeen started using a Doric voice for its lift. The lift would say things like "Gyaun Up" (Going up) and "Gyaun Doun" (Going down).
Also in 2006, Maureen Watt of the SNP took her Scottish Parliament oath in Doric. She wanted to show how important the Doric culture is in the North East. She had to take the oath in English first. Her Doric oath was: "I depone aat I wull be leal and bear ae full alleadgance tae her majesty Queen Elizabeth her airs an ony fa come aifter her anent the law. Sae help me God."
In the Disney/Pixar movie Brave, a character named Young MacGuffin speaks Doric. It's a running joke that no one else can understand him. The voice actor, Kevin McKidd, is from Elgin and chose to use the Doric dialect.
In 2020, the University of Aberdeen started offering a Doric course to all its students.
In 2012, Gordon Hay, an author from Aberdeenshire, finished translating the New Testament into Doric. This project took him six years to complete.
See also
- Modern Scots
- Shetland dialect
- Ulster Scots
- Norn language
