Kintyre Vernacular

[general jack o'niell]

i'm having editing problems so i couldn't add as has just been demonstrated the ample use of the "a" after the "uch" more often than not the "uch" is best used in the first person as "ucha" meaning "I" rather than in response to someone or something else where the "uch" suffices

ucha canna be bothered or uch its been rainin fur de's

[A Horse called Juan Face]

Apparently in Aberdeenshire, classes are being provided for the huge influx of Eastern Europeans not only in English but in the North-East Doric because it is felt that they need to be able to understand this to be able to live and work up there.

I just wonder what Doric would sound like in a Polish accent.

Phit next?

Furry boots ye frae?

[general jack o'niell]

brings to mind the story of a hopeman fisherman talking to a member of the coaltar(he was from stewarton)

the local asked the hopeman man if he had any children?(curious question in itself as his son worked aboard the boat)

the hopeman man replied that he had "twa quines an a loon" to which the tar replied sympathetically that he was very sorry to hear this.

being in a local hostelry, the visitor asked the tar if he "was seekin a pint?" to which the tar replied "no, i have no problem holding my drink" i still haven't worked out who was supposed to be the butt of these stories.

fit wae wid ye laik a laik at my lake laik?

would you care to view my ornamental pond?

[Nomad]

i've always liked the word "burach"-

Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language by Alexander McBain (Gairm Publications, 1982) burach means 'turning up of the earth, digging; from the Scottish bourie, English burrow. The Scottish bourach, enclosure, cluster, knoll, heap, etc., is the English bower.'"

but i've heard it in the context of meaning a midden.

[general jack o'niell]

usually used to describe a childs bedroom, my two often get told their room is like a boorach, like a midden, tho is the word midden not an old scots word in itself?

[Annie]

My favorite word is "sprachling."

As in

"ahm wae too auld tae be sprachling ower that dyke! Ur ye oot o yer tree?! Ah might cowp ower and then ahl be away wae the fairies! Ach, an ahl hae a hoora caniption if ahm a boggin wae coo keech a ower me fer me twin tubs fekkin oota order! So, go bile yer heed big fla!"

or

I am elderly and cannot navigate over the wall. Are you insane? I might fall over and get a concussion. I will be very upset if my clothing is soiled with cow manure as my washing machine is broken. So think again sir!"

Is that a decent translation?

Please feel free to add/edit said post! LOL

[general jack o'niell]

or how about keek? a fly look or the administering of a boot to a ball or backside?

[ionnsaigh]

Keek yur troosers

[general jack o'niell]

thats keiched

[ionnsaigh]

Shit - so it is.

[general jack o'niell]

ye missed the "to be sure" at the end, you forget your heritage quick enough when it suits you, ah so

[ionnsaigh]

At the end to be sure - are you sure to be sure

[EMDEE]

Our youngest son, who was twelve at the time, and is not so familiar with the lingo, was taken by surprise when someone who hadn’t seen him for a while commented on his recent growth spurt:

“Ye’ve ta’en a wile streetch fae last year!”

He was taken aback and I think he was wondering what misdemeanour he was being accused of committing the previous year.

[EMDEE]

On the subject of the Doric language there is the one about the Aberdonian who was buying a pair of new shoes and asked the shop assistant:

"Fit fit fits fit bit?"

[general jack o'niell]

turns the name of an old local shoe shop into a curious question that does!!!


rider? money? pickings? or as annie's brother might say "....... noo chief!!!"