About Us

The North-East o Scotlan is hame tae a winnerfu heirskip o wird, meesic, ballad an sang, story, history, an fowklore, as weel as the feckfu mense o the fowk fa bide an wark there. Een o the foremaist pairts o ess heirskip is the Doric tongue, the expressive wird att mony fowk o the North-East spik, think, an hiv inno their intimmers.

 

Fit the Boord will set oot tae dee will be:

 

Throw newsin tae fowk, learnin, public programmin, providin siller an takin weel throw han, eik oot the eese o the Doric tongue ower the hale North-East, bein a pooerfu vice for social, an economic growthe, an a steppin-steen tae a national Scots Language Boord. The Boord will set oot tae uphaud the conteenuin future o the Doric language as a cantie tongue, increasinly thocht muckle o ower the hale kintra.

The Boord will stan bi an uphaud fit they set oot tae dee bi haudin tae the fore an garrin growe the Doric tongue as a foremaist pairt o the heirskip o the kintra an its ivveryday life.

As weel as att say-awa, the Boord will:

  • Kittle up the eese, unnerstannin, an learnin o the Doric tongue;
  • Upsteer an farther the wye in tae the kintra’s cultural traisures throw the tongue;
  • Eik oot the acceptance o the Doric tongue in skweels an ither places o learin, the warkplace, an in the media;
  • Gie a han tae the guvvernment, the media, public bodies, an ither fowk fan it comes tae the eese o the Doric tongue;
  • Owersee an report on Scots language policies an the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages as far as they hiv tae dee wi the Doric tongue.

Tae farther fit it’s settin oot tae dee, the Boord will:

  • Wirk wi the Scottish Guvvernment, Cooncils, varsities, skweels, an colleges tae eik oot proveesion an accessibility aawye they can, baith for native spikkers an learners;
  • Uphaud the eese o the Doric tongue in skweels, varsities an sic like an in the hame, sae as tae mak a roadie o Doric fae wee bairnies, throw primary an secondary skweels tae varsities an colleges;
  • Uphaud communities, groups an individuals, includin them fa dinna spik Doric, in eesin Doric wi nae bather farivver they are;
  • Haud the Doric tongue tae the fore in pittin forrit, developin, and keepin the stieve regional cultural heirskip o the North-east o Scotlan;
  • Uphaud the eese o the Doric tongue in the warkplace an trade;
  • Haud oot for aye mair eese o the Doric tongue an culture in Scottish papers, TV an wireless, as well as in media learnin for young fowk.
  • Kittle up the eese o the Doric tongue in the heritage an tourism industries, giein them fa veesit wir kintra a sense o the different tongue att we hiv here in the North-East o Scotlan;
  • Uphaud, develop, an gie a heist tae the settin up o language resources for faimlies, learners, cooncillors, veesitors, dominies, an the lave.

 

In English

The North-East of Scotland is home to an exceptional heritage of language, music, ballad and song, story, history, and lore, alongside the dynamic creativity of those who live and work there. A key element in this heritage is North-East Scots (generally known as “Doric”), the expressive tongue in which many North-Easterners speak, think, and feel.

The aims of the Board shall be:

Through advocacy, campaigning, education, public programming, funding and sustained research, to enhance linguistic and cultural confidence in the North-East, being a powerful voice for social, and economic regeneration, and a driver towards a national Scots Language Board. The Board aims to create and support a sustainable, dynamic future for Doric as a vibrant language, increasingly respected across the region in the context of a diverse and open society.

The Board will reflect and support these aims by promoting and developing Doric as an integral part of the region’s heritage, identity, and cultural life.

  • Without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the Board will:
    Encourage confidence in the use, understanding, and learning of the language of the North-East of Scotland;
  • Promote and facilitate access to the region’s cultural treasures through the language;
  • Increase the acceptance of Doric in education, the workplace, and in the media;
  • Offer advice to government, the media, public bodies, and others on matters relating to Doric;
  • Monitor and report on Scots language policies and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages as they relate to Doric.

To further its aims the Board will:

  • Work with the Scottish Government, local authorities, universities, schools, and colleges to improve provision and accessibility across the sector, both for native speakers and learners;
  • Support the use of Doric in educational settings and the home, creating a Pathway for Doric for early years, primary and secondary schools, and tertiary education;
  • Support communities, groups and individuals, including those new to the language, in using the language with confidence in any setting;
  • Enhance the place of Doric in promoting, developing, and sustaining the strong regional cultural heritage and identity of North-east Scotland;
  • Promote the use of Doric in the workplace and commercial life;
  • Campaign for a greater presence of the Doric language and North-East culture in Scottish media output, from the press to radio and television, as well as media training for young people
  • Encourage the use of Doric in the heritage and tourism industries, enhancing the visitor experience of the distinctiveness of the language of North-East Scotland;
  • Promote, develop, and encourage the creation of language resources for families, learners, civic leaders, visitors, teachers, and others.

Download and View Our Constitution

In Doric
In English

Board Members

Chair:  Frieda Morrison
Secretary: Fred Gordon
Treasurer: Gordon Hay

Peter Reid
James Brown
Charlie Abel

Mo Vernal
Lesley Eaton
Andrew Davidson

John Mackay
Tom McKean
Janice Reavell
Arlene Foreman