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John J Graham - Champion of the Shetland dialect
John J. Graham 1921-2008
The strength of the dialect in Shetland today is due in no small measure to John Graham who has died at the age of 86. Throughout his life he was involved in promoting his mother tongue in his writing, in the classroom and in the wider community. It felt fitting that ... more
Hugh MacDiarmid- A Portrait by Margaret Tait (1964)
'An original kind of tribute' is what George Mackay Brown called Tait's 1964 documentary about one of Scotland's greatest poets; Hugh MacDiarmid.
"A study of the poet, who was seventy-one at the time. There is straightforward material, of him in his own home, and, in addition to speaking his own... more
Margaret Tait
Margaret Tait was one of Britain's most individual artist filmmakers. Over the course of 46 years she produced over 30 films including one feature, Blue Black Permanent (1992) and published five books of poetry and short stories, while living between the Island of Orkney and Edinburgh.
Margaret ... more
Hugh MacDiarmid Links
Scottish Poetry Library biography
http://www.spl.org.uk/poets_a-
BBC Scottish Writers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/
Langholm
http://www.undiscoveredscotlan
Stay in MacDiarmid... more
Shetland
The Shetland dialect shares much with other branches of Scots, though the legacy of Norn, which died about 1800, is obvious still in place names, vocabulary, expressions and pronunciation.
One of the most distinctive features is the second person singular pronoun: friends, equals and family memb... more
Ellie an da sail needle
Written and read by Iris Sandison from the album Hansel o Stories published by Hansel Cooperative Press http://www.hanselcooperativepr
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Poetry from Shetland
Same but different by Christine De Luca from the CD Parallel Worlds
Reproduced with the kind permission of Luath Press
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News from Shetland
by Mary E. Blance
Mary chairs Shetland ForWirds, which was formed two years ago on the recommendation of the Shetland Dialect Convention 2004, an initiative promoted by Shetland Arts Trust. A year ago, she wrote a diary feature about SFW's activities, A Twalmont a Spaekin. Here she reflects on an... more
Foo Robbie got his rid breist
Ever wondered how the robin got his red breast? Let the kids from Whalsay School in Shetland show you.
Thanks to David Irvine, Grant Irvine and the children of Whalsay primary school for giving permission to use this material.
Culture Studies of the Highlands and Islands
This exciting and innovative course gives you the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the varied and fascinating cultural identity of the Highlands and Islands as you live and study among its peoples and communities.
BA (Hons) Culture Studies of the Highlands and Islands
http://www.orkney... more
Books on Language from Shetland
Shetland Dictionary
Revised edition of this authorative reference book and working dictionary with over 150 additional words.
http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk
Grammar and Usage of the Shetland Dialect
A guide to the usage of grammar in the Shetland dialect.
http://www.shetlandtod... more
Shetland Times bookshop
Books in and about the Shetland dialect. This site also has more general material about Shetland.
www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/
Childrens books
Books for kids in Shetlandic and English.
www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/childr
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Sea Life
Sea Life written and read by John Cumming from the album Hansel o Stories published by Hansel Cooperative Press http://www.hanselcooperativepr
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Orkney
For almost a thousand years the language of the Orkney Islands was a variant of Norse known as Norroena or Norn. The distinctive and culturally unique qualities of the Orkney dialect spoken in the islands today derive from this sister language of Faroese, which too developed from Norse brought in... more
Nort Atlantik Drift - photography and poems from Shetland
Well known Shetland writer Alan Jamieson's latest collection of poems was launched in December 2007. In Nort Altalntik Drift, from Luath Press, Jamieson mixes mythology, autobiography and history with photographs in a beautiful book not only for Shetlanders, but everyone who has visited, or dream... more
New Chair at Shetland ForWirds
The dialect promotion group, Shetland ForWirds, has a new convener and vice-convener following its recent AGM.
Writer and former teacher, Laureen Johnson is now leading SFW, with Eileen Brooke-Freeman elected as the new vice-convener.
Both are founding members of the group which was formed ... more
The StAnza Fest
The Shetlandic poyet Robert Alan Jamieson will be takkin pairt in the StAnza Fest in Saunt Aundraes, Fife on this date. Mr Jamieson will be pairt o a Maistercless anent owersettin on Sunday 16 Mairch fae 10am til twalhoures in the cooncil chaumer o the Toun Haw, Queens Gairdens. Tickets costs £3... more
