Push on for Doric Week

Plans to bring a weeklong festival celebrating Doric to the north-east have been unveiled.

Don Carney, an academic who has been dubbed Dr Doric, wants to change attitudes about the dialect – proving it is not a relic of the past but part of modern life in Aberdeenshire.

His proposals for a festival week in May – including workshops, poetry sessions and efforts by local firms to use Doric in their business – have already been backed by one of the region’s most well-known voices.

Broadcaster and P&J columnist Robbie Shepherd said the project would celebrate the “tapestry” of Doric and Aberdeenshire life.

Under Mr Carney’s proposals, organisations across the region will be encouraged to allowemployees to use Doric in their daily work. He

“Let’s have a Doric week and celebrate who we are”

hopes to hold talks with north-east academics and civic leaders to get their backing.

Mr Carney said: “Any public meeting I go to, I’m the only one who speaks Doric and that’s in Aberdeenshire. People should have more confidence. It’s about changing attitudes and bringing it to the fore. Across Aberdeenshire 49% of people can speak Doric. Let’s have a Doric week and celebrate who we are.”

Mr Shepherd echoed his comments, and said: “A lot of valuable work is already being done in our communities. It’s about tying together all the local events.”

Earlier this year, Aberdeenshire Council voted to incorporate Doric into the syllabus at schools in the area. Pupils are now encouraged to use the dialect where possible.