Oil bosses’ ‘Doric Dictionary’ to go on sale

A TONGUE-in-cheek guide to the distinctive Doric dialect of the North east, first produced for international oil delegates, is to go on sale to raise money for a national literacy charity.
The guide was originally produced to help oil executives arriving in Aberdeen for a conference. Picture: TSPLThe guide was originally produced to help oil executives arriving in Aberdeen for a conference. Picture: TSPL
The guide was originally produced to help oil executives arriving in Aberdeen for a conference. Picture: TSPL

The mini Doric Dictionary was originally published in the summer as a crash course in the mysteries of the dialect for delegates attending the Offshore Europe oil and gas industry showcase in Aberdeen.

But the Doric guide, produced by Robert Gordon University, has proved so popular that additional copies are now being printed to raise funds for the National Literacy Trust.

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An RGU spokesman explained: “The Doric Dictionary was aimed to help those coming to the city for Offshore Europe in September to ken their toonser from a teuchter and a funcy piece from a bowfin’ buttery.

“Around 2000 copies were handed out to those arriving at Aberdeen International Airport for the event - and it seems that word of the handy guide has spread around the world, with requests for copies coming in from far flung places such as Australia, California, Bahrain and Mumbai.”

She continued: “RGU has now decided to put a limited number of copies on sale over the month of November to raise money for the National Literacy Trust. The charity was nominated by RGU:RAG, the fundraising arm of the university’s Student Association, because of its dedication to improving literacy in the UK.”

Charity ‘thrilled’

Anna Jones, Development Manager at the National Literacy Trust, said: “We are thrilled that Robert Gordon University has chosen our charity to benefit from the sale of their Doric Dictionaries. Support like this is vital to the work of the National Literacy Trust and will help ensure we can continue to support children and families in disadvantaged communities, improving their literacy and giving them better opportunities.”

Karen Barrett-Ayres, the RGU marketing officer who devised the guide, said: “We’ve been delighted by the success of the Doric Dictionary so far and the feedback we’ve had from all over the world has been fantastic. The guide really seems to have struck a chord with people so we thought there could be an opportunity to further boost awareness of the Doric dialect while also raising some money for a fantastic charity like the National Literacy Trust.

“Limited copies of the Doric Dictionary will be on sale throughout the month of November as a wee stocking filler or quirky gift for the festive season - hopefully people will snap them up.”

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