Letter: Norse code

Not only are Norse surnames (Feature, February 18) and place names common in the Western Isles but many of the words used in island Gaelic conversations are borrowed from Old Norse.

This particularly appertains to words relating to boats and seafaring. Some examples are: Sula (Norse), Sulaire (Gaelic) - gannet; Skorda (N), Sgorradh (G) - prop to keep boat on even keel; Bacbordi (N), Bacbhord (G) - windward; Byrding (N), Birlinn (G) - a galley; Rong (N), Reang (G) - a boat-rib.

In The Fourth Sevice, Merchantmen at War 1939-45, John Slader says Western Islanders are known the world over for being among the finest seamen. Their sailorly qualities have probably been inherited, to a large extent, from their Norse progenitors.

A Norse historian I know believes that apart from Iceland and Faroe Islands more Old Norse words are spoken in the Western Isles than anywhere else.

Donald J MacLeod

Woodcroft Avenue

Bridge of Don, Aberdeen