LONDON (AP) — The last native speaker of the Cromarty dialect has died, taking with him a way of speaking unique to a small seaside town at the tip of Scotland's Black Isle. The dialect includes archaic "thees" and "thous," a wealth of seafaring vocabulary, and an aspirate "h'' either added or subtracted to everyday words.
Here are half a dozen Cromarty phrases, compiled by Am Baile, the Scottish Highland Council's history and culture website.
Holl tol / Very drunk
Foamin for want / Desperate for tea
At's theer trouble? / What's your trouble?
Theer nae tae big fi a sclaffert yet! / You're not too big for a slap!
Ah wudna ken artil start. / I wouldn't know where to start.
Hiv thoo a roosky sazpence i thi pooch? / Can you lend me some money?
A'm fair sconfished wi hayreen; gie's fur brakwast lashins o am and heggs. / I'm so fed up with herring, give me plenty of ham and eggs for breakfast.
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Online:
The Cromarty Fisherfolk Dialect: http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/download/files/The%20Cromarty%20Fisherfolk%20Dialect.pdf (PDF)
