Thank you to the owners of a new delicatessen in town for making me laugh. This mannequin’s sign says “Fit like my name is ‘Donald far’s yir heid & yir shoes’”
Doric-speaking dummy in the window of a new delicatessen, Aberdeen. July 2012.
Translated, that means: “How are you? My name is ‘Donald Where’s-Your-Head-And-Where-Are-Your-Shoes?’”
love it – and in answer to the question – my head is in the clouds and my shoes are in my closet
By: on thehomefrontandbeyond on July 11, 2012
at 2:32 pm
I’m presuming it’s a nod towards the old song by Andy Stewart, “Donald, where’s yer troosers?” I used to love that song when I was little!
You can listen to it here, if you like!…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqtFnAZu1YI&feature=related xx
By: Tina on July 11, 2012
at 2:52 pm
I like it! Thank you for sharing.
By: tearoomdelights on July 11, 2012
at 5:05 pm
Droll! I sent a ‘fit like’ in your direction as we passed through Aberdeen en route for Speyside yesterday evening.
Is Aberdeen the Range Rover capital of the UK….?
By: occasionalscotland.blogspot.co.uk on July 11, 2012
at 8:43 pm
What, exactly, is Doric?
By: thebluestockingbelle on July 11, 2012
at 9:19 pm
My brother and his partner are visiting from Dundee Scotland. I’m not sure if it counts as Doric, but their description of someone as ‘glaikit’ had me reaching for my teatowel of Scottish phrases with translations! I think I’d need a phrase book if I ever visit.
By: oldblack on July 12, 2012
at 12:02 am
“Donald, where’s yer troosers?” was the first thing that sprang to mind for me, too.
By: Martin on July 12, 2012
at 7:25 am
Dear All,
I’d missed the reference to the Andy Stewart song, thank you for the link Tina! Ellen, Doric is the dialect of Scots spoken in the North-East of Scotland. One of the hallmarks of Doric is that the question words in English (What, Where, How) start with F in Doric: Fit, Far, Foo? “Fit like?” means How are you? (See my post on Mary Torphins, late April this year, if you want a bit more Doric!)
onthehomefront, your answer made me laugh!
oldblack, I’m not an authority, but I think “glaikit” is a word used across Scotland. I remember a friend of mine from Fife dismissing someone as a “glaikit wee naff”. If you do come to Scotland, just bring the tea-towel!
Linda, Aberdeen may well be the Land Rover capital of Britain, outside of the Home Counties. Lots of money sloshing around (and some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Europe as well).
By: christinelaennec on July 12, 2012
at 5:44 pm
well i have learned a lot from this & your comment explaining it more. I felt a bit thick for needing the translation, but it was worth it!!
By: scruffy badger on July 12, 2012
at 6:04 pm
So very funny! Dialect is something built upon by time and something that can’t be replicated by outsiders. Growing up in New England, we had our own little phrases and sayings that defy logic, but make so much sense to us! Sometimes when I hear the accent and the old familiar sayings, I get such a sense of nostalgia. Some of them brought along by ancestors from Scotland, Ireland, and other countries. xx
By: Karen on July 12, 2012
at 8:32 pm
Thanks for the translation
I still have problems understanding the local dialect.
By: Kia on July 13, 2012
at 1:15 am