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Scots Language Centre Centre for the Scots Leid

Doric Bible on the way

30th August 2012

A North East man has caused a stir this week in the press and media by completing his translation of the New Testament into North East Scots, affectionately known as the Doric. Lawyer Gordon Hay, who is a church elder at Longside, Aberdeenshire, and also a Scots speaker, had spent the past six years working on a Doric version which is due to be published in October 2012. He was inspired to produce the Doric version after he was asked by the Buchan Heritage Society to produce some passages in Scots for a service held back in 2006. Mr Hay said that it was quite challenging at times to produce the Doric version but it was ultimately rewarding work and he hopes that it will help to maintain the distinct dialect of the North East for years to come. The Doric version adds to a long tradition of Bible translation in Scots stretching back into the 16th century and compliments the William Lorimer New Testament in Scots published in 1983.