Doric Measurements to get Official Status
The people of Northeast Scotland have long used a variety of Doric words to describe the weight, size and number of things. While native speakers are proficient in their ability to comprehend the exact amount of, for example, “a wee suppie”, non Doric speakers are sometimes left wondering as to “how much”, or “how many” is being referred to.
It’s because of this, that Doric units of measurement are to be formalised.
“Often, the issue is whether the noun modified is a count noun or a noncount noun”, said Phil Mair of The Doric Spikers Alliance,
“Fyles e confusion comes doon tae a ‘suppie’, or a ‘puckle’.” Phil said,
“Iv yer needin a bittie mair milk in yer tae, fur example, ye’d say – “can I get a wee suppie mair milk please?” Bit, iv ye were needin mair lumps o sugar, ye’d say “Can I hae a puckle mair lumps o sugar please? An of course”, Phil continued,
“A puckle an a suppie can be prefixed wi an adjective tae denote exact quantity, for example, “a wee suppie – a small amount”, or a “fair puckle - lots”.
Other units of measurement set to be included are:
Muckle = Big
Great muckle = massive
Wee = small
Affa wee = very small
Fyle = while
Wee fylie = short time
In a wee meentie = in a minute
