A Word of Ulster Scots 17

When A thoucht aboot the column the day, A had me doots but A pit thim a tae yin side (I was dubious but I overcame my qualms) and tuk a sprachle at daein a A had tae dae (made an attempt to do what had to be done).

There is an obvious sharing of the meaning of “doot” with Standard English, i.e. “doubt”; uncertainty (the noun) or not to feel certain or confident about something or to think that something is not likely or improbable (the verb).

However, there is another sense of the word which is in direct contradiction to the foregoing.

“Tae doot” can in fact mean “to believe”. Let’s have a for instance. After a visit to an ailing elderly relative, (scene of the apocryphal exchange ” Of coorse ye’re gan tae bae fine, ye’ll be up an aboot in nae tim. How are they gan tae get a coffin roon thon turn in the stair?”), it would not be unusual to hear the remark “ A doot she’s naw gan tae dae” meaning “I believe she’s not going to make a full recovery”.

And after the sad demise of this imaginary individual, people gathered for the wake might comment favourably on the appearance of the deceased (“She luks quare an weel”), perhaps this impression created or helped by a recent holiday (“Thon week in Blackpool done her the worl o guid an haes left her a great colour”).

We will pass over the flawed logic that one might look well despite losing all of one’s health, permanently, and wrongly celebrate the (perhaps dubious) benefits of a holiday that might well have contributed to an untimely demise.

The art and skills of the embalmer might have had a greater bearing on the good countenance of Aunt Mina rather than a sojourn in the fleshpots of West Lancashire. (“A doot it didnae dae her as much guid as she thoucht it wud” ).

Whiles might be heard the remark “Boys, isn’t she gye laik herself” prompting the thought “Just who else might she look like

There may be wisdom in the suggestion that an ageing aunt (“weel up in years”) might benefit from a holiday in the midst of cabaret, casinos and karaoke (and Guid alane knows what else), but A hae mae doots.

A doot naw.

If any readers want to get in touch, I have a new e-mail address and I’d be delighted to hear from anyone. Get me on gonoorthat@googlemail.com.

A’d quarely enjoy hearin frae yes.

The estimable James Fenton, author, poet and lexicographer, has, as always, been generous with his time and has been an invaluable resource. I strongly recommend his fascinating reference work ‘The Hamely Tongue’ (now in its third edition and published by the Ulster Scots Academic Press).