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About Us

Shetland ForWirds was formed in 2004 at the end of a conference about the Shetland dialect. That convention was keen to see our unique way of speech, with its Nordic and Scottish roots, survive and thrive.

Aims
Shetland ForWirds aims to foster and promote the use of written and spoken Shetland dialect as a valued and essential element of Shetland’s distinctive heritage and culture.

 To achieve this we will encourage and assist where practical:

  • the recording, publishing and broadcasting of the Shetland dialect;
  • the development of Shetland dialect as a valid element of education at all levels;
  • the acceptance of Shetland dialect among the whole Shetland community. 

Office bearers
Ann Marie Anderson, Joint convener 
Bruce Eunson, Joint convener
Karlin Anderson, Vice-convener
Eileen Brooke-Freeman, Secretary
Mona Walterson, Treasurer


Committee
James Sinclair
Daniel Clark
Vaila Walterson
Wendy Tulloch
Catherine Jeromson
Viveka Vellupillai
Alex Wyllie
Laurie Goodlad

 

Meetings  
General meetings are open to everyone who has an interest in Shetland dialect. 
Meeting dates are posted on this website and advertised on BBC Radio Shetland.

Craigsaet Craigsaet


Groups
Groups of members have worked on particular areas:    Education,  Website,  Performance,  Wirds,  Merchandising


Products

  • Ivver Entrancin Wis  CD
  • Craigsaet  - CD of songs and rhymes for peerie bairns
  • Mirds o Wirds  pocket-size word book (2014)
  • Tell Wiz! - DVD of the 2015 revival of the famous 1958 musical

 

Partnerships (some examples)

  • SIC Schools Service (Creative Links) : material for schools
  • Shetland Museum and Archives wird ring
  • Shetland Folk Society: reprint of the songbook Da Sangs at A'll sing ta dee (2013)
  • SIC Economic Development Unit:  Bright Pebbles anthology 
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