The Celtic Viking Islands | Shetland Language, Culture & Norse History
61,335
Published 2023-12-17
The Shetland dialect is so different from other UK dialects that some view it as a Shetland language, called Shetlandic, Broad Shetland, or Auld Shetland. It’s heavily influenced by an old norse language called Norn, and previous Scandinavian rulers left an indelible mark on Shetland's identity. The traditional Up Helly Aa festival, in which a viking longboat is burned, Shetland’s flag, which follows the nordic cross design with the blue and white of the Scottish flag, and the old Norse signs dotted around Shetland are clear reminders of the island’s Norse heritage. Norn was spoken in Shetland until the late 1800s, and today, the Shetland dialect is a mix of Scots and Norn.
Shetland’s fortunes have always been close the sea, through, traditionally through fishing and whaling, and more recently through North Sea Oil. That, combined with the infamously stormy weather and long, dark winters, means you have to be hardy to live in Shetland. We spoke to local Shetlanders in Lerwick and Vidlin to learn Shetland’s culure.
From sweeping coastlines to windswept cliffs, Shetland is stunning, and is the closest you can get to wilderness in the UK. Seals, whales, and sea otters swim in its often stormy waters, and the nature here made the freezing weather worthwhile.
00:00-01:38 - Welcome to Shetland
01:39-03:27 - Arriving in Shetland for the Storm of the Decade
03:28-05:08 - How Shetland Became part of Scotland
05:09-05:54 - Shetland's Scandinavian Heritage
05:55-06:42 - Norn: Shetland's Old Norse Language
06:43-07:29 - The Shetland Dialect
07:30-07:58 - Knapping: Shetlanders Changing how they Speak
07:59-08:59 - Norn, Scots, Gaelic, & the Decline of Shetland Dialect
09:00-09:55 - How the Sea has Shaped Shetland Culture
09:56-10:22 - Soothmoothers & Shetland's Attitude to Outsiders
10:23-11:30 - Shetland's Box on the Map
11:31-12:57 - Do Shetlanders Feel Scottish, British, or Shetland?
12:58-13:50 - Hardiness in Shetland - Some People Can't Handle the Weather
13:51-16:10 - Shetland's Scandinavian Influence & Community Spirit
All Comments (21)
-
What a cool documentary about a beautiful place. I'm really impressed by the quality that this guy produces
-
I'm from Unst. Came to America in 1963 when I was 13. To this day I can sleep with every light in the house on. People would ask me how I can sleep with all the lights on. I just tell them if I couldn't I'd never be able to sleep at home, in Shetland during the summer months. Even all these years later I still leave all the lights on in my house. It's actually COMFORTING.
-
We've just moved to Shetland and are still discovering it, so this video was very interesting. Thank you.
-
I’m glad that Shetland is out of the box on maps, but poor New Zealand sometimes doesn’t even make it on a map.
-
Thanks. My grandfather was born on Shetland in the late C19th, before he went to sea. I've visited Shetland in 2010. My other grandfather came from Paisley. Distance is a strange think, living in Australia with our western capital of Perth some 4,000kms from the Australian national capital Canberra, certainly puts distance and travel into another perspective.
-
This year, I learned my 10x great grandfather was born in Bigton, Shetland Isles in 1552 and died on Orkney in 1629 through Ancestry DNA. My Dad's parent's came from the Ayrshire area in 1922 to America. It was nice to discover other areas where my ancestors came from and I hope to see it one day! Thanks for the great video!
-
I used go to Shetland on my school trip when I used to live in orkney and it is beautiful place
-
The tv series Shetland is amazing. I’d love to visit the islands.
-
I’m from Shetland and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Thank you for creating this. Excited to share with my soothmoother pals!
-
great video, you covered its uniqueness very well!!
-
Really looking forward to the next one guys...
-
Wow. This is the first of your vids that I've watched, came here looking for coverage on Shetland, and you did that for me brilliantly. I'm assuming you are not a professional documentary maker (correct me if I'm wrong!) but you are one of the best 'amateur' doc makers I have ever come across. Your film editing and your narrative are both excellent, very smooth and natural. I get none of the sense of ick that I often get with amateur docos, especially the very naif narratives that some have. Very very well done, and thank you for an interesting and insightful coverage of what I was seeking!
-
Loved watching the series Shetland... You actually showed where Jimmys home was in a couple of your shots....👏👏 Interesting video..thanks for sharing.. Australia 🦘🌏🙏
-
Another brilliant documentary Tieran - so well written and very informative. Great interviews. Fantastic work 😊
-
This has been an amazing series. Really enjoy your documentary episodes and your interviews. They are so well done.
-
I've wanted to visit Shetland for 35 years (after visiting Orkney). Then there was an oil spill and so, other plans followed... I think I have to go there next year. It seems like a great place, with friendly people and great nature! And even though I'm not British, I still know where it is ;-)
-
I've visited Orkney and Norway so time to visit Shetland this summer. 👍🏻
-
From Canada ( Nova Scotia ) and Gaelic speaking . My grandad was from Skye . I have never been to Shetland though I've been to Scotland and visited Skye and parts of the Hebrides. I would love to visit . Wr still celebrate Up Helly Aa on the last night of our Highland Games.
-
Im American with a new jersey accent, and I can understand the Shetland accent perfectly. Maybe that's a calling, who knows
-
Wow, was not expecting to see my shopper bag in your video 😊
