Viewpoint / Whit is said an whit is no/ What is said and what is not
Dir twa peerie islands in da centre o da Nort Atlantic Ocean.
Dey ir da sam in size, side bi side in ancient history, an share an aald language tagidder.
Een his a saet at da table, hame rule an baith een confidently apø da horizon, secure in da weel kent understaandin dat dey haad dir ain future in baith haands. An een looks tae da idder, tinkin aboot whitna future hit can chart fir itsel.
Da islands dat a’m spaekin aboot ir of coorse Faroe an Shetland.
A muckle pairt o da Faroese fokk’s confidence comes fae dir sense of plaess, culture an also dir midder tongue.
Fir mony o wis, wir midder tongue is Shaetlan. Fir idders, hit’s no – but mony o wis ir lairnt it an understand it. Whar wi come fae or whar we wir boarn isna impoartant – wir language is fir onybody at caas Shetland haem.
Me ain Shaetlan is roosty. A’m biddin awaa fae da isles since I wis 18, an A’m wrote in da corporate world fur ower a decade, niver hain da opportunity ta use me ain language. Bit A’m laernin again an wirkin herd at it. I believe hit’s impoartant at wi aa start tae see, hear an use wir wirds an language in da written form as muckle as in da spokken form.
I mind eence readin: “Start whar du is, use whit du his, an do whit du can”. An so at is whit A’m døin.
A’m been asked tae pit pen tae paper in Shaetlan. Dis is da first time ivver A’m døne dis, so your patience A’m blyde o.
Ower da next twartree munt A’m makkin me wye aroond wir isles, spikkin wi as mony fokk as I can.
Wan thing at is maed me black-affronted in da past is hoo mony o wir elected politicians canna seem tae listen.
As politicians wi ir here tae serve. Tae listen an understaaand whit wir ain fokk want an need. We ir here tae pit service at da hert o whit we dø an dat involves some serious listening an quiet time.
Me Granny eence telt me – “Hannah Mary you have two ears and one mouth, use them in the ratio that God gifted you”. Shø wis fae da Nort East o Scotland an so didna spaek Shaetlan, bit her wise wirds ring true in me lugs noo, as I prepare tae step up in tae da race tae da Holyrood Ting.
A’m in full on listenin mode.
Wedder you tinks hit’s a muckle issue or a peerie wan – hit døsna maitter. Ivvery issue is aa impoartant een an I want tae hear fae you.
Be in touch.
Let’s hae wis a yarn.
07557 104163
hannahmary.goodlad@snp.org
There are two small islands in the centre of the North Atlantic Ocean.
They are the same in size, similar in ancient history, and share an old language together.
One has a seat at the table, home rule and both eyes confidently on the horizon, secure in the well-known understanding that they hold their own future in both hands. And one looks to the other, thinking about what kind of future they can perhaps chart for themselves.
The islands I’m speaking about are of course, Faroe and Shetland.
A large part of da Faroese people’s confidence comes from their sense of place, culture and also their language.
For many of us our language is Shaetlan. And for others, it’s not. But many of us have learnt it and understand it. Where we come from or where we were born is not important – our language is for anyone that calls Shetland home.
My own Shaetlan is rusty. I’ve lived away from the islands since I was 18, and I’ve worked in the corporate world for over a decade, never having the opportunity to use my language much. But I am learning again and working hard at it.
I believe it’s important that we start to see, hear and use our words in written form as much as in spoken form. Reclaiming our mother tongue is about our identity and our also confidence as Shetlanders.
I remember once reading: “Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can”. And so, that is what I am doing.
I’ve been asked to put pen to paper in Shaetlan. This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this so I’m grateful for your patience.
Over the next few months, I’ll be making my way around our isles, speaking to as many people as I can.
One thing that has always made me embarrassed in the past is how many of our elected politicians just can’t seem to listen.
As politicians, we are here to serve.
We are here to listen and to understand what our constituents want and need. We are here to put service at the heart of what we do and that involves some serious listening and quite time.
My Granny once told me “Hannah Mary you have two ears and one mouth, use them in the ratio that God gifted you”. She was from the Northeast and so didn’t speak Shaetlan, but her wise words ring true in my ears now as I prepare to step up into the race for the Holyrood Parliament.
I’m in full on listening mode.
And I want to hear from you.
Whether you think it’s a big issue or a small one – it doesn’t matter. Every issue is important, and I care.
Be in touch and let’s have a conversation.
07557104163
hannahmary.goodlad@snp.org
Note: So far only two candidates have been publicly confirmed for the Shetland constituency in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.They are Hannah Mary Goodlad of the SNP and the Liberal Democrats’ Emma Macdonald.
