Pronunciation Guide
A Note on the Tongue of the Land
This story is drenched in Scottish Gaelic folklore. It uses the rhythm of the Scots language. A poetic, but sometimes misunderstood language. For those unfamiliar, here is a small guide to the key terms and names you’ll meet in the mist.
· Coira (KOY-RAH): Our Glaistig’s chosen name.
· The Glaistig (GLASH-TIG): A protective, sometimes vengeful female spirit of place, often linked to cattle and water. Neither wholly good nor evil—a guardian of the fae kind.
· The Nuckelavee (NUCK-LAH-VEE): A malevolent, skinless demon from the sea, bringer of plague and blight. Its breath is poison; its weakness, fresh water.
· Bean Nighe (BEN -NEE- YEH): The “Washer at the Ford,” an omen of death.
· Aye (eye): Yes.
· Cannae: (KAN-AY): Cannot.
· Dinnae: (DIN-AY): Do not.
· Ken: To know.
· Bairn: Child.
· Burn: A small stream.
· Close: A narrow alley or passageway.
· MacGillivray (MAH-GILL-VRAY): Our skeptical new Laird of Alder Stone’s surname.
· Dougal (DOO-GULL): Our groundskeeper.
· Burling: spinning, whirling etc.
· Glaikit (GLAY-KIT): Stupid, idiotic, playing innocent.
· Keek: Look, glance, or peek.
· Brae: A steep hill/incline.
· Peely-Wally: Very pale skin, sickly.
· Keeled/Keel: Tipped or fallen over.
· Stoor: Dust.
· Fags: Cigarettes, usually the cheap kind.
· Coorie: Snuggle under the covers, get warm.
· Sith (SHEE): The old Scottish word for the fairy folk. Not the Star Wars bad guys!
The rest, I trust, you’ll feel in the cadence of the speech, the voice of the stones, and the sigh of the wind. Or just ask me in the comments and I’ll clarify—‘Tis my native tongue.
These words aren’t used constantly. They’re not taking over the prose or dialogue. They are simply placed when they rhyme well within the context of who is speaking or thinking. Every use is intentional.
For my granny. Whose soul lives on through a certain townswoman who cannae let a man get drunk in peace.
Thank you for travelling through the salt-tinged fog with me.
— LyraVex 🖤
