Doreen Waugh

Dr. Doreen Waugh holds an Honorary Research Fellowship at the Centre for Nordic Studies within the University of the Highlands and Islands and is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. Her work focuses on place-name studies of Scotland's Northern Isles and Caithness, with particular emphasis on Shetland where she maintains a seasonal residence. She contributes to dialect preservation through her involvement with Shetland ForWirds and co-authored the booklet Mirds o Wirds on the Shetland dialect.

Research Interests:
Dr. Waugh specializes in historical toponymy, Norse linguistic influences, and dialect documentation. Her work bridges linguistic analysis with cultural history, particularly in relation to Orkney and Shetland. She has organized conferences on Northern Isles language and history, and collaborated on projects like the Scottish Place-Name Survey.

Publications:
Her recent work includes editing Professor W.F.H. Nicolaisen's essays and studies of Jakobsen's linguistic recordings. Her analyses of 'ness' names reveal insights into Norse settlement patterns and topographic terminology.