Weel duin tae Billy Kay wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Book o the Year sponsored by Scottish Book Trust in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The Scots Language Awards are in the Cumnock Toon Ha, Cumnock in pairtnership wi East Ayrshire Cooncil on 14th September at 7pm. Tickets fir the ceremony are available tae buy here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/.
We askit Billy Kay o Billy Kay thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Life lang promoter o Scots ma mither tongue through books, radio an TV programmes and live gigs yaisin tradeitional music.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Bein a native speaker brocht up in a faimily that lued the sangs o Burns.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
"Tak tent or it's tint" – use it or lose it – applies parteicularly tae Scots, sae we aw maun mak siccar that the leid disnae dee through ignorance. an yaise it in public aw the time.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
Naw.
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Len Pennie's Scots Word o the Day has brocht thoosans o fowk tae tak an interest in Scots, sae the byordnar darg she has duin is gey inspirational.
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
Aye, baith Fife an Dundee hae mair nor a wheen o Scots speakin fowk. East Ayrshire tho is whaur I come fae an it's aye an airt that's thrang wi Scots speakers, maybe ane o the hertlands o spoken Scots in the kintrae the day.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
A constant heighlicht is when fowk tell me that ma wark on Scots chynged the wey they regairdit wha they were an whaur they cam fae…but single events that were important were: Speakin Scots at a Burns Symposium in the Library o Congress in Washington DC, bein ane o the fowk that succeeded in gettin Scots signage included in the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway and giein a speech in Scots at the Scottish Pairliament – the first since 1707.
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Tae promote the culture o ma hame airt through ma books Born in Kyle an Scots The Mither Tongue.
Read more about Billy Kay
http://www.billykay.scot
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@billykayscot
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/@billykayscot
The Scots Language Awards are in the Cumnock Toon Ha, Cumnock on 14th September at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/ There wull be some grand entertainmint oan the nicht tae, includin a recital fae Billy Kay, Susie Briggs, alang wi musical performances fae Claire Hastings an Sèan Gray.
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