Weel duin tae Mae Diansangu wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Writer o the Year sponsored by National Library of Scotland 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 Mae Diansangu o Mae Diansangu thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Am a Granite City poet fa's bin inspired by the mony Doric spikkers av hid the pleasure tae ken.
Of noo, ma favourite things tae screive aboot are identity (foo div we ken fa we are? fa gets tae mak that decision?) an the great muckle influence history an myth hiz ower us (fit can we dee tae tell wir ain stories differently?)
Ma debut collection of poyums, Bloodsongs, will be oot at the end of September.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
A guid filey ago, Scots didna feel like summin that wiz mine. Ah grew up wi fowk speirin "aye, but far are ye really from?", an that wid mak mi feel like ah didna really belang.
Efter watchin Jo Gilbert perform brilliant Doric poems that wid mak ye laugh an greet in the same line, ah thocht tae masel "fit's stoppin ye fae deein that?"
Ah can still mind the feelin o screivin ma first piece in Scots. It wiz sae excitin tae challenge ma brain in this wye, an ah wiz fair teen aback by fit ah wiz spillin on tae the page – screivin in Scots hiz bin an affa help expandin ma range an makkin ma work mair interestin. Noo ah ken that Scots really is fur aabdy, an ah hope that ma screivins can mebbe inspire fowk tae nae limit themsels an gie it a go.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
If ye da use it, ye'll lose it. Scots is a livin, breathin leid, but ainly fur as lang as fowk are screivin, spikkin an singin it.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
Dinna fash yersel! It's the perfect wye tae remind fowk tae tak it easy an nae get stressed oot ower nothin.
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Deep Wheel Orcadia by Harry Josephine Giles blew me awa. Ilka page is jist seepin wi her passion fur the leid, an fit rare tae see Orcadian used in sic an experimental an innovative novel.
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
Ony particlar career heighlichts
Sendin ma completed mauscript aff tae the publishers!
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Av still got plinty tae dee gettin masel riddy fur ma book launch events comin up, as weel as finishin aff a few wee projects. Noo, am fair trikkit that av also got tae schedule lookin fur some bonnie claes fur thon Scots Language awards!
Read more about Mae Diansangu
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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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