Weel duin tae Emma Grae wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year (sponsored by the Scottish Government) in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The 2026 Scots Language Awards tak place on Saturday 19th September at the iconic Discovery Centre, home of the RRS Discovery Ship (1pm). Reserve yer ticket here.
The awards will be a daytime event this year, making them as inclusive and accessible to as many award nominees from across Scotland as possible.
We askit Emma Grae o Emma Grae thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Ma name's Emma Grae and ah'm a Scots leid scriever fae Glesga. Ah screive fur weans, young adults and adults – awboady. Ma wurk aims tae capture a sense o Scotland as it is the day while tacklin haird-hittin issues like poverty and mental health.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Ma pal stairted scrievin in Scots well-ower a decade ago noo. She scrieved a poyum calt 'Tae A Selfie', inspired by Burns' 'Tae A Moose'. It gat me hinkin aboot the leid and it wasnae lang afore ah wis scrievin it masel, although, luikin back, ah'd been scrievin it unintentionally afore thit an aw.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
Scots, especially scrieved Scots, isnae normalised. It would be braw tae get tae a place where it's normal tae send text messages in the leid and hings like thit. We're mair used tae hearin Scots, which is braw, but ah hink a lot o progress kin be made noo by scrievin it doon.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
'Whit's fur ye willnae go by ye.'
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Dr Michael Dempster. Tae this day, he's the ainlie person ah know who scrieves in Scots jist aboot everywhere. Until ah came across his wurk, ah didnae even hink aboot why aw ma emails etc aw defaultit tae English.
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
Ah still hear Sctos in ma local area, but it's definitely gat less common. Sadly, aw the classism associatit wi the leid hus taken its toll and it's no been helped by the dominance o the internet, where sae many folk jist see and hear American English.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
Speakin Scots at Cambridge University and somehoo winnin a debate oan Scottish Independence wi it and, mair recently, performin a Fringe show in the leid.
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Ma third buik fur bairns, 'The Puddock Wioot A Pond' is bein released by Luath Press in November and aw bein well, it will be folloaed by ma third novel, 'Cathy, get yer Dancin Shoes' next year.
Read more about Emma Grae
https://www.emmagraeauthor.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
X / Twitter: @emmagraeauthor
Instagram: @emmagraeauthor
TikTok: @emmagraeauthor
The Scots Language Awards are in Dundee on the 19th September at 1pm. There wull be some grand entertainmint includin a recitals fae Yvonne Tait an Hugh Macmillan alang wi musical performances fae Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardiner.
To attend the Scots Language Awards there are a few tickets remaining. Click here to reserve your tickets.
Join Elfie Picket Theatre for the Scots language nicht BLETHER, fur a nicht o music, poetry and stories aa celebratin Scots Leid & culture. We hae twa special guests jynin us and a wee open mic. Leadin us intae a big Dundee Fringe Ceilidh! Startin at 6pm, tickets £10.
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish language please consider donating here.