Billy Kay is a writer, broadcaster and language activist. Born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1951 he studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. His study on the history and current status of the Lowland Scots language, Scots : The Mither Tongue is his most notable work. Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) was a county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Scots (or Lallans, meaning Lowlands), properly Lowland Scots, is used in Lowland Scotland, as well as parts of Northern Ireland and border areas of the Republic of Ireland, where it is known in official circles as Ulster Scots or Ullans but by speakers simply as Scotch or Scots. On the...

Books by Billy Kay

• Made in Scotland (contributor) Carcanet, 1974
• Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past (editor) Polygon, 1980
• Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past - the Second Collection (editor) Polygon, 1982
• Knee Deep in Claret: A Celebration of Wine and Scotland (with Cailean Maclean) Mainstream, 1983
• Scots: The Mither Tongue Mainstream, 1986
• The Dundee Book: An Anthology of Living in the City (editor) Mainstream, 1990
• The New Makars (contributor) Mercat Press, 1991
• The Scots Map and Guide MMA Maps, 1993
• A Tongue in Yer Heid (contributor) B & W Publishing, 1994
• Scotland and Ulster (contributor) Mercat Press, 1994
• Mak it New (contributor) Mercat Press, 1995
• The Complete Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past (editor) Polygon, 1996

Prizes and awards

• 1973 Grierson Verse Prize (University of Edinburgh)
• 1989 New York Radio Festival Silver Medal (radio series) The Scots of Ulster
• 1992 New York Radio Festival Bronze Medal (radio series) The Road and the Miles
• 1994 Sloan Prize - University of St Andrews (radio play) Lucky's Strike
• 1994 Wine Guild Houghton Award (radio programme) Fresche Fragrant Clairettis
• 1995 Heritage Society Award
• 1996 Wines of France Award Knne Deep in Claret: A Celebration of Wine and Scotland

See Also

• Scots language