Chartered Institute
of Linguists
NEWS & VOICES
Bokani Hart considers how language gaps are impeding the UN’s peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo.
Once again, the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are on a knife edge. And, once again, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) is in the firing line for allegedly not doing enough to protect civilians from the armed groups that have...
The sports journalist and broadcaster explains how his knowledge of French, German, Spanish and Mandarin gives him the edge in a brutal industry.
Could you tell us a bit about your language background, Chris?Well, it’s pretty unremarkable actually, John. I’d have loved to have been raised bilingually, or had a parent from another country, but they were both British and there...
What can the interpreter do when faced with hybrid and unusual language use in court, asks Andrew Belisle
As a Spanish-English interpreter in the US, I encounter some fascinating challenges in my day-to-day work. The kind of language I handle in my sector – community interpreting – is vastly different from what you might witness in the conference or diplomatic world. I believe one of...
Trine Garrett makes the case for enabling more productions in translation
London: one of the most multicultural cities in Europe, where between 100 and 300 languages are spoken, and approximately one third of the population was born outside the UK. Such diversity – linguistic and cultural – should, one might think, make for a rich theatre offering. And yet a Google search of London’s...
Although most linguists have heard the term ‘inclusive language’, it is possible that only some use this way of writing in their daily work. At the beginning it may seem overwhelming and difficult, but incorporating inclusive language into translation practice is not impossible....
Caroline Makropoulos MCIL CL visits the Greek Royal Cemetery at Tatoi.
Nestled in the depths of the forest of the Tatoi Estate, at the foothills of Mount Parnitha on the north edge of Athens, lies the little-known Greek Royal Cemetery of the palaia anaktora (old palace), as it is known. Bought by the royal family at the end of the 19th century as a summer retreat, the grounds of this...
The 2022 David Crystal Award winner reveals how languages have driven all aspects of his life, from growing up in Liverpool to becoming Bishop of Leeds
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be a linguist?
Well, I grew up in Liverpool and went to a comprehensive school. It was an inspiring German teacher who really got me hooked on languages. Being a lad in...
Three members share their highlights from CIOL Conference 2022.
There was a tangible air of excitement at etc.venues St Paul’s when the doors opened on 11 March to CIOL’s Conference 2022 and around 200 delegates arrived on day one of what, for many, was their first in-person event in over two years. The video crew and photographer captured the ambiance of the two-day event in central...
R B Lemberg considers their translations of Ukrainian war poets, which reflect their own emotional response to the original poems.
On 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation mounted a brutal, full-scale military invasion against Ukraine. Like many members of the Ukrainian diaspora, I was glued to my smartphone, following the fierce Ukrainian resistance with awe and gratitude,...
Sue Leschen and Rosalind Howarth outline their distinct perspectives of a murder case across two venues, as interpreters for court and counsel
During a recent assignment on a murder case, Sue Leschen was booked ‘off contract’ (directly by the court and not by the Ministry of Justice’s outsourcing agency) as the ‘court interpreter’ and Rosalind Howarth was booked by the defendant’s...