CIOL Linguists' Voices

Linguists are living through a period of profound change. Advances in technology and AI, shifting market demands, new ways of working and downward pressure on remuneration are reshaping the work of linguists.

Industry consolidation and outsourcing of contracts, combined with cuts in languages education and research, and changing public expectations and attitudes towards languages all frame the context linguists now work in. These changes are being experienced differently across different sectors and languages. There is no single story. Linguists are affected in different ways and are responding in different ways too.

Over six months we have listened to linguists from a variety of backgrounds, sectors and contexts as well as academics, educators and industry experts; and asked if we could share their perspectives. The result is this collection of linguists’ voices. These are personal reflections on the challenges, opportunities and realities of working in languages today. We thank everyone who has contributed for being prepared to share their voices.

"Again and again, contributors return to the same point: what distinguishes professional linguists is not simply language competence, but judgement, personal responsibility, accountability and trust. Those qualities matter most precisely where language carries risk, sensitivity or consequence and they are not diminished by technology – they are heightened by it."

Anita van Adelsbergen, Chair of CIOL Council

To read more Linguists' Voices and download a copy of the full publication go the Linguists' Voices webpage here