Chartered Institute
of Linguists
NEWS & VOICES
By Dom Hebblethwaite, CIOL Head of Membership
Our latest snap poll asked members a deceptively simple question: will AI and technology reduce or increase the importance of high-level language skills? The results tell a more optimistic story than the headlines about AI might suggest, though the picture is far from uniform.
The numbers...
In an age of AI, professional judgement matters more than ever
Long before machine translation, cloud tools or AI entered the arena, the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) established a simple truth: professional translation is a discipline of judgement.
Today, as machines translate faster than any human ever could, that truth matters more than ever.
AI-...
In March we celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month. CIOL Council Member Rasha Alajouz writes on the 2026 themes of 'give to gain' and 'creating a sustainable future', drawing on a coaching mindset and her experiences of mentoring, entrepreneurship and running a business with-and-for-women, all of which led her to write her inspirational book: '...
With most linguists working as freelancers, the upcoming Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements from HMRC are highly relevant to our community. To help demystify the changes arriving in April 2026, award‑winning AAT licensed accountant Claire Owen‑Jones has provided clear, practical guidance on what exactly is shifting and how you can prepare.
By Clare Lee
There are perhaps no two families of languages which are more useful than the English and Chinese languages. Here Clare Lee tells about the rich and varied career options she was able to pursue with English, Cantonese and Putonghua.
Careers in retail merchandising, IT consulting and translation do not quite seem to be...
By Sydnee Cooper
This article was originally published by MultiLingual Media on 14 February 2026.
Most of the world’s language work today happens in conditions defined by scarcity, such as scarce data, tooling, or professional capacity. While this is often framed as a technological challenge, it also reflects something deeper about the value of...
Every October, when the Nobel Prize in Literature is announced, a familiar anticipation rises across the world. You can feel it in classrooms, in newsrooms, in libraries, and, perhaps most poignantly, in the quiet curiosity of ordinary readers who love good books. The moment is charged not only with speculation about who will win, but with a deeper question: What kind of...
Julie Barber is an enthusiast of CIOL's electronic 'certified translation' stamps and explains here why more translators should use them
The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) provides members with a range of electronic stamps and logos. The stamps – which come in several designs and colours – can be found by logging in to the website and heading to the...
Over 40 Chartered and other professional bodies have signed an open letter to government offering their support as key partners in building trust in the public and business services we all depend on.
Chartered bodies can help government rebuild trust in public services
Chartered and professional bodies should be key partners of government as it builds trust in the...
CIOL is celebrating Chartered Week 2026!
What is it?
Chartered Week is a national awareness week bringing people and organisations together to shine a light on the value of professional registration and its potential for positive impact in society today.
Why celebrate it?
We are incredibly proud of our Chartered Linguists whose professional...