Chartered Institute
of Linguists
NEWS & VOICES
How languages helped the music promoter make it to the top in a male-dominated industry
Music promoter Rachel Strassberger, who counts Black Eyed Peas among her biggest clients, has combined a career in law and marketing with a passion for electronic music. She explains how speaking five languages shapes who she is, how she builds relationships and how...
By Agata McCrindle
Why peer-to-peer mentoring – a sort of supportive partnership – can help with professional development, motivation and accountability.
Mentoring offers personalised support among professionals and boosts career growth. Early examples can be traced back to Greek mythology. In Homer’s Odyssey, King Odysseus goes to war, leaving his son,...
The UK’s Institute of Translation & Interpretation (ITI) has recently published a manifesto setting out the merits of 'slow translation.'
ITI make the point that:
“Artificial intelligence (AI), translation apps and other digital tools can be great when we simply need a quick translation – of a restaurant menu, say, or an informal email – but machine...
By Rafał Byzdra
Why did you decide to take the DPSI?
I took the DPSI primarily to enhance my job prospects. I realise how important it is to be externally recognised as an expert in one’s field. You may be well aware of your worth but to be given official recognition is something that proves it to other people, making you more credible in their eyes. At the same time it...
By Anita van Adelsbergen
As a Vice Chair of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and Chair of the CIOL Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, I think of World Day for Cultural Diversity as a day both to celebrate the richness of the world's cultures and the essential role of translators and interpreters in enabling intercultural dialogue towards peaceful...
By Laura Jones
In April, I was invited to speak to Translation Studies students at Cardiff University about the realities of working as a freelance translator. During the relaxed and informal Q&A session, we discussed everything from AI, MT and CAT tools to finding clients and knowing what to charge for our services. I tried to be as open and honest as possible...
By Holly Langstaff, Nicola Brown, Chris Dobbs and Rebecca Smithson
A new outreach project shows teens choosing their exam options that there’s more to languages than they thought, say Holly Langstaff, Nicola Brown, Chris Dobbs and Rebecca Smithson
A new languages outreach programme aims to change how secondary school students think about...
A podcast with Emma Gledhill
For this podcast in the series ‘A Language I love is…’, we travel high into the Alps, to join linguist and translator Emma Gledhill in the Graubünden/Grisons canton of Switzerland.
Emma's chosen language is Romansh, the distinct Romance language of the region that, despite its endangered and disunited state, nonetheless holds the...
GCHQ National Language Competition November 2024
Calling all UK secondary schools! CIOL is pleased to help GCHQ spread the word about their online National Language Competition in November this year for Year 9 (England and Wales) / S3 (Scotland) / Year 10 (N Ireland) pupils across the country.
For more information on the GCHQ National Language...
By Adriana Nesheva
How to fashion the perfect text when translating product descriptions for clothing brands
Product descriptions are a crucial component of fashion brands. While some may consider them boring or unnecessary, they can play a significant role in the purchasing decisions of consumers. When selecting apparel, many want to know more about the...