The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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32 The Linguist Vol/58 No/6 2019 ciol.org.uk/tl INSTITUTE MATTERS to CIOL, and they are now spreading the word and organising events. For Hero Cai, the main reason for joining is that "CIOL is the only chartered institute for linguists, and membership means recognition of high professional standing". He works in education and believes that students are more likely to trust a teacher certified by CIOL and a course designed by a Fellow and Chartered Linguist. The professional aspects of membership attracted Ruidi Li: "Receiving regular information from CIOL keeps me up to date with the latest CPD [continuing professional development] events, and I can use the W hile Hong Kong has had its own membership network since 1984, CIOL hasn't yet given the same support to members in mainland China, despite offering the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) and bespoke language projects at universities in Shanghai. Things are starting to change. In October, CIOL Business Development Manager Dom Hebblethwaite and Hong Kong-based China Representative Florence Lam visited Shanghai to host the first members' meet-up on China's mainland. Seven enthusiastic members turned up, excited to meet other linguists in their city. The group represented a slightly more business-oriented mix of linguists than would attend similar events in the UK, reflecting the fact that the translator market is less prevalent in China, where people are more likely to be employed or run their own companies. Dom recently started learning Chinese (Pǔtōnghuà) and subjected the group to his "clumsy attempts at speaking", as he put it. They responded with a rendition of a children's story told entirely by saying the word Ji using different tones – a rather macabre tale about a man who ends up killing his chicken after it gets hungry. It was while studying at UK universities that many members from China were introduced China ambitions After a successful meeting in Shanghai, how are CIOL's new China networks developing and what are their plans for the future? membership logo and CIOL number on my CV to show clients I am professional." Lulu agrees: "It definitely looks good on my CV." She believes the network in China is important because it will help linguists to connect with each other and share knowledge and resources (as well as becoming friends), and make it easier for businesses to seek the professional services of a linguist. Ruidi feels that China could learn from translation companies in the UK and the rest of Europe, which are more professional and well structured. By connecting people, CIOL's China networks might help the nation's translation industry to be more systematic. Network members have big plans, and are keen to arrange events and workshops. "The meet-up is just a start," explains Ruidi. "In future we can invite professionals to talk and share their experiences and get people in the same room to network." The activity in Shanghai gives CIOL a firm basis for growing the number of members in China and creating membership benefits specific to that market. While we watch how the Shanghai Network progresses, we have plans to set up a similar network for members in Beijing. Watch this space! See ciol.org.uk/china-networks to get involved or email dom.hebblethwaite@ciol.org.uk. SHANGHAI MEET-UP: WHO'S WHO (Left-right) Hero, an interpreter who runs his own teaching business, Flipped English; Florence, an exam consultant whose history with CIOL goes back to 1982; Zoe, a translator with UN provider GroupHorse/Zema; Dom (贺东), CIOL Business Development Manager; Klink, who heads up the translation and interpreting department for GroupHorse/Zema; Neeko, a language teacher who has lived in China for more than a decade; Lulu, who works in Disney's legal department in Shanghai and started as an interpreter; Emily, an interpreter, translator and project manager for a US construction firm; and Ruidi, a translator for a technology company.