The Linguist

@CIOL_Linguists AUTUMN 2023 The Linguist 13 FEATURES such as Scrabble or someone like Susie Dent. I know lockdown was a difficult time for a lot of people, but for me it was a creative and fertile period. This project would not have happened without it. It's true people have an interest in languages, but as translators we see companies replacing us with AI, so this interest doesn't always shine through… I think there is a difference between the functional need (i.e. 'I need to have this text translated; how can I do that?') versus the curious and wondering side of languages as a bigger subject – as something to explore and discover and ask questions about. These digital solutions seem to provide a convenient way of getting the job done, but it's not until you start using a translator that you appreciate the craft of linguists. Of the collaborators you worked with, who most surprised you? I contacted about 150 people – academics, lexicographers and authors who knew about words and languages – to see if they wanted to send in a question. At least 50% gave us one question. But there were some who sent in more. I also worked with four illustrators to have the design as perfect as possible. We received questions from the likes of Michael Rosen, Ben Schott, Simon Horobin, Lynne Truss and many more. Sometimes, these contributions led to exciting things. Jonathon Green, the world's foremost slang lexicographer, and Gaston Dorren, a polyglot language expert, were big fans of the game and this led to conversations about authored special editions. Now we're in production of the Lexicon about being curious KBURN MEETS a Global Edition written by Gaston and Jonathon's Slang Edition, due for release in September. It's amazing how it's grown. So many wonderful people contributed. If any readers are interested in being part of it, please do reach out. As a designer and photographer, you paid a lot of attention to the aesthetics of the game. Do you think we could spark an interest in languages among more people by using attractive visuals? Yes, absolutely. It could definitely help, but it's not just about design. Someone like Susie Dent isn't about design; she is about making it more accessible, beyond academia. She is basically telling the world about it. That is the real challenge. It is about accessibility, and design could be a part of that. Is there a language you would like to learn yourself? There are so many things I'd like to learn but if I had to choose one language it would be Portuguese. I now have Portuguese citizenship thanks to my family roots as a Sephardic Jew, so it may be good to learn more about the language. What are your plans now? I might come up with more editions, like the Slang and Global editions. I have also written a Junior Edition for younger players. And, finally, how would you persuade a young person to engage with languages? I feel that here in England we've a got a problem with teaching languages and with caring for them. It's a mixed blessing that everybody worldwide speaks English. There is a real cultural problem with foreign languages in this country that is fundamentally different in Holland or Spain, for example. In many countries learning languages is not optional. To address the question of language learning in the UK we need to change the way it is set up and we really need young people to help in this effort. Coming back to my sense of curiosity, that is where it starts for me: a sense of curiosity and wonder and love of languages. It has to start there. See www.leagueofthelexicon.co.uk for more about the game or to contribute a question to future editions. For your chance to win a game, send a letter for publication to linguist.editor@ciol.org.uk. © SIMON JONES

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