The Linguist

The gains that have been made by the Women in Translation initiative to counter gender bias in UK publishing are encouraging (p.18), with many interesting books now available in English that may not otherwise have been commissioned. But, as Helen Vassallo explains, there is still work to be done to ensure that more works by women from marginalised groups and underrepresented parts of the world are translated for the anglophone market. Also in this issue, Eyhab Bader Eddin offers insights into Syria's conflict-related language and how translators can approach the nuances of such terms following the fall of Bashar al- Assad (p.8). Rona Castrioti writes a poignant and personal reflection on the process of translating her grandfather's novel, and the challenges of rendering language embedded in the Albanian landscape and culture into English (p.14). Sangi Gurung asks whether interpreters are equipped to provide summaries in immigration trials, as they are increasingly being required to do (p.16). And Sue Leschen gives an overview of the working conditions inside Britain's prisons (p.12). The Editorial Board said farewell to three longstanding board members at our February meeting as their terms came to an end. It has been a pleasure to work with Chloe Fairfoull, Eleni Pavlopoulos and Jessica Oppedisano, who shared valuable insights and expertise in fields as diverse as audio-visual translation, secondary education, commercial business and public service interpreting. If you would like to find out about joining the board please express an interest at https://cutt.ly/CIOLEB. Miranda Moore 4 The Linguist Vol/64 No/1 ciol.org.uk/thelinguist NEWS & EDITORIAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S NOTES One thing I find interesting with languages is the extent to which, when you don't use them, they go a bit rusty – but also the extent to which they can quickly come back… I've often wondered is this more of a confidence thing or a genuine attrition and loss of capacity. A recent blog from Duolingo about their English Tests offers some interesting insights (https://cutt.ly/DuoTest). They note that High Stakes English Language Tests, particularly those used for academic admission or professional certification, carry significant weight. Their results can shape educational and career trajectories, making accuracy crucial. However, language proficiency isn't static – it can both improve and decline over time. Research reveals fascinating patterns in language attrition. While basic vocabulary (like greetings) often remains stable, productive skills (speaking and writing) typically decline faster than receptive ones (reading and listening). This explains the common experience of feeling 'rusty' in a language: you might understand more than you can produce. However, interestingly, higher initial proficiency levels seem to correlate with better long-term retention. That's good news for CIOL members and professional linguists more generally: higher proficiency levels provide protection against language attrition. But of course the other factor is language change. Languages themselves evolve – from technology to current affairs to social mores and memes, our daily verbal communication is constantly on the move. And this of course highlights what we know as linguists: that even for people with 'fluency', or who are bilingual, continuous language exposure and practice – particularly in productive skills – are vital to keeping up with language change and keeping the rust at bay. Duolingo's research underlines that maintaining active language use is vital for preserving professional-level competency. This is why many language test scores and assessments come with a 'health warning' and an expiration date. For language learners, this is actually empowering news. The more proficient you become, the more resilient your language skills will be. For bilingual speakers, it explains why you might feel rusty but can quickly get back into the swing of things. And for language professionals, it underscores the joy and importance of continuous engagement with our working languages. For linguists, this is a reminder of why staying connected with living languages is so exciting, important and, frankly, so much fun! Every conversation you have, every book you read and every TV show you watch in your target language isn't just entertainment – it's active CPD and language maintenance. Now that's what I call a win-win! Do enjoy this issue of The Linguist. John Worne EDITOR'S LETTER Share your views: linguist.editor@ciol.org.uk

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