The Linguist

Chartered Institute of Linguists The latest from the languages world Philip Harding-Esch reports on the state of university languages as Cardiff moves to close its department NEWS & EDITORIAL SPRING 2025 The Linguist 5 Cardiff faces cuts What the papers say… The Challenges of Studying in a Second Language Have Made Me More Resilient, 19/12/24 I learned to approach language like solving a puzzle, piecing together meanings from nursing journals, patient leaflets and online articles. Every time I cracked a term, it felt like a small victory… Placements are where theory meets reality and where the real challenges happen. Navigating different accents, slang and fast-paced conversations in a hospital setting can be overwhelming. But I've learned to adapt. My favourite phrase during placements? "Could you explain that again?" Asking for clarification isn't just helpful, it shows that I care about doing the job right. Irish Language Cuts 'A Total Failure from Both Governments', 1/2/25 [Foras na Gaeilge] is a cross-border body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland. It said it has to make savings of more than €800,000 (£669,000)… Dr Ó Tiarnaigh from Conradh na Gaeilge said the cuts "will leave local and national groups under even more pressure amidst a long-running funding crisis amongst the Irish language community". Fifth of Brits 'Never' Attempt to Speak a Foreign Language When Abroad, 27/12/24 53% said they would rather point to something on a menu than risk the embarrassment of saying a word wrong. The poll of 2,000 adults found that 30% often find themselves mispronouncing foreign words or phrases. 'Gyros', 'tagliatelle', and Vietnamese noodle soup 'pho' were the trickiest foods to pronounce. The new year has started with the dreadful news that Cardiff University (pictured) has announced plans to cut 400 full-time jobs, including the potential closure of modern languages and translation. Citing financial pressures, the university launched a consultation lasting just three months. This is, unfortunately, increasingly familiar. Last year, Aberdeen University threatened cuts and closures affecting languages. In that case, the worst scenario was avoided following a concerted campaign from across the languages sector, triggering interventions from the Scottish government, national agencies and cultural institutes. What makes these cuts particularly alarming is that they are happening irrespective of the reputation or strategic importance of the languages departments in the institutions concerned. Aberdeen University has a unique role in providing trainee languages teachers to schools across the Highlands, for example; as well as specific obligations under Scotland's Gaelic Plan. Similarly, Cardiff University is the largest provider of modern languages degrees in Wales, accounting for over 60% of all undergraduate intake; and the university has an international reputation for leading on policy and advocacy work for languages, the influence of which can be seen in Wales and across the UK. In December, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages (APPG ML) held a meeting exploring some of the pressures facing languages provision in universities (for details, see 'Inside Parliament' in the last issue). The key point from Universities UK was that universities are having to make difficult choices within the constraints of the funding regime. The University and College Union (UCU) has shown that over half of all Higher Education institutions (88 of 166 universities) are undergoing redundancies, restructuring or departmental closures. These choices are being made in isolation (i.e. institutions are having to act out of self- preservation), which is not necessarily compatible with ensuring strategic, nationwide provision. With the support of the University Council for Languages (UCFL), a series of recommendations was made at this

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