The Linguist

Chartered Institute of Linguists What the papers say… Speaking More Languages Can Slow Down Ageing, Study Reveals, 10/11/25 Being bilingual revealed only a "modest" advantage, suggesting the more languages you speak the better… Christos Pliatsikas, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Reading, said the results could "bring a step change to the field". "The effects of multilingualism on ageing have always been controversial, but I don't think there has been a study of this scale before, which seems to demonstrate them quite decisively." UK Will Rejoin Erasmus Student Scheme in 2027, 16/12/25 Alex Stanley, from the National Union of Students (NUS), said it was "fantastic that another generation of students will be able to be part of the Erasmus programme"… Emily Pike, a student from Devon, told the BBC she had to strike her own deal to study in Italy because Turing funding was so limited. "All of my peers from other countries were almost entirely covered by Erasmus funding," she said. The latest from the languages world Regulations mean little when there is a lack of qualified professionals, reports Philip Harding-Esch Many healthcare settings are struggling to find interpreters or translators, according to a recent report in Pulse. Indeed, interpreters are often not available at all. In the last issue, we reported that only 7% of BSL speakers who require a language professional at NHS appointments always have one. This is supported by a BBC report focusing on a deaf woman whose interpreter was cancelled on the day of her surgery. Although she was able to muddle through with the help of a nurse who "was capable of basic signing", this is not an acceptable situation, as her family stated. Where a lack of interpreters leads to cancelled operations and court cases – or worse (medical errors, miscarriages of justice) – this can cause unimaginable harm. A recent study showed that doctors and nurses are increasingly turning to Google Translate and other online tools. Anne Cronin, the lead researcher, said "AI translation tools are increasingly replacing human interpreters in GP surgeries, even though none of these apps have been tested for patient safety." The NHS published its 'Improvement Framework: Community language translation NEWS & EDITORIAL and interpreting services' in May but the reality is that, under pressure, professionals make pragmatic decision in the moment, governed by the availability (or otherwise) of language resources. It's the same story in Wales, where a new BSL Bill has been proposed to impose a duty on public bodies to provide BSL provision, rather than waiting for a complaint under the Equality Act. However, it is again a shortage of professionals that undermines the proposal. Only 4% of UK interpreters and translators live in Wales – and there is no training for BSL interpretation in Wales. Jenny Rathbone MS, who chairs the Welsh Senedd's Equality and Social Justice Committee, admits: "The shortage of interpreters and translators in Wales stands out as the greatest threat to the success of this proposed law." Similarly, efforts to introduce a new GCSE in BSL reached a significant milestone as the examinations regulator Ofqual published its rules for the design of the qualification. However, there is no guarantee that exam boards will develop the exam due to a series of challenges – not least a lack of qualified teachers and examiners. SPRING 2026 The Linguist 5 In A City of 300 Languages, London's Theatre Speaks Mostly One, 21/11/25 Brexit and the pandemic hit and the impact was felt deeply by the theatre industry. Fear spread… Companies that once brought European theatre makers and other languages to London are struggling, or have disappeared… There are a wonderful few examples that speak for the opposite. For example, when Spirited Away came to the London Coliseum in 2024, it was sold out for months. Audiences came from all over the world to see it, despite it being performed entirely in Japanese. Linguist shortages © SHUTTERSTOCK

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