The Linguist

Chartered Institute of Linguists AUTUMN 2026 The Linguist 31 SECTION HEADER REVIEWS Getting Started as a Literary Translator Richard Mansell and Helen Vassallo Routledge 2026, 160 pp; ISBN 9781032901817 Paperback, £41.99 Getting Started as a Literary Translator provides an eminently practical introduction to the literary translation profession. While mainly addressed to students and recent graduates, it may also be of great value to experienced professionals seeking to gain a foothold in the complex world of book translation. Rather than focusing on translation theory or techniques, Helen Vassallo and Richard Mansell provide readers with specific guidance on the business, contractual and interpersonal aspects of the field, making the book a valuable resource for newcomers of any kind. In line with this pragmatic focus, the authors draw extensively on their own experience and the insights provided by an impressive panel of experts to explain the steps involved in building a sustainable career, from preparing a convincing pitch and approaching publishers to applying for funding and building relationships with editors and authors. These real-world issues are not always dealt with at undergraduate level; hence the book fills a major gap by explaining the pathways into literary translation and offering realistic advice on navigating the industry's expectations. Literary translation is also presented as a collaborative and community-oriented profession. The authors highlight the importance of networking, mentorship and translators' associations, and encourage readers to engage actively with the wider translation community. Ethical questions, including translator visibility, Anglocentric bias, diversity, fair treatment for minority languages and the use of AI, are also examined in detail. Their advice is balanced and realistic, acknowledging that the profession offers few guarantees, involves considerable uncertainty and can make earning a decent living difficult. At the same time, its rewards can be immense for those with a genuine vocation for such work. The book's flexible and varied structure enables it to serve either as a chapter-by- chapter teaching resource, with tasks for each of the topics addressed, or as a standalone guide for readers seeking an overview of the sector. In conclusion, this book is an essential guide for anyone considering a career in literary translation. It equips readers with the practical knowledge, professional strategies and confidence required to make a start in the profession. Ross Smith MCIL CL Inventing Languages Carolina González Cambridge University Press 2025, 378pp ISBN 9781108799416 Paperback, £26.99 Constructed languages (conlangs) have become a popular topic thanks to the many artificial worlds invented by science fiction stories. They can serve a variety of purposes and have a lengthy history. They range from Klingon, which was initially invented for Star Trek but now has its own institute and annual conference, to lesser known examples such as Shizu and Muq, which are also set in future galaxies. Natlangs (natural languages) have developed of their own accord over the years, and may include languages that were invented for widespread use like Volapük and Esperanto, whereas, conlangs may be used as part of a fictional world or for extraterrestrial beings. Fith, e.g, is spoken by centauroid sapient marsupials on the planet Fithia. The name that figures most in the lengthy list of conlangs given here is J R R Tolkein (with seven entries), though artificial language can be traced back to Hildegard of Bingen in the twelfth century. Her lingua ignota ran to over 1,000 words and had its own 23-letter alphabet. Thomas More's Utopia of 1516, meanwhile, comes with references to its own language, an alphabet and a map. Language games have a long history, with Pig Latin in English, Verlan in French and Jerigonza in Spanish. These either add an extra syllable or invert syllables in order to confuse listeners who are not in on the game. A similar purpose is served by hidden languages such as Polari, used by gay men in the 1950s, or Lunfardo, which began as criminal cant in Buenos Aires. Pidgin languages may also emerge to serve a particular purpose and later be incorporated into the mainstream language, or become a recognised language in their own right. Inventing Languages covers these topics as well as modalities such as sign languages. Its main role is as a linguistics textbook, with an introductory section to each of its 18 chapters. There are lots of abbreviations for terms such as 'hesternal', 'hodiernal' and 'illative', which have no definition with them and do not appear in the Index. The glossary runs to two pages and includes terms such as 'ergative' and 'semelfactive'. These gripes aside, Carolina González provides a very thorough introduction to conlangs and shows readers how to create their own (which they can add to the 60 listed in the Appendix). But it might be simpler just to sign up for the next Klingon Convention. Professor Tim Connell Hon FCIL See TL65,1 for a review of the 'Inventing a Language' episode of the podcast Sideways.

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