The Linguist

24 The Linguist Vol/65 No/3 ciol.org.uk/thelinguist FEATURES CIOL prizewinner Charles Forsdick outlines his collaborative advocacy work with the British Academy To be given a prize named after David Crystal is a significant recognition for a scholar of languages in the UK. Our distinguished colleague's name reflects a lifetime of work – of teaching, writing and public engagement – that has transformed the broader understanding of languages and linguistics in the UK. David's contributions exemplify highly effective language advocacy as he has devoted a career to raising the profile of linguistic knowledge. The award is particularly meaningful for me as I have spent many years working to bring together various languages communities and, in particular, encouraging greater connections between communities in Modern Languages, Language-Based Area Studies and the many different facets of Linguistics. This is activity I continue to pursue in my current role as Co-Chair of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics in Cambridge. And it is why I am particularly pleased to share the award with Mike Orlov – a reminder of the active collaborations that we need across organisations and sectors to ensure that languages are taken seriously in the UK. In my role at the British Academy, I often find myself returning to a simple idea: studying languages is about much more than acquiring linguistic competence. It is about cultivating another way of engaging with the world. Studying languages encourages curiosity, empathy and intellectual openness, while reminding us that our own assumptions become sharper and clearer when viewed through the perspectives of others. If my work has contributed in some small way to advancing that understanding, then I regard the CIOL Award as an encouragement to continue making that case. Collaboration is key Languages have been a constant within my life and work since appointment to my first post as a lecturer in French at Glasgow, through my research, teaching and broader engagement. More recently, much of my work has been focused on language advocacy, and my current role as Lead Fellow for Languages at the British Academy has reinforced my conviction that advocacy is most effective when it is collaborative and collective. Working alongside colleagues from schools, universities, professional bodies, government and cultural organisations has shown that the future of languages in the UK depends on purposeful partnerships that reach far beyond any single institution. I have enjoyed working with a wide range of organisations, including the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Modern Languages, the University Council for Languages (UCFL) and the Institute for Languages, Cultures and Societies (ILCS). Via the work of the Strategic Committee for Languages in Higher Education (which the British Academy co-chairs with UCFL) and the Advisory Committee for Languages, it is gratifying to be part of an alliance that represents such a broad range of languages and sectors, including the many home, heritage and community languages used across the four nations of the UK. This collaborative approach predates my role at the British Academy, starting in 2012 when I was appointed by the AHRC (Arts and A united front Researchers translated their academic findings into actionable evidence for policymakers CIOL presented its annual awards at a ceremony at King's College London in June, with CIOL Honorary President Baroness Coussins hosting the event. The awards recognise outstanding contributions in the field of languages and exceptional achievement in CIOLQ's professional translation and interpreting qualifications. This year's winners for best candidate in the CertTrans, DipTrans and DPSI were Joana Cavaleiro, Duygu Türer and Aneta Flaza respectively. The University of Surrey's Centre for Translation Studies won the Threlford Cup, recognising its significant contributions to languages. The David Crystal Award, awarded for outstanding personal contributions to languages, was presented to Mike Orlov, who recently stepped down as Chief Executive of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), and Charles Forsdick, the British Academy's Lead Fellow for Languages. See www.ciol.org.uk/ciol-awards-2026 for more information.

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