The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/458734
Vol/54 No/1 2015 FEBRUARY/MARCH The Linguist 17 FEATURES Hot off the press Compiling the first ever issue demanded considerable time and graft. We were faced with a series of blank pages to transform into a full-blown magazine. We were Microsoft Publisher novices and were initially perplexed by technical requirements such as margins and alignment. Above all, it was the quality of the articles we received from students that truly made the magazine. We proudly distributed it around campus. The delight on the writers' faces when they saw their names in print gave us enormous satisfaction. In order to ensure that, between print issues, we could accommodate the influx of articles we were receiving, we decided to establish a strong online presence. We got in touch with a small graphic design company in Birmingham and had an initial meeting to discuss the website we wanted to create. They were very responsive and quite taken with our magazine. They soon helped us develop a concept for a site that could function as a blog and would be able to cope with multiple users (our editors) uploading content. They were so passionate about helping us that they gave us a very reasonable price for the design. The finished site was live within a few weeks, with dynamic features and fresh, bold visuals (see theuoblinguist.co.uk). So far, we have produced 10 issues, amounting to one or two a term. Because the UoB Linguist is one of a kind within the university and strikes such a chord with the student body, it has been very successful. In his address to the graduates of 2012, the Vice Chancellor praised the magazine as an 'asset to the university'. At the Guild of Students Awards 2013, we were very proud to win 'Most Outstanding Society' over more than 200 other student groups. I am now in my final year of study and my ambition is that students keep the magazine going. I would like to see it continue to grow and become a prestigious, regular publication on campus. On a personal level, I am confident that I have developed invaluable skills at the helm of this venture, which will help me in the professional world and particularly on my path into journalism. I have learned that I thrive on coordinating a team and drawing on people's ideas to produce something creative and unique. I have also learned a huge amount about how my university works and how to make use of its structures in order to push through change. I believe that our magazine demonstrates the scope of what students can achieve and how they can actively change their student experience. Often you do not realise that, among your fellow students, there are like- minded people who will join with you for a common goal. I have been able to form lasting friendships with the people I have worked with on this project and I hope that I have sown the seeds for something that can grow and flourish in the future. PRIDE AND JOY Students pose with the 'UoB Linguist' (left); and Madeleine promotes the magazine (far left) Kia Hunt is taking a BA in Hispanic Studies at Birmingham University. She is the Portuguese Editor of the UoB Linguist. 'As Editor of the Portuguese section, my principal role is to source relevant content for each issue. I gather new content and writers via social media, and organise small group sessions to discuss their ideas for articles written in the Portuguese language. I then check over their articles and offer my suggestions for improvements. My next responsibility is to send the articles to a native proofreader, and then my completed Portuguese section to the creative designers before the deadline. I was interested in the magazine because I am passionate about foreign languages and cultures, and this position allows me to develop my writing style, language proficiency and editing skills. So far, it has been an incredibly valuable experience, as I have had the opportunity to meet many like-minded linguists. It will also significantly improve my CV and help me on my ideal career path to become a travel writer.' MEET THE EDITOR We have doubled the number of language sections and we now cover everything from French to Japanese