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
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thelinguist.uberflip.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER The Linguist 7 FEATURES A history of the Institute in 6 objects The President Trophy began life as the CC Liu Trophy, established by the Hong Kong Society (HKS) in the early 1990s to reward the most outstanding candidate in the Final Diploma in Hong Kong. Since 2011, it has been known as the President Trophy and awarded to the most outstanding candidate in the IoLET Diploma of Translation in Hong Kong. The award reflects the unique set up of HKS, which, as the largest of the eight CIOL societies, is the closest one to a 'branch'. Since the Institute's inception, there have been various attempts to form branches – from Greece to Australia to Kuwait – reflecting the Institute's broad membership base across the world. Unsurprisingly, there has been greater success in areas with a higher concentration of members: Hong Kong constitutes the most remote area from CIOL headquarters with a large number of members. One of the society's founding objectives was to establish the Institute's qualifications in Hong Kong, and the President Trophy is a reflection of its success in this aim. HKS continues to foster links between IoLET and universities and colleges in the area, and is now helping the Institute to explore opportunities in mainland China. Like many of the other societies (known as regional societies until the early 2000s), HKS owes its creation, in 1984, to one dedicated member: Professor CC Liu. The societies and divisions require committed volunteers to run them, and HKS's current Chair, Francis Lee, oversees its programme of conferences and talks, including an International Conference on Linguistics and Language Studies in April. The societies and divisions are a key way for CIOL members to get involved and forge North West (1991) and Lincolnshire (1998) are also still active. Formed in 1986, the German Society collaborates with other CIOL societies and professional language organisations, most notably organising the joint annual AnglophonerTag with the BDÜ and ITI German Network. Like the societies, the CIOL divisions are run by volunteers, and they rely on the untiring efforts of their elected Management Committees. Unlike the societies, they receive an annual grant and administrative support from CIOL. Created in 1986, the Translating, Interpreting, Education, and Business, Professions and Government (BPG; known as Industry and Commerce until 2005) divisions are significantly bigger than the societies, as each one is open to all members interested in the field, even if they are a member of another division as well. Chaired by Michael Cunningham, the Translating Division has always been the largest, with 4,000 members today. The Interpreting Division, with 1,600 members, has been chaired by Christine Pocock since 2000. Like the Translating Division, it aims to encourage exchange among professional linguists and to help members attain greater proficiency in their field, focusing on continuing professional development workshops and seminars, and networking events. Among its inspiring recent events was 'Meet the Interpreting Clients' in April (see page 30 for details). BPG events often include networking visits to places of interest. CIOL is currently looking at resurrecting the Education Division, which has been inactive for some years. If you are interested in getting involved with any of the divisions or societies, please email info@ciol.org.uk. We consider the story of the CIOL divisions and societies with a look at the Hong Kong Society's President Trophy links with other professional linguists. The London Society is the longest-running, established in 1967. The Scottish Society, founded in 1982 by Ruth Robertson, decided from the start that it would rotate meetings between Scotland's four main cities, a policy which the management committee, chaired by Anne Withers, continues today. Cambridge (formed in 1984), Spanish (1987),