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/715470
On 23 May, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Modern Languages considered The Value of Languages, a report published by the Cambridge Public Policy Strategic Research Initiative. This very clear 25-page document exemplifies what the APPG seeks to support: clear and concise policy recommendations based on solid research, with the active collaboration of a wide range of stakeholders. Readers will be aware of the surprisingly broad policy areas in which languages have (or should have) a place: not only challenges in the education system (from primary to universities), exports, diplomacy, defence and security, but also in public health, justice and communities with an increasingly multilingual population. Languages have a particular (and increasing) social and political dimension in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. After publishing its Manifesto for Languages in 2014, calling for a national recovery programme for languages, the APPG has used its regular meetings to gather evidence in these areas and has supported initiatives to develop language policy, such as the colloquium looking at languages in schools hosted by Pembroke College, Oxford in 2015. Sometimes the simplest issues can make a big difference. For instance, GCHQ is only able to recruit UK citizens, making the recent threat to UK qualifications in languages such as Arabic a potential risk for national security. 6 The Linguist Vol/55 No/4 2016 www.ciol.org.uk NEWS & EDITORIAL Philip Harding-Esch considers a new report, mapping out a strategy for valuing languages Inside parliament Philip Harding-Esch works on behalf of the British Council to support the APPG on Modern Languages. TL In October 2015, Cambridge University held a workshop, chaired by Baroness Coussins HonFCIL, APPG Chair and CIOL Vice-President, to map where responsibility for language sits within government. Representatives from Ofsted, UK Trade and Investment, the Ministry of Defence and the devolved administrations, among others, identified the key recommendations, concerns and benefits of a UK strategy for languages. The resulting report sets out a series of goals centred on the UK's needs in the areas of diplomacy, security, the economy, defence, cultural capital, social cohesion and education. It looks at where we are now, and steps to improve, with some excellent case studies. A proposed strategy is mapped out, arguing for a cross-departmental government approach, organisational culture change, changes in education and training, and research on multilingualism. Perhaps the most important recommendation is to make the case for a designated Minister for Language Policy. See http://bit.ly/ValueOfLanguages to read The Value of Languages. For further details about the APPG, email appgmfl@gmail.com. While English is the most spoken language in Europe, and an official language in three member states – Ireland, England and Malta – Irish is Ireland's official EU nominated language and Maltese is Malta's official language… Malta or Ireland cannot also request English as an official language without first making a change to EU rules which would require a unanimous decision in the EU Council… Jean-Luc Mélenchon leftwing MEP and French presidential candidate tweeted on Monday that "English can no longer be the third working language of the European Parliament". 'European Commission Rejects Claims English will not be EU Language', 28/6/16 What the papers say… In January, Skype rolled out its real-time translation software, which allows voice-to- voice translation in seven languages. But even this hi-tech development was not without its teething problems, randomly turning Mandarin words into obscenities… Alan Packer, director of engineering language technology at Facebook, said recently that statistical machine translation was reaching "the end of its natural life". Instead, translation tech is now moving towards artificial neural networks… [which] can learn metaphors and the meaning behind the language. 'Wife Cake and Evil Water: The perils of auto-translation', 28/6/16 [Major League Baseball interpreter J D] Kim's juggling of three languages highlights some of the hurdles of communicating in the majors with so many players from different places… This season is the first that all 30 MLB clubs are required to employ a Spanish- language interpreter for their players. 'Byung Ho Park Learning Two New Languages in MLB Rookie Year', 25/6/16 © SHUTTERSTOCK