4 TheLinguistAPRIL/MAYwww.iol.org.ukNEWS & EDITORIAL FROM THECHAIR OF COUNCILWhen I joined theInstitute, almost exactly 20 years ago, Iwas putting mylanguage skills to useworking in Europeanand corporate affairs atthe National CoalBoard. The NCB is sadly no more, nor is theEuropean Coal and Steel Community, theexistence of which was the quick answer toquestions such as 'but where do languages comeinto the coal industry?'Fortunately, in those 20 years, the Institute hasfared rather better and I have been proud, duringmy 10 years as one of the Vice-Chairs of Council,to have been involved in the successful applicationfor a Royal Charter and the transition to theChartered Institute of Linguists, in the launch ofindividual chartered status, and in the celebrationof our centenary in 2010. I am particularly glad to have this opportunity tothank my predecessor as Chair of Council, TonyBell. Tony's involvement with the Institute overseveral decades meant that he was able tocombine enormous energy and commitment withan encyclopaedic knowledge of the Institute'saffairs - an invaluable asset considering that'institutional memory' can be all too short. Tony willbe a hard act to follow and we are fortunate thathe will still be serving on Council.The start of my term of office as Chair hascoincided with the roll-out of the new Ministry ofJustice interpreting contract. We often bemoan the media's lack of interest in the world oflanguages, but the new contract is certainly anexception. One of my first acts as the new Chair of Council was to write to the MoJrequesting a meeting to discuss the problems with the new arrangements and reaffirming ourcommitment to maintaining high standards inpublic service interpreting.On the subject ofmaintaining highstandards, one of mypersonal ambitions forthe CIOL is for us towork with otherlanguage bodies tosecure protection oftitle for translators andinterpreters. I am very much aware that this isunlikely to be achieved in the short or evenmedium term, but, building on individual charteredstatus, it would represent a further vital milestonein the recognition of the importance of qualifiedlanguage professionals.I am looking forward to working in a new rolewith long-standing colleagues, but also to forgingfresh links within the Institute and beyond topromote the role of languages -and maintainingthose important high standards in a world that ischanging with dizzying speed.One of my personal ambitions for the CIOL is for usto work with other language bodies to secureprotection of title for translators and interpretersKeith Moffitt

Vol/51 No/2 2012APRIL/MAYTheLinguist5NEWS & EDITORIALOn a recent trip to the local mall, I noticedthat one of the (many) mobile phone storeshad a sign offering the week's deals, writtenin Polish only. In my East Londonneighbourhood, it is normal to see shopsigns in other, primarily Eastern European,languages, but what struck me about thisparticular sign was that, although thebusiness is multinational, it was handwritten in store. Clearly, a localapproach is running alongside any wider language policy. According to aninsightful study on multilingual business practices in Europe, this approachto the language challenges of international businesses is common (p.20).The East End is also preparing for the Olympics, and a pop-upcampsite in my area is expecting up to 5,000 visitors. London 2012 hadbeen tight-lipped about the languages preparations for the Games, sowhen the Organising Committee agreed to answer my long list ofquestions at what must be their busiest time so far, I was pleasantlysurprised. They offer a real insight into how the challenges of putting ona massive international sporting event can be met (p.10). For me, themost exciting related cultural event is Globe to Globe, in which 37Shakespeare plays will be performed in 37 languages. I was fascinatedto learn about the Urdu translation, which sets The Taming of the Shrewin modern Pakistan and sounds incredibly inventive and funny (p.18).In this issue we launch a new 'Speak to the future' section, which willfollow the campaign as it progresses and develops. Its HigherEducation Working Group Leader, Pam Moores, and Project Manager,Dominic Luddy, begin by looking at the challenges ahead (p.8). STF isworking with a number of initiatives that have similar aims, among themThirdYearAbroad.com. Set up to help languages students on their yearabroad, the website also promotes languages degrees more widely, inpart by making them 'less intimidating' (p.24). Prof Moores notes that language students are the highest earnersamong arts graduates shortly after leaving university, but that this is notwidely known or promoted to secondary school pupils. Interpreters andtranslators will be interested to find out about their comparativeincomes in the comprehensive and much anticipated Rates and SalariesSurvey (p.12).Tellingly, rates have not generally kept up with inflation; yetlinguists working in sales, marketing and public relations are faringrelatively well (p.16). A friend of mine who works in publishing travelsregularly to meet with clients in their own country and language; it's aglamourous-sounding, if exhausting, role.Miranda MooreBranded by its creators as 'the next chapter inhuman computation', the goal is to translatevast amounts of web content into a variety oflanguages while at the same time providingfree language lessons for millions of users. Thelogic runs like this: Over 1.2 billion people arecurrently learning a foreign language whereaslarge sections of the web exist only in asingle language, usually English. So why notcombine these two activities and create anonline language course in which the learnerstranslate web texts as part of the learningexperience? . If this all sounds too good tobe true, that's because it is.'Learning through Crowdsourcing is Deaf tothe Language Challenge', 14/2/12What thepapers say.It is a baleful sign of our times that one ofNewt Gingrich's most effective attacks onMitt Romney is that he is so un-American hedares to speak French. [In the UK] thehangover from Empire and the legacy ofgreat power, along with the comfortingreality that the US is English-speaking,deludes us into still thinking that speaking aforeign language is a nice-to-have ratherthan a must-have asset.'Why do we Continue to Isolate Ourselvesby Only Speaking English?', 5/3/12Thousands of pounds are being wastedevery day because of problems caused by anew system of providing interpreters forcourts. Campaigners say the company[ALS] is offering a substandard service andstruggling to find interpreters as many refuseto work for it, resulting in it actually costingmore money. Interpreters for Justice -setup to get the framework scrapped -calledfor the immediate end of the arrangement.'Foreign Suspects are being Released from Police Custody due to Lack ofInterpreters', 3/3/12EDITOR'SLETTER