30 TheLinguistAUGUST/SEPTEMBERwww.iol.org.ukOPINION & COMMENTEmail with your viewsAncient treasures by the bookIn all archaeological explorations wheresomeapparentform of writing is involved,the linguist may well become the mostimportant person in the archaeological team.If it had not been for Dr Thomas Young inBritain and Jean-Francois Champollion inFrance, both working in the early 19thcentury, we might still be mystified as to themeaning of the almost limitless hieroglyphsthat have been found throughout ancientEgypt. It was linguists who found the key tothe detailed history of more than 4,000 yearsof Egyptian civilisation.And there are many more writtenlanguages, already discovered, which are stillwaiting for talented linguists to decipher.Tuscany is covered with inscriptions from thepowerful Etruscan city-state civilisation thatpreceded the Romans in Italy, which no onehas been able to translate; there is somesuggestion that Etruscan developed fromancient Albanian or perhaps the reverse, butthere is insufficient proof for this. In Asia, theexcavations of what was the mighty IndusValley empire have revealed copiousexamples of writing, even huge writtenboards, but nobody has yet been able todiscover what the writing means.Prehistoric finds, often in caves, revealscratchings and paintings that apparentlywere intended to convey meaning and werethus languages. Most of these are still amystery to us. I am interested in another form ofarchaeology -investigating what is inside thecovers of ancient books. Throughout theages, bookbinders have used, for theirbinding materials, the pages from unwantedbooks or manuscripts, or whatever sparepaper was handy. At the time of use, thesematerials were of no interest, but today theymay be of vital importance. One of the mostfamous Anglo Saxon texts, the FinsburhFragment, was found in the binding of a17th-century book when the bindingdisintegrated.Many bindings may contain amazingthings, just waiting for translators,cryptographers and specialists in foreignlanguages and linguistics to reveal them. Thepotential of ancient book covers throughoutthe world, and even in the British Isles alone,is rather like having the whole of Egypt andthe Middle East, China and South Americabefore us, completely unexcavated andunexplored. It is time for the administratorsof large libraries and ancient collections tolook at what they have got. And we linguistswill be close by, ready to help!Maurice Varney FCILOne and only?It is true that business needs the State to meetits responsibility to provide for languageseducation, but this does not mean thatglobalisation (in its current capitalist/free-market form) would not be facilitated if oneand the same language were spoken by ourplanet's total populace. The fact that English isspoken so extensively, serving as an unofficialglobal language, is a natural outcome of theneed for a common linguistic platform forprofoundly economic reasons. Without acommon linguistic pivot (English, in our currentcase), companies would be practically unableto carry out their daily business actions; or thecost for such actions would not be viable.Globalisation is founded on the principlesof capitalism, which is optimally served by afree-market economy. This, in turn, strives andstruggles to facilitate mobility in all areas ofproduction. And I'm asking: Is there ANYfactor of production that would not befacilitated were they to be carried out over auniform (ie, single/global) linguistic platform?The fact that English has not gained 'official'status as the one and only world language isthe outcome of conscious efforts on behalf ofheads of state to impede this globalisationprocess by raising language barriers that'protect' their sovereign economies/fiscalpolicies against the global melting pot -ie, by controlling the flow of factors ofproduction (especially human capital) througha refusal to adopt a global linguistic platform.Dr Fotios Karamitroglou, Athens University of Economics & Business© ISTOCKPHOTOClarification'In the Radiation Zone' (TL51,3) drewsubstantially on an article first published inthe spring 2007 issue of Communicator(see www.istc.org.uk).I am interested in attending an evening classin London that would prepare me for A-levelPortuguese but I have not been able to findone, nor even a school where I could sit forthe exam. I would be grateful for any advice.Maria Grazia Marino MCILA-levels: auxílio

Vol/51 No/4 2012AUGUST/SEPTEMBERTheLinguist31INSTITUTE MATTERSThe first examinations of the Institute wereheld in 1910 to 'test a practical knowledgeof the spoken language, the ability of thecandidate to read at sight and understandthe language offered, whether written orspoken, and to express himself or herselfboth orally and in writing'. The examinationswere, to begin with, membership qualifyingtests. This purpose has been retained but,over the years, the examinations havebroadened into professional qualifications intheir own right. The first record of a trophy is the ThrelfordChallenge Cup, presented to the Institute in1934 by Sir Lacon Threlford, founder of theInstitute. It was awarded annually to theschool or college whose students performedbest in the examinations of the Institute.Described as 'the world's greatest trophy forfostering the study of languages' and 'ofmarvellous beauty', it contains 280 oz ofsilver-gilt and stands over a metre high. The next addition to the trophies was theDeakin Rose Bowl, presented in 1952.However, there is no record of anyonedeliberately starting a collection of prizes tobe awarded to candidates or centres whoperform well in the examinations. Rather,and this is part of its charm, the collectionhas grown organically and now comprisesdifferent trophies that include cups, shields,bowls and a globe, all of which have theirown particular history. Prizes have been donated in memory ofFellows, for example the Fred BrandeisTrophy (best Diploma in Translation, Englishto German candidate), and the SchlappsOliver Shield (best group DipTrans entry),presented in memory of Mr G SchlappsOliver, a generous donor to the Institute'slibrary. Organisations such as the NuffieldFoundation have given prizes (best Diplomain Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) groupentry), as have individuals: in 1965 the widowof Mikhail Youhotsky, one of the few top-leveltranslators in Russian in the late 1950s andearly 1960s, presented a Cup to the Institute(best Certificate in Bilingual Skills group entry). In recent years, the IoL Educational Trusthas received three monetary gifts, which hasenabled it to offer annual CPD prizes. Therecipients are asked to use the award forNominations for the 2012 ThrelfordMemorial Cup for the person or institution who has done most to 'fosterthe study of languages' should be madeby 1 September 2012. For details ofhow to nominate see www.iol.org.uk.NOMINATIONSsomething to do with languages, such asdictionaries, software or travel. Receipts arenot requested, but an article for the Trust'snewsletter is. Examinations come and go, so someprizes have been re-allocated, always, wherepossible, with the permission of the originaldonor. Since the ending of the ELICexamination, the Threlford Challenge Cup,now known as the Threlford Memorial Cup,has been awarded to an institution orindividual who has done the most to 'fosterthe study of languages'. Recent winners haveincluded Annie Bannerman for her work withAston University's Languages for Life project,the Mary Glasgow Trust, and ArnotCommunity Primary School. There is also aspecial commendation trophy in connectionwith this award, donated by Professor DavidCrystal, a Vice-President of the Institute.The Trust continues to receive prizes. Lastyear, the Hong Kong Society created a prizenamed after its outgoing Chairman, Dr K C Li,for the best candidate taking DipTrans Englishinto Chinese in Hong Kong. Earlier this yearwe received a bequest from the royalties ofbooks written by Simeon Potter, the Threlfordlecturer in 1973, which will be awarded as aCPD prize for the first time this year. Also in time for this year's prizes, theTranslating Division is donating a trophy inmemory of Professor Peter Newmark whodied in July 2011. A leading light in the fieldof translation theory and practice, and a Vice-President of the Institute, Peter was involvedboth with the Trust, as a Board member, andwith the DipTrans examination itself, as amarker. After consultation with Peter's family,it has been agreed that the prize will begiven to the candidate with the highest markin the DipTrans Literature option.The prizes themselves are presented eachyear in Central London, sometimes by ourRoyal Patron, HRH Prince Michael of KentGCVO. The winners are photographed withthe prizes, but they are theirs for the eveningonly. A medal is given to each winner as amemento, together with a certificate.It seems unlikely that anyone enters our examinations with the intention ofwinning one of the prizes, and indeed whenprizewinners are contacted with the news, itis often received with delighted disbelief. But the tradition of awarding prizes is well-received, and the nature and type of prizeswill continue to evolve. It is a positive way forus to be able to acknowledge and celebrateexcellence in the field of languages, asentiment with which the 12 or soprizewinners each year would surely agree. Hilary Maxwell-Hysloplooks atthe Institute's awards, old and newPrize perfect© OLYDENJOHNSON