Chartered Institute of Linguists

The CIOL Awards 2026, held yesterday, celebrated outstanding achievements across languages - from individual excellence to lasting institutional impact.
Held at King’s College London, the ceremony recognised leading contributors including Mike Orlov, Charles Forsdick and Sabine Braun, alongside top candidates in CIOLQ qualifications.
As Baroness Coussins said: “There are few things better than celebrating the value of languages and linguists.”
Read the full report here:
https://www.ciol.org.uk/ciol-awards-2026

🌟 Free webinar tomorrow, Friday 12 June, 11am (UK time): Freelance translation that works for you!

Freelancing can be rewarding - but it comes with big decisions. Join CIOL member and experienced translator Danielle Coleman as she shares practical tips on shaping your workload, focusing on what you enjoy most, and setting boundaries to keep work sustainable.

💡 Gain confidence in saying no, choosing the right projects, and building a freelance life that fits you.
👉 Save your spot now by registering here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5624946910798398296

This checklist has been developed by researchers at CenTraS-UCL in collaboration with experienced practitioners, to support effective interpreter‑mediated medical consultations.

It is designed as a practical, accessible tool for clinicians and other healthcare professionals who work with interpreters, and can serve as an introduction to good practice in this area. The checklist is informed by expert input and a structured consultation process involving interpreters, researchers and healthcare professionals.

It has been tested through surveys and interviews, with early consensus reached and further evaluation planned in clinical settings.

CIOL is always pleased to support initiatives that strengthen standards and understanding in interpreter‑mediated communication, recognising the importance of clear, effective collaboration between clinicians and language professionals in delivering safe, effective and equitable care.

Medical Interpreting Checklist | CIOL (Chartered Institute of Linguists) This checklist has been developed by researchers at UCL in collaboration with experienced practitioners, to support effective interpreter‑mediated medical consultations. It is designed as a practical, accessible tool for clinicians and other healthcare professionals who work with interpreters, and...

In his latest encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV places AI within the wider human story of language, communication and responsibility.
He recognises AI as a powerful force – one that demands careful thought, strong ethical guidance and respect for human dignity.
As digital systems play a bigger role in shaping decisions and ideas, he also calls for transparency: who builds these technologies, who governs them, and who benefits?
It’s a reminder of the importance of truth, communication and education in the digital age.
Linguists will agree.
You can find the Pope’s encyclical, and the related AI dilemmas facing students in ‘Here Come the Student Resisters’ in the latest CIOL AI Updates:
https://www.ciol.org.uk/ciol-ai-updates

☀️The Summer issue of The Linguist has arrived!
“Thanks to our cover story”, writes editor Miranda Moore in her opening editorial, “ 'The Girl from Ipanema' has become the soundtrack to this issue, ushering in the warmer weather”. The fascinating cover feature shows how translation can make a global hit!
Also in this issue: a behind-the-scenes look at working in interpreting booths – the challenges, skills and split-second decisions that define the profession.
Plus highlights from the CIOL Conference on how linguists are meeting current changes in languages work.
Whether you’re building your career or deepening your expertise, there’s something here to inform and inspire.
📖 Download the latest issue now and stay connected to your profession:
www.ciol.org.uk/thelinguist

Did you know that CIOL sends out a monthly e-newsletter with the latest updates from the world of languages.?

Catch up on highlights from our recent e-news now, including:
✨ The summer issue of The Linguist
🎤 Insights from our CIOL Conferences (in-person and online)
💬 Fresh blogs from CIOL Voices
🤖 What linguists are saying about AI

Take a few minutes to explore the stories – and don’t forget to sign up so you never miss an update straight to your inbox!
https://www.ciol.org.uk/ciol-highlights

Fluency isn’t the whole story.
Join our online session on 18 June - 'More than fluency: the value of languages for corporate careers' - when a panel of experts will explore how language skills translate into real professional value.

In this interactive session, we’ll look beyond grammar and vocabulary to discuss:
✔️ The skills employers are really looking for
✔️ How languages add value in corporate environments
✔️ Why cultural awareness and communication expertise matter as much as fluency
Whether you’re building your career, advising clients, or working across languages every day, this webinar will help you rethink what “being fluent” really means in the workplace.
Secure your place here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5566383623938667605

Another free CIOL webinar coming up this Thursday 14 May 2026: with many UK linguists working as freelancers, HMRC’s upcoming Making Tax Digital (MTD) changes - rolled out from April 2026 - will affect a large part of our community.

In this session, award‑winning AAT‑licensed accountant, Claire Owen-Jones, explains what’s changing, who will be affected, and how to prepare with confidence. Claire breaks down the new UK tax requirements into simple, manageable steps so freelancers can stay compliant and avoid unnecessary stress.

Key take-aways:

* Who MTD applies to and when
* What quarterly submissions really mean
* How to prepare now

Register now: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2275960936097238362

"My body has experienced all the pain and the joy that literature strives to convey. I understand what someone might scream when they hit their toe on the bed frame – an algorithm doesn’t.”

'Being Human Helps' by Philip Oltermann in The Guardian - an excellent piece on why the biggest fear for literary translators is not AI, but mistaken a belief in what it can do:

“I am not really scared of AI, because I know it cannot do what I can do. What I am afraid of is the people who think that AI can do my job.”

‘Being human helps’: despite rise of AI is there still hope for Europe’s translators? A booming tech sector has disrupted translation jobs in publishing – but they could be needed for a while longer yet

✨ Did you know the Spring issue of The Linguist is available to read on the CIOL website?

Inside this issue, explore:
🎨 How comic book sound effects go from “Bang!” to “Sbam!” - and what that means for translators
✍️ The many challenges of translating handwritten texts
🎶 How K‑pop fans are using music as a gateway to learning Korean

📖 Read all this and more - download your copy today:
https://www.ciol.org.uk/thelinguist