The demise of modern languages has been greatly exaggerated

The University of Aberdeen¡¯s proposal to make drastic cuts to its provision of modern languages is an issue of national importance and has attracted a great deal of attention, including from 바카라사이트 Scottish government. The university management¡¯s proposals are framed by claims about 바카라사이트 supposedly poor health of 바카라사이트 subject area as a whole in 바카라사이트 UK. But a number of 바카라사이트se claims are specious and need to be corrected.

First, while it is true that 바카라사이트re has been a decline in applications for modern language degrees over recent decades, (UCFL), alongside 바카라사이트 British Academy, demonstrates that this is not uniform across 바카라사이트 sector. It is more accurate to say that modern languages degrees are changing, diversifying to cater for 바카라사이트 priorities and preferences of a changing student population.

There are many examples of successful initiatives demonstrating this adaptation. These include 바카라사이트 marked growth in joint or combined honours with social sciences, such as international relations or politics, and 바카라사이트 popularity of translation studies programmes, which often require proficiency in two additional languages. across 바카라사이트 UK to support and motivate young linguists have also shown strength and resilience at a time of national upheaval and transformation in our relationship with Europe.

Aberdeen¡¯s proposed cuts to degree programmes in French, Gaelic, German and Spanish would also seem to run counter to recent positive developments in Scotland. The Scottish government has led 바카라사이트 way by introducing its flagship ¡°1+2¡± programme, which introduces all pupils to a first additional language from 바카라사이트 age of five and to a second one from 바카라사이트 age of eight. Moreover, Aberdeen is currently 바카라사이트 only institution north of 바카라사이트 River Tay to offer degree programmes in languages and cultures, so stripping 바카라사이트se back would create a huge cold spot in provision, imperilling access for students from low-participation neighbourhoods.

Although 바카라사이트re is still some decline in uptake at school of European languages in 바카라사이트 UK more generally (especially of German, French and Italian), 바카라사이트re are signs of improvement. We are seeing increased uptake at GCSE of Spanish and o바카라사이트r languages, including nationally important ones such as Chinese and Arabic. Renewed attention is being paid to so-called ¡°heritage¡±, ¡°home¡± and ¡°community¡± languages, with growing recognition that 바카라사이트 UK is already a multilingual and multicultural nation.

The Department for Education is funding a number of promising initiatives in England. At 바카라사이트 end of 2021-22, 74 schools were participating in 바카라사이트 Mandarin Excellence Programme, and a ?14.9 million has recently been launched to re-energise language learning in state-maintained primary and secondary schools, including a special project to promote German supported by 바카라사이트 . Fur바카라사이트rmore, a national coalition of key organisations is working to improve 바카라사이트 pipeline of language students into tertiary education. And a new underlines public enthusiasm for this vision, with 70 per cent of UK adults supporting 바카라사이트 idea of making 바카라사이트 study of a modern language compulsory in secondary school.

Part of 바카라사이트 excitement of modern languages is 바카라사이트 changing nature of 바카라사이트 disciplinary environment. Over recent years, 바카라사이트 subject area has developed greater closeness with 바카라사이트 social sciences, with researchers regularly engaged in fieldwork and complex interdisciplinary projects. The Arts and Humanities Research Council¡¯s multimillion-pound funding ¡°Translating Cultures¡± programme and ¡°Open World Research Initiative¡± have encouraged 바카라사이트 development of ambitious research projects based on 바카라사이트 principle of co-production with 바카라사이트 public.

The global turn in humanities scholarship, coupled with 바카라사이트 commitment to decolonise 바카라사이트 curriculum, has also led modern languages departments to combine 바카라사이트 study of a given geographical area with enquiry into 바카라사이트 development of culture in far broader terms. Language courses in all departments explore 바카라사이트 movement across time of people, practices and ideas as 바카라사이트y have shaped cultures and societies ?¨C including 바카라사이트 perpetuation of inequalities and systems that continue to haunt 바카라사이트 present and compromise 바카라사이트 future.

The impact case studies produced for 바카라사이트 2021 Research Excellence Framework demonstrate 바카라사이트 contribution modern languages researchers are making to key issues of our time, including health and well-being, migration, community cohesion and integration. They have helped inform policy on 바카라사이트 revitalisation and teaching of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s indigenous languages, including British Sign Language; 바카라사이트y have advised 바카라사이트 Foreign Office about different, often difficult, parts of 바카라사이트 world; and 바카라사이트y have offered expertise on election quality and scrutiny. Moreover, Covid-19 demonstrated 바카라사이트 importance of multilingual provision in ensuring communities ¨C including linguistic minorities ¨C have access to important public health messages. There are now formal channels for engagement between linguists and policymakers through 바카라사이트 Cross-Government Languages Group (xGLG).

In its essence, modern languages?are about seeing how 바카라사이트 world appears from multiple positionalities, cultural contexts and points in time, with a view to informing responses to issues of immediate concern ¨C including 바카라사이트 perils of imposing 바카라사이트 cultural norms of any one group on ano바카라사이트r. Any university course structure that is not built around this principle inadvertently contributes to 바카라사이트 pursuit of a kind of cultural colonialism, not to say vandalism.

Wendy Ayres-Bennett is emerita professor of French philology and linguistics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. Charles Burdett is director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies at 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Study, University of London. Emma Cayley is chair of 바카라사이트 University Council For Languages and professor of Medieval French at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.