A very warm welcome to this relaunch of the SMLC newsletter. A big thank you to everyone who contributed, and to Kate Fry (working with Lynne Clark) for putting it all together online.

It has long been axiomatic to refer to the various threats to languages and cultures, and those threats remain real.

We also know that multilingualism and multiculturalism are equally real, and that languages and cultures are both a core part of existing society and a huge opportunity for the future.

The personal and collective benefits of languages were set out in the national press by our Principal, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, in a piece titled ‘Languages Open Window To The World’. You can also read key points from the Principal’s article via his Twitter account (X). 

Among many other individuals and organisations, Baroness Jean Coussins has been a lead figure advocating for languages and linguists, and pointing out the benefits of what she calls ‘language positivity’ (The Linguist 61:3, June/July 2002 pp. 30-31) 

The Honorary Doctorate presented to Baroness Coussins at the University’s 2024 Commemoration Day is one among many items presented in the newsletter, which include personal and collective successes and activities of different sorts, and reflect a huge amount of work in teaching, research and scholarship, and administration and Professional Services. And as ever we are also grateful to our colleagues in Facilities, Estates, Security, IT, and all the teams outside the School that support our students, staff, and infrastructure.

The SMLC newsletter will return later on this session along with updates about new staff and other new items.

For our students and staff, stay tuned for information about School events including the SMLC Walk and Talk (5pm Monday 23 September), a return of the SMLC Halloween party on Friday 1 November, and the School Christmas party on Thursday 5 December. For now we very much look forward to welcoming our new and returning students for the new term, and we thank you for stopping by to read about our School, wherever you are connecting from.

First published: 18 September 2024

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