The case for modern languages
When
Thursday 16 April 2026
18:00 - 20:00
Where
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ
View directions on Google Maps
Format
In-person
Access
Hearing loop, Wheelchair access, Wheelchair accessible toilets
Age
Suitable for ages 16+
Cost
Free to book
About this event
Why bother learning a language today?
The ability to speak more than one language, whether learned from birth or later in life, can positively shape how we connect and move through the world. Multilingualism opens doors: socially, professionally, and cognitively, leading to economic, political, and societal benefits. And yet, the necessity of language learning is often questioned, particularly in a world where ‘everyone speaks English’ and machine-translation is just a click away.
Is language learning still necessary? And is it worth the time and effort?
This event brings together experts in modern languages and linguistics to explore the enduring significance of language-learning today. The first part of this event will feature short presentations with insights and perspectives, but there will also be the opportunity to share your experiences about your own learning or teaching, and to exchange ideas about present challenges in this space.
About RSE Investigates
This event forms part of RSE Investigates – a yearly programme of free public events that looks closely at a new topic each year. Through research-led insights and personal perspectives, the series explores the nuances and real-world implications of issues that shape our understanding of society.
This year, the focus is on language – how it connects us, how it shapes our identities and environments, and how language can be a vital lens for examining some of today’s most pressing issues.
Event type
Contributors
Professor Jeremy Smith
Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Fellow, English Language and Linguistics, University of GlasgowJeremy Smith retired in 2021 as Professor of English Philology at Glasgow University, where he is now a Senior Research Fellow. He is also an Honorary Professor, University of St Andrews. A specialist in English historical linguistics, the history of Scots, book history, and early English and Scots language and literature, he is a Fellow of the English Association and an Honorary Fellow of the Association of Scottish Literary Studies. Recent books include Transforming Early English (2020), Genre in English Medical Writing 1500-1820 (ed, with Irma Taavitsainen, Turo Hiltunen and Carla Suhr, 2022), and Reinventing Medieval Liturgy in Victorian England (with David Jasper, 2023); Lexicons of English Religion 1380-1850, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, is forthcoming. For RSE he has served on various committees on public engagement and research awards, and has for many years delivered talks for RSE’s schools programme.
Professor Antonella Sorace
Professor of Developmental Linguistics, University of EdinburghAntonella Sorace is a Professor of Developmental Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh. She is internationally known for her research on bilingualism across the lifespan, language typology, and gradience in natural language, where she combines methods from linguistics, experimental psychology, and cognitive science. She is committed to public engagement and is the founding director of the centre Bilingualism Matters, which has more than 30 branches on four continents.
Professor Stephen Forcer
Professor of French, Deputy Head of the College of Arts and Humanities, University of Glasgow; President, Association of University of Professors and Heads of French+Stephen Forcer is a Professor of French, and Deputy Head of the College of Arts and Humanities, at the University of Glasgow. From 2020-2025 he was Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University. He is currently President of the UK and Ireland Association of University Professors and Heads of French+. He has recently joined the CIC Languages Core Group run by Education Scotland.
Professor Fiona Barclay
University of Stirling and Chair of University Council for Languages ScotlandFiona Barclay is Professor of French and Associate Dean (Internationalisation) at the University of Stirling, and Chair of the University Council for Languages Scotland. She sits on the Advisory Group for SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages and currently holds a £1.5m AHRC grant for a comparative study of cultures of language-learning in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Angela Mathis
Angela Mathis, CEO and co-founder of ThinkTank Maths Limited (Edinburgh)Contact us
If you have an event enquiry, please email us on public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk.