Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (ILCS)

Description

The Institute of Languages, Cultures, and Societies (ILCS) supports research in the integrated study of languages, cultures, and societies. Its strengths lie primarily within the fields of French and Francophone, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American/Caribbean studies. However, ILCS also promotes the transnational study of languages and cultures and aims to establish connections with organizations focusing on cultural and linguistic experiences in other global contexts. The expertise of ILCS staff spans literary, historical, ethnographic, and digital research, with a particular emphasis on postcolonial and migration studies, as well as the environmental humanities. ILCS is an integral part of the School of Advanced Study, which promotes interdisciplinary research through its eight Institutes.

The role of ILCS includes the following:

• Promoting the value and importance of the integrated study of languages, cultures, and societies, while strengthening its position within the broader field of Humanities.
• Shaping the development of research culture in collaboration with subject associations, such as AMLUK, the British Academy, the AHRC, and the UCFL.
• Emphasizing the contribution of the subject area in addressing societal concerns and encouraging researchers to consider the policy implications of their work.
• Organizing strategically focused lectures, workshops, colloquia, conferences, and public engagement initiatives that span different languages and encompass literary, cultural, and societal research.
• Providing support and guidance to postgraduate and early career researchers through expert supervision and mentoring for their PhD studies.
• Developing a cutting-edge research training series tailored to the needs of the subject community, supporting the growth of current and future generations of researchers.
• Facilitating national and international collaborations for researchers within and beyond academia.
• Ensuring connectivity of research initiatives across the educational landscape.
• Demonstrating the value of research to the wider public through visiting and funded fellowship schemes, conference grants, and publication series.
• Building networks with citizen and community groups, as well as institutions in the GLAM sector (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums).
• Advocating for greater inclusivity, diversity of representation, and efforts to decolonize the disciplinary area across all aspects of their work.

The vision for the future is to build upon the Institute's past work, its Centres, and its strong connections to subject associations, in order to offer a forward-thinking and globally relevant definition of the subject area. The name change to the Institute of Languages, Cultures, and Societies (ILCS) reflects the consultation with subject associations representing Modern Languages, Area Studies, and Linguistics. The new name better encompasses the research and teaching conducted throughout the UK in this disciplinary field. It aligns with subject benchmarking, reflects the trend of university departments moving away from the name "Modern Languages," and allows for clear identification of the subject area among colleagues in the Humanities and Social Sciences. It highlights the connection between specialized language knowledge and cross-cultural and real-life concerns.

In 2021, the Institute established the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), which incorporated a significant portion of the Institute of Latin American Studies following its closure. The interdisciplinary work of CLACS at the interface of Humanities and Social Sciences provides a valuable resource for researchers in the broader disciplinary area. The revised name of ILCS accurately describes the subject area and indicates its wide-ranging, inclusive, and adaptable nature across different emphases and perspectives. It eliminates the distinction between "modern" and "community" languages, recognizing that university departments increasingly offer a diverse range of languages from around the world. This name change aims to demarcate a university area that is easily understood, inclusive, and serves the purpose of providing a framework to address the pressing challenges faced by society.

ILCS changed its name from the Institute of Modern Languages Research (IMLR) in October 2022. The IMLR was formerly known as the Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies (IGRS), which was established in 2005 with the merger of the Institute of Germanic Studies and the Institute of Romance Studies, founded in 1950 and 1989 respectively.

The research centres associated with the Institute are the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Women's Writing, the Research Centre for German and Austrian Exile Studies, the Ingeborg Bachmann Centre for Austrian Literature and Culture, and the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. In 2024 ILCS incorporated the Ernst Bloch Centre for German Thought and the Centre for the Study of Cultural Memory into its core activities, and their work continues through annual seminar programmes run centrally by ILCS.

Currently active

Yes

Offers funding

Yes, this infrastructure provides funding in the following categories:

Founding year

1950

Contact details

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University affiliation(s)

University of London
London

Partner Infrastructures

Philological Society (PhilSoc)

The Philological Society is the oldest learned society in Great Britain devoted to the scholarly study of language and languages. It is also a registered charity. It was established in its present for… read more about Philological Society (PhilSoc)

London

British Academy (BA)

The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. It mobilises these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. ​ From artificial i… read more about British Academy (BA)

London

British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS)

The British Association for Chinese Studies is a non-political organization which aims to encourage and promote Chinese studies in the United Kingdom, in particular by organising conferences, lectures… read more about British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS)

Sheffield

British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES)

BASEES is the UK national learned society for the study of Russia, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The main activity of the association is the annual conference, held normally in Cambridge… read more about British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES)

Norwich

Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH), London

The Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH) at SAS is a leading centre for digital research in the School of Advanced Study. Its interdisciplinary team comprises academics from various disciplines, inc… read more about Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH), London

London

University Council for Languages (UCFL)

The University Council For Languages (UCFL) was established in 1993. Before 2023, the organisation was called the University Council of Modern Languages (UCML). It represents the views and opinions of… read more about University Council for Languages (UCFL)

London

Linguistics Association of Great Britain (LAGB)

The Linguistics Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (LAGB) is the leading professional association for academic linguists in Great Britain, and welcomes new members. Its scope includes a… read more about Linguistics Association of Great Britain (LAGB)

British Museum

The British Museum actively promotes academic research of the highest quality by its own staff, and supports the research of others. This research is intended to advance the care, display and public u… read more about British Museum

London

Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS)

The Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS) has its origins in 1962 when a group of university lecturers interested in the study of Latin American affairs decided to form The Latin American Group. A… read more about Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS)

Leeds

Society for French Studies (SFS)

The Society for French Studies exists to promote the full spectrum of the discipline in institutions of higher education, both within the United Kingdom and Ireland, and beyond. SFS's activities do th… read more about Society for French Studies (SFS)

Oxford

UK Council of Area Studies Associations (ukcAsA)

UKCASA (United Kingdom Council for Area Studies Associations) is a Council made up of Area Studies Associations in the UK. The aims of the UKCASA are: to promote, support and defend Area Studies prog… read more about UK Council of Area Studies Associations (ukcAsA)

British Library

Research is central to the British Library's role as the national library of the United Kingdom. It helps the British Library to share their collections and intellectual heritage with people across th… read more about British Library

London

Association for French Language Studies (AFLS)

AFLS was founded in 1981 to encourage and promote language teaching activities and research in French Language and Linguistics as areas worthy of consideration in their own right. The Association acts… read more about Association for French Language Studies (AFLS)

Association for German Studies in Great Britain and Ireland (AGS)

The AGS was founded as the Conference of University Teachers of German in Great Britain and Ireland (CUTG) in 1932. In 2009 it became the Association for German Studies in Great Britain and Ireland. A… read more about Association for German Studies in Great Britain and Ireland (AGS)

Association for the Study of Modern and Contemporary France (ASMCF)

The ASMCF was founded in 1979 by pioneers of an interdisciplinary approach to French Studies that went beyond the literary canon. Several generations of scholars came together at a time when many Fren… read more about Association for the Study of Modern and Contemporary France (ASMCF)

Stirling

Association of British and Irish Lusitanists (ABIL)

The Association of British and Irish Lusitanists aims to promote and encourage scholarly research and teaching in Great Britain and Ireland into the study of the languages and cultures of the Portugue… read more about Association of British and Irish Lusitanists (ABIL)

British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL)

BAAL is a professional association, based in the UK, which provides a forum for people interested in language and applied linguistics. BAAL organises scientific meetings, and publishes a newsletter an… read more about British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL)

York

British Association for Japanese Studies (BAJS)

The British Association for Japanese Studies is a UK-based charity of scholars and students dedicated to researching, teaching, and publishing about Japan. It organises conferences and provides fundin… read more about British Association for Japanese Studies (BAJS)

London

British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES)

Founded in 1973, BRISMES provides a forum for educators and researchers in Middle East Studies. Membership is open to all regardless of nationality or country of residence. BRISMES works to promote in… read more about British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES)

London

Society for Italian Studies (SIS)

The role of the Society for Italian Studies (SIS) is to further the study of Italy, Italian language, literature, film, thought, history, society and arts in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It represe… read more about Society for Italian Studies (SIS)

Bristol

Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL)

The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) is the UK's Royal Charter body for language practitioners, working to enhance the recognition and promote the value of languages and language skills in the … read more about Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL)

Senate House Library

Senate House Library is the central library of the University of London and the home library for the School of Advanced Study. It received its founding collections in 1871 and opened in 1877, and desc… read more about Senate House Library

London

Additional Partnerships

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); Embassy of France in London; Austrian Cultural Forum London; Goethe-Institut London; Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA); Bilingualism Matters, University of Edinburgh; Alliance of Modern Languages, Area Studies and Linguistics UK (AMLUK); AHGBI (Association of Hispanists of Great Britain & Ireland); AULC (Association of University Language Communities in the UK and Ireland); AUPHF+ (Association of University Professors & Heads of French); UCGAL (University Council of General & Applied Linguistics)