Genesis of professions and language learning: 16th – first half 19th c.

The early modern period saw the emergence of a number of professional groups in Europe that both shared characteristics with modern professions and showed distinct early-modern features. A key aspect of this process was the introduction of specialized education, which often included language learning. This was particularly true for occupations where proficiency in specific languages was essential, such as diplomats, diplomatic translators, secretaries, scribes, scholars, and clerics. Moreover, due to the intensification of transnational contacts and geographical mobility among specialists as well as the circulation of printed books, language proficiency became an integral part of the education for many other professional groups, such as military officers, engineers, and artists. The objective of the workshop is to contribute to our understanding of the roles played by both state and private actors in the development of linguistic training for early modern professional groups and to assess differences in the emerging professionalisation policies across Europe.