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Leaving the EU - what does this mean for us?
Thread poster: Maaike van Vlijmen
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
+ ...
I'm in the same boat. Jun 26, 2016

Tom in London wrote:

I do a considerable amount of work translating the content, entry requirements, etc. for Italian university courses that are offered to English speakers and meet EU educational criteria in terms of credits, etc.

Now that the UK has thrown all of that out of the window, I am slightly worried that this area of my work may dry up.

I would be interested to hear from other translators about particular areas of work that might also dry up.


I'm in the same boat. I do a ton of Dutch into English translation for Dutch universities via a number of Dutch translation agencies (in fact, am doing one as we speak). I'm wondering how all this Brexit stuff will affect the volume of material that will need to be translated in the future if the UK starts pulling up its drawbridge.

Many of our close friends working in academia here in the UK are also very worried. They are already having a
hard enough time finding positions here in the UK, and have often had to go abroad (to Europe) to find work. What will they do when/if this option is taken away?

Michael

PS: The petition now has: 3,107,959 signatures!
PPS: wonder which side would have won if they had let all of us people living here in the UK with EU passports vote too?

[Edited at 2016-06-26 10:55 GMT]


 
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Matthias Brombach
Matthias Brombach  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:42
Member (2007)
Dutch to German
+ ...
Brexit or Prozxit: Jun 26, 2016

Sorry, but I couldn´t resist combining the two present main discussions threads here on Proz. No system is perfect, especially when dealing with the effects of globalisation, but what will it help leaving the lowest common denominator? What shall be in place in return on European level? Something like "Facebook"? Oh, just forget my thoughts...

 
Mirko Mainardi
Mirko Mainardi  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:42
Member
English to Italian
The irony... Jun 26, 2016

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

The petition is here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215


Funny to read how (and when) that petition was born: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/william-oliver-healey-referendum-petition_uk_576f8b28e4b0232d331e1b39


 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Some democracies are more equal than others Jun 26, 2016

Markus Nystrom wrote:
But when democracy expresses and (horrors!) even ratifies the interests of poor people, especially evil, wicked, backwards, racist white people (who after all exist only to give away what their ancestors have built), then it is an unmitigated threat to all our values. Have I got that right?

Ah, well, you see it is at this point that "democracy" undergoes a transformation into something known as "populism". Apparently, despite being functionally identical, the latter is to be despised.

Dan


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:42
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
The needs will still be there, so different solutions will have to be found Jun 26, 2016

I suspect there will be a period of chaos and gradual reorganisation - the needs for trade will still be there on both sides, and all the cultural exchanges and academic collaboration will probably fall back into place after a reshuffle, so in the long run, translation work will carry on as always.

But the 'micro' pictures for individual translators can go in all directions, depending on what they specialise in and how specific sectors are affected and deal with the situation. Some
... See more
I suspect there will be a period of chaos and gradual reorganisation - the needs for trade will still be there on both sides, and all the cultural exchanges and academic collaboration will probably fall back into place after a reshuffle, so in the long run, translation work will carry on as always.

But the 'micro' pictures for individual translators can go in all directions, depending on what they specialise in and how specific sectors are affected and deal with the situation. Some will see far greater changes than others.

In a survey by the CIoL among its members, 84% voted in favour of Britain remaining in the EU. I don't know how many were ex-pats like me, or citizens of other EU countries living in the UK. I don't know how large or representative the sample was, either, but it does suggest that a strong majority of translators are not happy with the results of the referendum.

I think it shows democracy at its weakest - a highly complex issue cannot easily be reduced to a yes or no question suitable for a referendum. Many people do not have the time or the inclination to study all the issues in detail. Some will follow thoughtful advisers whom they respect, but it is a real playground for demagogues and all sorts with a lop-sided view. I think the results are about as convincing as flipping a coin.

Call it democracy if you like, but it still allows half the population plus a handful to flout the wishes of half the population minus a handful.
In the words of Winston Churchill,
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

There will be other referendums, and other elections. I hope the issues will be clearer and governments will move in directions where translators can play their part and reap the rewards they deserve. They will always be needed in one way or another.
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Eileen Cartoon
Eileen Cartoon  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:42
Italian to English
anti-globalization??? Jun 26, 2016

In some ways, looking at the generation gap in how the vote went, it seems to me like an anti-globalization vote. People want to go back to preglobalization, when things were less complex.
Problem is that sovreign states have to work together and globalization is not going away. If we close ourselves off each into our own little world things will get worse not better. I am not British but a US Citizen living in Italy and I am really very, very concerned as I have always seen the UK as a d
... See more
In some ways, looking at the generation gap in how the vote went, it seems to me like an anti-globalization vote. People want to go back to preglobalization, when things were less complex.
Problem is that sovreign states have to work together and globalization is not going away. If we close ourselves off each into our own little world things will get worse not better. I am not British but a US Citizen living in Italy and I am really very, very concerned as I have always seen the UK as a deep-thinking, proactive nation and the idea that they are walking away from the table and will no longer have any say in what Europe as a whole does and stands for really has me on edge.
Eileen
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Ben Senior
Ben Senior  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:42
German to English
Would the expats have made a difference? Jun 26, 2016

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:
PPS: wonder which side would have won if they had let all of us people living here in the UK with EU passports vote too?

[Edited at 2016-06-26 10:55 GMT]


If all of the British ExPats, or just those living in the EU, had been able to take part in the referendum I am sure that the result would have been different. Now we have to live with a decision that we could not influence.


 
Ty Kendall
Ty Kendall  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Hebrew to English
Bad news for the petition.... Jun 26, 2016

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/petition-for-second-eu-referendum-may-have-been-manipulated

"A petition calling for a second EU referendum which has gained more than 3 million signatures is under investigation by parliamentary authorities...The House of Commons petitions committee has confirmed that 77
... See more
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/petition-for-second-eu-referendum-may-have-been-manipulated

"A petition calling for a second EU referendum which has gained more than 3 million signatures is under investigation by parliamentary authorities...The House of Commons petitions committee has confirmed that 77,000 signatures, which were added fraudulently, have been removed...[the petition] should have been signed only by British citizens and UK residents...However, the petition’s data showed signatories from countries around the world, including Iceland, the Cayman Islands and Tunisia, and in some cases there are more signatures than total population...
Despite Vatican City, a tiny city state, having a total population of just 800, over 39,000 residents of Vatican City appeared to have signed the petition"

Oh dear.

[Edited at 2016-06-26 15:22 GMT]
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Huw Watkins
Huw Watkins  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
You chose the wrong country then Jun 26, 2016

Jack Doughty wrote:

I want to live in a sovereign democracy... not... with half its laws and 70% of its regulations made by faceless unelected officials over whom we have no control.


Totally agree with this:

Eileen Cartoon wrote:

Tom in London wrote:

but working it out - along with about a million other problems -is going to be quite a task .

[Edited at 2016-06-25 14:03 GMT]


I think this will bring in tons of work for those who translate legal and beaurocratic documents. Now the UK will have to negotiate 27 contracts for everything related to what was once the EU


[Edited at 2016-06-26 17:04 GMT]


 
Huw Watkins
Huw Watkins  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
5-10 years is only realistic Jun 26, 2016

Dan Lucas wrote:

Although I don't expect any easy or early gains from Brexit. I personally voted for long-term change that probably won't bear fruit for 5-10 years.

Dan


If we get a good deal from the EU. This, in my opinion, is highly unlikely. I personally think that we will end up with a terrible deal born out of a vengeful approach from the President of the EU Commission. He is notorious for it, look at Greece as a prime example. Had the UK voted to stay in, our PM on the European Council could have voted him out at the end of his tenure (and campaigned other heads of state/government to do the same).

I therefore think half a century is a more realistic figure for recovering from this, barring the possible collapse of the EU itself, in which case who knows what will happen...

Either way, I still think that our jobs as translators shouldn't be affected too much in terms of volumes of work. I regret the fact that I wouldn't be able to take my laptop anywhere in Europe for an extended period to work however. I also regret the loss of quality European immigrant labour through our university systems. I know that the EU transformed my home city of Cardiff from a complete dump of a place into a thriving European capital that attracts international and European students from all over.

It's a sad day for Wales, especially as they voted to leave.

[Edited at 2016-06-26 16:55 GMT]


 
Huw Watkins
Huw Watkins  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
As for the petition Jun 26, 2016

I did what a huge number of leave voters did. I signed it not because I want a second referendum to go ahead (I think that we should respect the results of referenda), but simply as a protest vote.


That may sound stupid, however I feel it reflects the stupidity of the leave voters who did the same. Genuine leave voters, I fully respect.

[Edited at 2016-06-26 17:20 GMT]


 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Why not? Jun 26, 2016

Huw Watkins wrote:

I regret the fact that I wouldn't be able to take my laptop anywhere in Europe for an extended period to work ...



Why wouldn't you? Nobody would know whether you were in Germany or Brazil or anywhere else.

[Edited at 2016-06-26 17:05 GMT]


 
Huw Watkins
Huw Watkins  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:42
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
Because Jun 26, 2016

Tom in London wrote:

Huw Watkins wrote:

I regret the fact that I wouldn't be able to take my laptop anywhere in Europe for an extended period to work ...



Why wouldn't you? Nobody would know whether you were in Germany or Brazil or anywhere else.

[Edited at 2016-06-26 17:05 GMT]


Much like my experiences visiting the Ukraine to see my wife's family, they have a 90 in 180 visitation law in place. (They stamp you in and out).

This means I can only stay for a period of 90 days over a period of 180 days. Okay this is 3 months so I suppose it qualifies as an extended stay, but I couldn't do a year for example without applying for special extension visas and all the hassle that implies. I assume that there will be similar restrictions imposed on the UK. A Schengen visa for those outside the EU has the 90 in 180 rule too, if I am not mistaken - but perhaps I am - it wouldn't be the first time!

I suppose technically you would spend 6 months of the year there, so maybe I'm exaggerating this anxiety somewhat...

[Edited at 2016-06-26 17:22 GMT]


 
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Leaving the EU - what does this mean for us?






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