Our June blog recorded our initial thoughts about the UK’s referendum decision to leave the EU, and asked what the consequences might be.
A month down the line, do we have any clearer ideas about what will happen? No-one seems to know whether we will make a complete break with the EU, negotiating instead a WTO type deal with Europe. Or will we choose the Norway option, half in, half out, accepting free movement of people in exchange for access to the European market, but paying a healthy contribution to the EU, but without the corresponding right to shape legislation? The new PM, Theresa May, has sensibly put brexiteers in charge of the negotiations, Boris Johnson, David Davis, Liam Fox, and, looking after agricultural subsidies, Andrea Leadsom. At least they will be on the inside of the tent, urinating outwards rather than outside the tent …….
How will it affect businesses like Anglia Translations, whose principal mission is to help UK companies trade and prosper overseas? At the moment it is too early to say but one immediate effect has been the oscillating pound against the euro and the dollar. We have international clients, and a large number of our translators are in the euro zone, and it is definitely not helpful that we are now obliged to become currency speculators.
The other potential source of difficulty may be an increase in the red tape which may follow from our divorce from Europe.
Overall the language services industry plays an important role in the UK economy, contributing more than £1bn annually to the national coffers and employing more than 10,000 people. Incidentally, as we have noted in a previous blog, many of our linguists are women, highly qualified and experienced, who have created the successful and satisfying work-life balance that freelance translation offers. It constantly surprises us that the fluffy Guardian feminists never investigate the important role played by women in the language industry, preferring instead to drone on about the oppressive patriarchy. None of the female translators we work with on a daily basis would ever allow themselves to be so oppressed!
Translation companies in the UK are represented by the Association of Language Companies which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is a strong and dedicated organisation, committed to promoting the language services industry to the powers that be. To be a member of the ATC involves a complex application procedure in which the quality credentials of the applicant company are closely scrutinised. Hence the integrity of the organisation is enhanced. The ATC’s ethics committee will impartially investigate any allegation of improper or unethical behaviour which can result in the expulsion of a member company.
The ATC is currently asking its membership to ponder the consequences of the Brexit vote, and the results will be published during the annual conference of the organisation in September 2016.
We will be reporting on the results of this major survey in our October blog.
Lingua franca is a blog (mainly) about matters linguistic by Anthony Withers, Managing Director, Anglia Translations Ltd. It reflects his personal view and not necessarily those of the company.
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