The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/715470
thelinguist.uberflip.com august/sePtemBer 2016 The Linguist 27 OPINION & COMMENT Bernardette Holmes is Director of Speak to the Future, the campaign for languages. TL at 4.40am on Friday 24 June 2016, the BBc announced the result of the uk referendum: Britain had voted to leave the european union by a narrow majority of 51.9% to 48.1%. For those of us watching live coverage of the results, the stark reality of a deeply divided Britain unfolded well before first light. as the votes were declared in the small hours of the morning, fractures appeared between London, scotland, Northern Ireland and the regions, between the perceived elite and the 'have nots', and between the older and younger generations; fractures capable of unsettling neighbours and re-awakening aggression towards speakers of other languages of a kind not seen since the 1970s. For those born after 1972, being part of the eu is all that they have ever known. But was 'being european' truly understood or was it taken for granted? While indicators show a strong correlation between age and voting intention, with older people voting Leave and younger people remain, too few of the younger generation exercised their right to vote. Did they feel disillusioned with politics? or was it that too many young people have had no experience of learning a language or engaging with another culture? there would seem to be another correlation worthy of scrutiny: the correlation between areas of the uk with the lowest take-up of languages post-14 and the highest turnout for Brexit. Professional linguists (as others working internationally or across european cultures) benefit from membership of the eu in various ways. We enjoy the right to travel, work and live anywhere in the eu. our graduate qualifications are recognised in all eu countries. european health insurance helps to cover medical costs for those living in other member states. erasmus + funding offers wide-ranging opportunities for higher education (including the year abroad), vocational education and training, school and youth projects, and adult education. all of these advantages are likely be removed once we leave the eu. It would be disingenuous to deny the risk that current social attitudes in large parts of Britain present to the status of languages and language learning. already vulnerable in schools and universities, modern foreign languages could lose further ground. It is crucial, during this time of seismic social and political change, that professional linguists, interpreters, translators and teachers in schools and universities stand together with business leaders and other professionals, and articulate the central importance of languages to rebuilding a shared vision post-Brexit. the extent of the change to all aspects of our lives is becoming more evident on a daily basis. It will take at least a decade to disentangle British Law from european Law, to say nothing of the complex bilateral negotiations that will be necessary to establish new trade agreements with partners from both within and outside the eu. the degree of soft skills that will be in demand from skilled interpreters so that we can negotiate new trading relationships is incalculable. Public awareness of how integrated businesses are, in terms of the ways they operate, varies. Businesses, large and small, rely on disaggregated supply chains involving virtual and real intersections with many different countries and cultures. each intersection entails the potential need for multiple languages and intercultural agility. the importance of increasing language capability generally among the uk population is self-evident. the range of potential languages that may be required is difficult to estimate, since any country with high-speed internet connection could be a potential supplier or future trading partner. there is a burning issue which takes priority over all the rest, and that is the existential question of what kind of a country we wish to be post-Brexit. It is time to take control of our borders, yet it is not the physical boundaries that separate countries which should take up our energies, but the boundaries we impose on our own thinking and cultural development. We must broaden our aspirations and extend our ambitions to ensure that we are outward-facing, looking to connect to others across the world, while re-establishing trust and cooperation within and across our own communities and within europe. Language capability and intercultural competence will be essential if we are to rebuild the future: and rebuild, we must. It is crucial, during this time of seismic social and political change, that professional linguists stand together United in diversity How can we work together to rebuild a shared vision post-Brexit? BERNARDETTE HOLMES